The Program

Noojimo is not a replacement for a standard benefits package but a crucial enhancement. It acknowledges that mainstream mental health services, often built on Western therapeutic models, may not adequately meet the unique needs of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. By partnering with Noojimo, an organization makes a tangible commitment to reconciliation and the well-being of its Indigenous team members.

Bridging the Wellness Gap

Standard EFAPs, while valuable, often present barriers for Indigenous employees seeking counselling:

• Therapists may lack understanding of Indigenous worldviews, family structures, community dynamics, and the profound impact of historical and intergenerational trauma (e.g., from residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and colonial policies).

• A well-documented history of negative experiences with government and healthcare institutions can lead to a reluctance to seek help through conventional channels.

• A focus on individual-centric talk therapy can conflict with Indigenous approaches to healing, which are often communal and spiritually integrated.

• The absence of Indigenous counsellors within a provider network makes it difficult for employees to connect with someone who shares their lived experience.

Noojimo's specialized counselling service is designed specifically to dismantle these barriers.

Culturally-Grounded Counselling

Noojimo focuses exclusively on providing high-quality, professional counselling rooted in cultural understanding and respect.

Service Features:

• Access to a carefully vetted network of registered psychotherapists, social workers, and counsellors. This network includes practitioners who are Indigenous with extensive, verified training in cultural safety and trauma-informed care.

• Practitioners are skilled in various methods that can be blended to suit the individual's needs. This may include integrating the principle of Two-Eyed Seeing, which combines Indigenous knowledge's strengths with Western clinical skills like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, and somatic experiencing.

• Services are available for employees and their eligible family members, ensuring support is available for the whole family unit.

Integration and Access

The process is designed to be seamless for both the employer and the employee.

Noojimo collaborates with the company's HR/Benefits team and the primary benefits provider to ensure smooth integration. A co-developed communication strategy is launched to introduce Noojimo to employees. This is done with care and cultural sensitivity to build trust from day one. An employee or their family member contacts Noojimo directly and is matched with the most appropriate counsellor from the network based on their needs and preferences. The employer receives anonymized, aggregated data reports on utilization rates to demonstrate the program's value and identify broad trends without compromising individual privacy.

Benefits of Implementing Noojimo

For the Employer:

• Signals to current and prospective Indigenous employees that the organization is a safe and supportive workplace.

• Moves beyond land acknowledgements to tangible action, directly addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action #92 for the corporate sector.

• A supported workforce is more engaged, productive, and present, reducing absenteeism and turnover.

• Fosters a workplace culture where all employees feel valued and their unique identities are respected.

• Addresses a significant gap in an organization's duty of care for a specific segment of its workforce.

For Indigenous Employees & Their Families:

• It eliminates the burden of educating a provider on their cultural background and historical context.

• Provides a trusted, confidential, and welcoming first point of contact for mental health support.

• Offers counselling that respects and understands their lived experience, worldview, and the unique challenges they may face.

• Demonstrates that their employer sees them, understands their needs, and is invested in their well-being.