Tackling eating disorders with comprehensive benefits

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Desjardins Insurance is addressing the often-overlooked challenge of eating disorders in the workplace, offering comprehensive group benefits and partnerships to provide essential mental health support

THE DEMAND for strong mental health coverage in group insurance plans has surged significantly. Desjardins Insurance has recognized a shortfall in care – particularly when it comes to mental health conditions like eating disorders. As Stephanie Ipavec-Levasseur, a product director at Desjardins Insurance, in conversation with Benefits and Pensions Monitor, explains, “We thought there was a gap, and that’s part of finding who our plan members are and making sure that they don’t encounter many difficulties or challenges. We don’t want people to feel like they’re thinking, ‘There must be a better way.’” This gap is especially stark when it comes to eating disorders, a condition that affects an estimated 2.7 million people in Canada, including approximately 1.4 million youth. Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses that can impact anyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Unfortunately, many individuals suffer in silence, often going undiagnosed or untreated. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on this long-standing public health crisis, with a dramatic rise in cases and unprecedented spikes in hospital admissions. For those who do seek help, getting a diagnosis and deciding to pursue treatment is a massive achievement – but it’s only half the battle. According to Dr. Linda Booij, head of research and academic development at the Eating Disorders Continuum at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, “Only about 20–25 percent of people with eating disorders seek help, and those who do often wait a long time before reaching out to health professionals. In an ideal world, everyone with an eating disorder would have access to the care they need, but we still have a long way to go to make that happen.” In this context, employers have a unique opportunity to make a real difference. By offering comprehensive group benefits plans that cover a wide range of mental health services, including those specifically for eating disorders, employers can provide critical support to their employees.

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“If an employee believes that they need to hide their health problems, they are much more likely to wait until the disease is extremely severe before they ask for help”

Stephanie Ipavec-Levasseur, Desjardins

A crucial aspect of understanding eating disorders is recognizing that they are often invisible. Most people with eating disorders are not underweight, making it difficult to identify who might be struggling. “It’s a misconception that you need to be underweight to have an eating disorder or to receive treatment,” says Dr. Booij. This lack of visibility means that many employees may be suffering in silence, potentially delaying critical interventions.

Eating disorders often do not occur in isolation. Dr. Booij notes that comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, substance abuse, and personality disorders frequently accompany eating disorders. “We know genetically that some of the genes that play a role in, for example, anxiety and depression, also play a role in eating disorders,” she explains. It underscores the importance of addressing the broader mental health issues that often accompany eating disorders. These comorbidities don’t necessarily make treatment less effective. “People with comorbidities can do equally well in treatment,” Dr. Booij emphasizes.

“The earlier you seek help, the better. However, even after living with an eating disorder for a long time, recovery is still possible, so don’t lose hope”

Dr. Linda Booij, Douglas Mental Health University Institute

As Ipavec-Levasseur says, “It’s important that employees leverage all the help available.” Psychotherapy and nutritional counselling are often covered by group benefits, and finding professionals with expertise in eating disorders is key to effective treatment. Drug therapy, which is sometimes part of the treatment plan, is usually covered as well. Desjardins Insurance has established partnerships with private expert centres like EHN Canada, which specialize in eating disorder treatment. Through these partnerships, plan members can access personalized recovery programs at more favourable rates, ensuring better accessibility for those in need.

Desjardins Insurance also offers health navigation services, powered by Novus Health, which connects employees with the right professionals and resources. “This helps reduce the mental load for individuals trying to figure out their treatment plan,” Ipavec-Levasseur explains. “It can also extend to family members, which makes a big difference.” The stress of navigating a complex treatment plan is a significant barrier for many employees, but it’s amplified when they don’t know what’s covered or where to find help. “I think it’s incredibly helpful to have someone say, ‘I know how it works. I’m an expert, and I can help you understand where to find help for your health problem,’” Ipavec-Levasseur emphasizes. Destigmatizing eating disorders in the workplace One of the greatest barriers to seeking help for eating disorders is the stigma that surrounds mental health. Both Dr. Booij and Ipavec-Levasseur stress the importance of creating a supportive workplace culture where employees feel safe discussing their health issues. Workplace culture plays a massive role in how employees manage their health, especially when dealing with something as stigmatized as an eating disorder. As Ipavec-Levasseur explains, “If an employee

How comprehensive benefits can support recovery

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Published November 06, 2024

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The role of comorbidities

How did your eating disorder impact your professional life? "The eating disorder has had a major impact on my life. On a professional level, the impact was mainly in terms of disability leaves. I've had to take a lot of time off work, even though I love my job. Several times I've had to put my life on hold to be hospitalized. I'm lucky to have a supportive manager and understanding colleagues. I feel like my manager prioritizes my health and well-being. Showing empathy, listening, and caring: it's the most important things an employer can do." – Florence Tremblay-Gagnon

“The earlier you seek help, the better. However, even after living with an eating disorder for a long time, recovery is still possible, so don’t lose hope”

DID YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE SUPPORT YOU NEEDED TO GET BETTER? "Fortunately, no. I feel very fortunate to have always been able to ask for help and to have always received it when I needed it. If I had one piece of advice to give to people suffering from an eating disorder, it would be to never stop asking for help. There's a common misconception that we're not sick enough to ask for help, but that's not true. Everyone deserves help, no matter how severe the illness. Suffering is real and deserves to be heard." – Florence Tremblay-Gagnon

believes that they need to hide their health problems, they are much more likely to wait until the disease is extremely severe before they ask for help.” A culture of openness, where employees feel safe to disclose their conditions without fear of judgment, is crucial. Raising awareness about the resources available through group benefits plans is another important step. “The help that’s available needs to be communicated clearly, especially to those who need it most,” Ipavec-Levasseur emphasizes. The more accessible the support, the more likely employees are to use it. Recovery from eating disorders is rarely a straight line, and setbacks are common. As Dr. Booij reminds us, “The earlier you seek help, the better. However, even after living with an eating disorder for a long time, recovery is still possible, so don’t lose hope.” With the right support, many people can recover and lead healthy, productive lives. Employers offering comprehensive mental health support aren’t just following the crowd; they’re addressing real challenges head-on. One of these is eating disorders – often hidden and misunderstood, but with the right care, they can often be effectively treated.

The impact of eating disorders goes beyond physical health, affecting individuals’ daily functioning and overall well-being. As Dr. Booij explains, “Eating disorders take up a lot of space in the brain – thinking about what to eat, what not to eat, how much exercise to do – and this takes away from other aspects of life.” This constant preoccupation can impair an individual’s ability to focus at work, engage socially, or maintain relationships. Ipavec-Levasseur echoes this sentiment, adding that eating disorders can lead to both physical and mental health complications if left untreated. “Eating disorder treatment involves taking care of the other medical problems that an eating disorder can cause or make worse,” she explains. These problems can include heart disease, high blood pressure, and nutritional deficiencies. “Early treatment can help prevent secondary physical and mental health issues,” she adds.

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testimonial from a person with an eating disorder

Dr. Booij says, “Eating disorders are complex psychiatric disorders, and while most people have heard about anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, there is still a lot of misunderstanding about how these conditions present themselves.” While anorexia nervosa is often associated with extreme weight loss due to severe food restriction, bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise. In contrast, individuals with binge-eating disorder experience episodes of overeating but do not engage in compensatory behaviours. A crucial aspect of understanding eating disorders is recognizing that they are often invisible. Most people with eating disorders are not underweight, making it difficult to identify who might be struggling. “It’s a misconception that you need to be underweight to have an eating disorder or to receive treatment,” says Dr. Booij. This lack of visibility means that many employees may be suffering in silence, potentially delaying critical interventions.

Understanding eating disorders and their impact

How comprehensive benefits can support recovery

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