Sun Life Financial supports world class research to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Canadians

TORONTO, May 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Sun Life Financial and Pfizer Canada have partnered to each donate $50,000 to Healthy Minds Canada for the 2013 Workplace Depression Research Award. The grant will help fund advances and breakthroughs in scientific research of workplace related depression.

Sun Life Financial is committed to supporting good mental health in the workplace, providing wellness programs and services that help employees take action towards achieving their health goals.

"This is an important issue for us at Sun Life because mental health is a critical part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle," says Mary De Paoli, Executive Vice-President, Public & Corporate Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer, Sun Life Financial. "We're proud to support this program and its mission to bring mental health issues into the forefront."

Healthy Minds Canada (HMC) is a national charitable organization that was founded in 1980 and since this time has funded close to 400 research projects at 42 universities and teaching hospitals across Canada.

"HMC is thrilled to partner with Sun Life and Pfizer on this initiative," says Katie W. Robinette, Executive Director, Healthy Minds Canada. "It's through partnerships such as these that HMC is able to help raise the awareness of the valuable impact researchers are making in the lives of millions of Canadians."

Sun Life's donation will be used to support Canadian research to identify the causes, improve treatments and develop prevention strategies for mental illness.

Additional information can be found at www.PfizerCNS.ca.

About Sun Life Financial

Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2013, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of C$571 billion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to editors: All amounts are in Canadian dollars.

SOURCE: Sun Life Financial Inc.

Media contact:

Andrea Zviedris
Media & PR
Corporate Communications Sun Life Financial
416-979-6199
[email protected]