TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK:945
A unique offering delivering faster and appropriate care for those with
mental health conditions
WATERLOO, ON, April 24, 2014 /CNW/ - Manulife Financial announced today
the establishment of a national Mental Health Specialist team that will
work with Disability Case Managers to guide the management of all
mental health disability claims and help ensure appropriate treatment
and support is in place. This is the first team of its kind in the
Canadian insurance industry and all of the team members have extensive
backgrounds in mental health. The team will be led by Dr. Georgia
Pomaki, who has a Ph.D. in occupational mental health and a Masters in
Clinical Psychology.
"According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 500,000 Canadians
will miss work every day due to mental illness, costing the Canadian
economy $51B annually," said Kathy McIlwham, Vice-President, Group Life
and Disability, Manulife. "To address this significant concern and
support our clients, we developed a Mental Health Specialist team that
will guide and support our Disability Case Managers in the management
of mental health disability claims - the leading cause of our long term
disability claims."
Mental health claims are a leading concern for Canadian employers as
they account for an average of 30 per cent* of short and long term
disability claims. Manulife embarked on a yearlong mental health pilot
that saw a decrease in claim durations and recurrences. Focused
oversight, coaching and expertise provided in the pilot lead to
improved outcomes for claimants and employers. These are early
indicators of the positive affect the team could have nationally for
Manulife's clients.
"I am proud to lead a specialized and committed team that is delivering
excellent outcomes for our clients and their employees," said Dr.
Georgia Pomaki. "As a mental health professional with over 10 years of
experience in workplace mental health, I am very impressed with
Manulife's commitment to improving the mental health of Canadians by
developing a national Mental Health Specialist team."
This initiative aligns with Manulife's strong commitment to mental
health as part of a comprehensive health, wellness and disability
strategy that covers the entire health continuum. This commitment to
positive mental health has been recognized by the Mental Health
Commission of Canada (MHCC), who recently accepted Manulife into a
three-year pilot as an early adopter of the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace - Prevention,
Promotion, and Guidance to Staged Implementation.
Biography Dr. Georgia Pomaki, Vancouver
Dr. Georgia Pomaki received her Ph.D. in Occupational Mental Health in
2003 and her Clinical Psychology Master's in 1998. Dr. Pomaki also
received the designation of Certified Disability Management
Professional (CDMP) in 2011. She has clinical experience in Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy and family therapy. She has taught clinical courses
extensively at universities at the graduate and undergraduate levels
and is currently teaching a course on Mental Health in Disability
Management at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Pomaki is also a lead author
of the Best Practices for Return-to-Work/Stay-at-Work Interventions for
Workers with Mental Health Conditions. Dr. Pomaki joined Manulife in
2011 and her current role involves leading the mental health
specialists, implementing best practices and providing guidance and
coaching to case managers on the management of psychological health
claims.
*According to Mental Health Commission of Canada and the World Health
Organization.
About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group
with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States.
Clients look to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and
forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial
decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and
distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management
products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset
management services to institutional customers. Funds under management
by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were approximately C$599
billion (US$563 billion) as at December 31, 2013. The Company operates
as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock
in the United States.
Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE,
and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the
Internet at manulife.com.
SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
