Medavie Commits $5 Million to Support Mental Health and Food Insecurity in Response to COVID-19

MONCTON, NB, April 16, 2020 /CNW/ - Medavie, through its Foundation, is committing $5 million to support the needs of Canadians responding to COVID-19. The funding will focus on initiatives addressing food insecurity, the mental health needs of adolescents, and frontline responders coping with COVID-19-related anxiety and post-traumatic stress.  

The funding will be distributed to community organizations over the coming weeks and months to address urgent needs and provide support as they manage through – and beyond – this pandemic. The Medavie Health Foundation is also relaxing program requirements for those organizations already receiving funding, allowing them to focus their efforts on providing creative and agile solutions to safely support the communities they serve, from providing emergency food and meals to virtual mental health services, during this crisis.

"We understand these are challenging times and we've seen first-hand the impact this crisis is having on people's lives," said Bernard Lord, CEO of Medavie.  "The first phase of this funding will support the immediate needs of our communities. As we think about the transformation that will be required from society looking beyond the pandemic, this funding will also assist with much-needed recovery efforts in helping organizations find new and innovative ways to provide essential services. As a not-for-profit health solutions partner, I wish to acknowledge and thank the entire Medavie team and our partners for the work they do every day to support our communities and improve the wellbeing of Canadians."

"The Medavie Health Foundation was created to affect change today and for future generations," added Kim West, Board Chair, Medavie Health Foundation.  "The impacts of this health crisis have been – and will be – far reaching.  Supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities in the weeks and months ahead is more important than ever."

Through our Foundation, Medavie supports community-based programs aligned with adolescent mental health and post-traumatic stress, and initiatives that support active living and healthy eating.

About Medavie
Medavie is a national health solutions partner that integrates benefits management, health management and health care delivery. Together, with our more than 6,400 employees, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that improve the wellbeing of Canadians.

As a not-for-profit organization, Medavie oversees Medavie Blue Cross, a premier all-in-one benefits carrier and public health program administrator, and Medavie Health Services, a national primary health care solutions organization and the largest private provider of EMS management services in Canada.

We are proud to commit an annual social dividend to the Medavie Health Foundation to support programs and initiatives aimed at addressing some of our country's most pressing physical and mental health care challenges.

SOURCE Medavie

Media Contacts: Joanne Elliott, Senior Advisor, Stakeholder Relations, Medavie Health Foundation, [email protected], Phone: [phone], Mobile: [phone]