Seventy percent of non-profit workers feel burnt out – mental health benefit support a necessity
This article was created in partnership with Greenshield Canada
At a time when Canada’s affordability crisis continues to push workers and non-profits to the brink, the need to support those on the front lines has never been greater. In response to this growing need, GreenShield, Canada’s only national non-profit health and benefits provider, is delivering tailored solutions to help purpose-driven organizations support their unique workforce needs.
YWCA Canada is one of the country’s largest shelter providers for women and gender-diverse people, serving communities experiencing housing insecurity, gender-based violence, and trauma. But this critical calling comes with critical pressures on the people who do the work. “Our sector has been losing people at an unprecedented rate,” says Fiorella Rojas Jaramillo, National Director of People and Culture at YWCA Canada. “A lot of folks are moving to the for-profit or public sector for higher salaries, and meanwhile, the demand for services keeps growing.”
It’s a familiar problem across the care economy: high emotional demands, limited resources, and passionate teams trying to do more with less. The results are burnout, turnover, and major recruitment challenges, even in a time of rising unemployment. According to Future of Good’s 2025 Changemaker Wellbeing Index, 70% of non-profit workers feel burnt out. For many non-profits, a proactive approach to employee mental health isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity.
This is where GreenShield comes in. As the benefits provider for YWCA Canada, GreenShield will be extending its mental health support to a workforce that’s too often overlooked. GreenShield delivers tailored solutions that address the emotional demands faced by YWCA staff – supporting the well-being of those who support others.
“GreenShield wanted to offer more than just offer a benefits package. They came to us with a real desire to understand our needs and walk alongside us,” says Megan Vella, YWCA Canada’s National Director, Fund Development & Partnerships. “They understand the stress frontline staff are under, especially those working in shelters and remote communities. And they have the tools and desire to help.”
Those tools include culturally appropriate mental health services, access to virtual clinicians, and digital platforms like GreenShield+ that centralize everything from benefits to virtual care. This all-in-one model has made it easier for YWCA employees to seek support, many of them for the very first time.
It’s also critical for retention. When non-profit employees are equipped to manage the emotional toll of their work, they’re better able to stay, and to support others.
“Some HR professionals from across the YWCA Federation have already seen the impact of having a benefits partner that meets people where they are, whether through Indigenous-informed counselling or practical access to EAP and telehealth," says Vella.
The partnership isn’t limited to benefits. GreenShield Cares, the driver of GreenShield’s social impact initiatives, has also partnered with YWCA Canada to strengthen mental health resources in under-served regions.
“It’s about filling gaps,” Vella explains. “GreenShield came in with an openness to listening. They understood the work of YWCA frontline staff do and how close it can be to their own lived experiences, and the emotional load that comes with that.”
For Mandy Mail, GreenShield’s Executive Vice President, Head of Marketing, Corporate Affairs, and GreenShield Cares, the work aligns with the company’s broader mission to close health care gaps for communities often left behind. “We believe in meeting people where they are, especially those on the frontlines of care,” she says. “Frontline staff in the non-profit sector are doing vital work under incredibly challenging conditions. Supporting them isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s foundational to ensuring the communities they serve receive the care they deserve.”
As the affordability crisis continues to deepen, this kind of values-based alignment is making a difference. It also points to a larger truth: when health and benefits providers think beyond transactional service and toward long-term partnership, the impact can ripple far beyond the workplace. As Canada’s only national non-profit health and benefits provider, GreenShield is not driven by short-term profit – giving it the ability to build lasting partnerships that prioritize care, equity, and sustainable change for Canadians. Its partnerships, from working with to provide free mental health services to Alberta’s social sector, to supporting employees at Black Women’s Institute for Health, reflect a deep commitment to collaborating with non-profits to build healthier, more resilient communities over the long term.
YWCA Canada’s new and growing national partnership with GreenShield is a reminder that the right support, delivered the right way, can help those on the frontlines stay well and better prepared to show up for their communities every day.
