Well-being resources for entrepreneurs

If you are in crisis, or worried about harm to yourself or others in any way, we urge you to contact immediate support services. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or need of urgent medical support.

With COVID-19 situation, Health Canada provides new resources to support you with wellness experts:

Adults: Text WELLNESS to 741741

Indigenous people can also reach out to Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310

We are going through unprecedented and unsettling times as the world wrestles with the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. It is more important than ever before to take care of your health and that of your loved ones.

These resources are intended to offer you a range of services on mental health and well-being. We hope that through them, you will be informed, educated, inspired and guided.

This list is not exhaustive. Content will be added over time. The descriptions are short excerpts from the companies' corporate websites and are listed in alphabetical order.

Mental health national resources

CAMH

Mental health and COVID-19. Tips, coping strategies and resources for the public and health care workers.

Canadian Centre for Occupation Health and Safety

Workplace has a shared responsibility for safety and health, and that includes mental health. Discover tools to help support your mental health effort

Canadian Government Mental Health Resources

Learn about mental health, mental illness and related services in Canada.

Canadian Mental Health Association

Founded in 1918, the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada.

Centre of Expertise on Mental Health in the Workplace

Find information about how the Government of Canada addresses mental health in the workplace and access resources, tools and services for organizations, managers and employees.

Douglas Mental Health University Institute

One of the Douglas Institute's missions is to prevent mental illness, support recovery, and contribute to destigmatizing mental illness.

First Nations & Inuit mental health and wellness

Works with First Nations, Inuit, other federal departments, provincial and territorial partners to support healthy First Nations and Inuit individuals and communities.

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Mental Health First Aid Canada’s COVID-19 Self-Care & Resilience Guide. Find helpful strategies and a template to create your own resilience plan.

Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support

Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help get Canadians back on track.

Third-party solutions

These well-being services and solution providers offer paid digital wellness solutions for you and your employees. Each company has its own unique offering and price range, so please contact them directly to learn more.

Beacon (Paid)

A fully digital experience providing treatment through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with the one-on-one support of a dedicated therapist throughout the process.

Dialogue (Paid)

Helping individuals to perform at their best and getting them access to health and wellness resources wherever they are, whenever they need it.

InkBlot Therapy (Paid)

Offers phone and video mental health counselling using advanced technologies for intelligent matching, monitoring effectiveness, and eliminating geographical barriers.

Inward Strong (English only)

The program helps people get support, to get better, more focused and become inward strong (3 months free offer).

Medisys (Paid)

Preventive Health Assessments, 24/7 virtual care support and specialists helps: Canadians be proactive about their health and the health of their families.

Morneau Shepell (Paid)

Provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to well-being by providing tools to support clients' mental, physical, and more well-being.

Non-profit organizations

Many organizations offer support services for mental health and well-being. Each has its own unique programs and services, so please contact them directly to learn more.

Entrepreneurs only

Futurpreneur Canada

Fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s young enterprises for two decades. They offer articles on mental health and well-being.

Prince Trust Canada, Operation Entrepreneur

Training and support services needed for still-serving members, veterans, to successfully transition from service, explore second career options, to grow successful businesses.

Rise

Charity dedicated to helping individuals with mental health conditions achieve financial independence through self-employment or small business ownership.

Startup Canada

A network of entrepreneurs who organize events, initiatives and create online platforms to support and encourage small businesses across Canada.

General population including workforce

Be there

Jack.org is Canada’s charity that trains and empowers young leaders to revolutionize mental health.

Relief

Relief is first and foremost an organization devoted to those affected by anxiety, depressive or bipolar disorders.

Theravive

Theravive provides a regional listing of therapists.

Articles

Ten percent happier

How to Spot, and Reverse, the Signs of Burnout

THE NEW YORK TIMES

There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing

The Conference Board of Canada

Insulating for isolation: A mental health checklist for getting through quarantine

ANXIETY CANADA

Managing Mental Health During COVID-19

Government of Canada

Taking care of your mental health during COVID-19

Government of Canada

COVID-19 and Mental Health @ Work

FCC

“Rooted in strength” offers you a variety of mental health resources.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

These are the mental health struggles of a social entrepreneur

FORBES

7 Strategies Every Entrepreneur Should Employ To Optimize Their Mental Health

ENTREPRENEUR

Entrepreneurship Was Tough Before COVID-19. Now It's Testing Founders' Mental Limits.

ENTREPRENEUR

Why Sunday Is the Most Important Day of the Week for Your Wellbeing

HUDDLE

How The Pressure To Make A Million Dollars Drove Michael DeVenney Into Depression

TORONTO STAR

COVID-19’s impact on women’s mental health is on the rise, CAMH study says

GLOBAL NEWS

COVID 19 impact on business owners’ mental health

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FOR BC

COVID-19 takes mental health toll on business owners

BAY STREET BULL

Friday Fix: The State of Entrepreneurs’ Mental Health

Applications

Calm (Paid)

Experience lower stress, less anxiety, and more restful sleep with their guided meditations, Sleep Stories, breathing programs, relaxing music and more.

Daily Yoga: Workout & Fitness (Paid)

Offers more than 500 asanas, 70 yoga programs, 500 guided yoga, pilates, and meditation sessions, plus the largest yoga pose library for people who suit yogis, from beginner to advanced.

Headspace (Free during COVID)

An app to help you focus, breathe, be calm, perform at your best and get a better night’s rest through skills of relaxation, meditation and mindfulness.

Petit BamBoo (Free)

Recommended by top psychologists, therapists, and mental health experts. Meditating has never been this easy! Guided mindfulness programs help you discover meditation.

WellCan (Free)

Well-being resources for Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hope by CAMH

Hope by CAMH is a free smartphone app that provides suicide prevention information, tools and crisis resources to support and guide individuals when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide.

Podcasts and videos

The Anxious Achiever

Shopify President Harley Finkelstein on Anxiety and Entrepreneurship

The Anxious Achiever

When Leaders Model Openness About Their Mental Health

Mental health and COVID-19

Conversation with Dr. Bill Howatt, Chief of Research, Workplace Productivity.

Mental health concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic

You may feel like you’re struggling to deal with the realities of life throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—whether it’s the direct impacts of the virus itself, or the financial stress of lost jobs, many are having a hard time.

The Anxious Achiever (Harvard Business Review)

This podcast shares candid stories from leaders who’ve been there.

Ted Talks. Why Most Entrepreneurs Are Slowly Killing Themselves

An inspired entrepreneur shares his personal humbling journey and how he overcame his challenge with managing the pressure and stress from being an entrepreneur.

THRIVE PODCAST

Putting your mental health first with Annie Marsolais

CANADA’S PODCAST

Exploring COVID-19’s impact on Mental Health of Entrepreneurs: part 1

CANADA’S PODCAST

Exploring COVID-19’s impact on Mental Health of Entrepreneurs: Marie’s story

CANADA’S PODCAST

Exploring COVID-19’s impact on Mental Health of Entrepreneurs: Michael’s story

We are sorry if we missed your organization's listing. Please send us a message, our editorial team will evaluate your proposal.

1-800 phone numbers and hyperlinks to external sites do not constitute endorsements by BDC of those websites or any information, opinions, products or services expressed or described on them.