Tools Beyond The Trade: The UA Canada National Wellness Program
An open toolbox with pathways branching into icons that reflect the everyday work and life responsibilities faced by tradespeople.
This post is part one of our multi-part “Tools Beyond the Trade” series—where we cover and clarify UA services and benefits, including pensions, medical and insurance coverage, and supports covered by UA Canada collectively and UA Local 787 specifically. Look for the entire series launching throughout 2025 to learn about all the services you can access as a UA Local 787 member.
Inside the mind of a tradesperson: a maze of daily responsibilities, stress, and pressure—this image reflects the unseen mental load carried on and off the job.
TL;DR: What You Need to Know About The UA Canada National Wellness Program
The UA Canada National Wellness Program — The UA Canada National Wellness Program encompasses Telus Health One, the peer support platform Togetherall, and maternity/parental leave benefits—providing wrap-around digital support for members’ wellness. This suite of resources is often called MyMAP (My Members Assistance Program).
Free, Confidential Support —The UA Canada National Wellness Program is a no-cost, confidential support tool available to all UA members and their immediate families through UA Canada’s national benefits.
Available 24/7 – Get help anytime by phone, chat, video call, or scheduled appointment—whether it’s a crisis at 3 AM or a slow-burn stress you’ve been carrying for months.
Covers Real-Life Problems – Not just mental health: the UA Canada National Wellness Program offers resources for health, fitness, legal, financial, and family services—built for everyday problems and emergencies.
No Union or Employer Oversight – Privacy matters. No one at UA Canada, your Local, or your employer can see what you access.
Self-Serve or Talk to Someone – Choose between browsing articles, self-directed learning, using interactive tools, scheduling local appointments, or connecting directly via online chat.
Supports Families Too – Spouses, dependent children, and household members can use the UA Canada National Wellness Program with no referral or pre-approval needed by logging in https://uacanada.ca/wellness
Part of a Bigger Picture – This post is part of our Tools Beyond the Trade series, helping UA Local 787 members understand the full value of their benefits. Stay tuned for more throughout 2025.
Download Infographic – Our Family Support Kit infographic is a handy reference with login details and the wellness number for quick references.
Ready to get access to all this and more? Skip ahead to HERE to sign up.
Don’t forget! Local 787 is running a Contest! Fill out this 3-5 minute survey for your chance to win one of four $50 Credits to our Merch Store! For UA Local 787 member only
Problem-solving is second nature in the trades—this image highlights the focus, creativity, and mental energy required every day on the job
Tough Trade, Tougher Tools: How UA Members Can Use the UA Canada National Wellness Program
If you work in the skilled trades, you know: this industry doesn’t rattle easily. Resilience, fortitude, and tenacity are just as essential as competency and experience.
Success in the trades takes more than hard work—it takes long hours, technical skill, continuous training, strong customer service, and deep knowledge of codes and safety protocols—all while performing real physical labor.
This is high-stakes work, with zero margin for error. The comfort and safety of someone’s home or business often depend on you.
But no pressure, right?
The thing is, pressure is a force that can forge steel and form diamonds—or cause a boiler to explode.
There’s an unwritten expectation in our industry that we are to be rock solid in every facet of our professional lives. We are expected to work with stamina and precision, grit and endurance. Sometimes, we’re treated more like the tools we use than the human beings we are.
We get it.
The job is tough. We are tougher.
In many ways, trades workers are high-performance machines. But if we’re required to rise to near-superhuman levels of strength, then the systems we work within must also meet that standard—durable, dependable, accessible, unshakable.
You can’t expect a person to thrive in a structure that fails them—any more than you can expect a multimeter to function without regular calibration and proper storage.
Nobody questions the importance of taking care of their equipment—it’s the responsible thing to do if it’s expected to stay functional for the long haul. So why do we so often neglect the most important tool we have: ourselves?
Today, we’re talking about maintenance—not weakness. Just practical, useful tools you can access for free, anytime, anywhere, with ease and anonymity. Tools that are union-built and member-backed. They’re available through Telus Health and Togetherall—services designed to be just as tough, versatile, and reliable as the people they’re built for.
A closer look at the mental load: today’s tradespeople are problem-solvers navigating complex systems—both digital and human
What Is the UA Canada National Wellness Program?
The UA Canada National Wellness Program, sometimes referred to as MyMAP (Members Assistance Program), is a comprehensive suite of digital wellness supports available to all UA members, including those at UA Local 787. The program brings together a suite key resources:
Telus Health One – A digital platform offering professional support and resources for mental, physical, and financial wellness.
Togetherall – An anonymous, peer-to-peer support network where members can connect and share experiences.
Pregnancy, Maternity & Parental Leave Benefits – Additional supports to help members during parental leave and adjusting to early family life.
All of these tools are fully backed by UA Canada but run independently by trusted providers. Use of these services is completely confidential—only professionals at Telus Health can see what you access, and your employer or union will never know what you’ve used, asked about, or explored.
Together, these supports form the UA Canada National Wellness Program (MyMAP)—act as a vital resource for supporting and maintaining mental, physical, and financial health. It’s the kind of backup every worker should have—because we know life off the job can be just as tough as life on it.
You’ve probably heard statistics on mental health before. But we’re not here to throw a bunch of generic numbers at you—we want to share stats actually relevant to your world:
3x More Likely
Men are 3x more likely to die by suicide than women.
Source: Centre for Suicide Prevention, "Men and Suicide" fact sheet
48 %
the percentage of tradespeople (with self-reported suboptimal mental health) that report having a good friend at work.
Source: Mental Health & Substance Use — Canada’s Building Trades Unions
70%
of workers in the construction industry are affected by job stress.
42%
of tradespeople surveyed reported using drugs or alcohol on a daily or weekly basis to manage suboptimal mental health.
Source: Canada’s Building Trades Unions,, Mental Health & Substance Use, May 2025
2 out of 3
men in Canada will never seek mental health support. (Even though 64% report moderate to server levels of stress.)
Source: Benefits & Pensions Monitor, 2025, CMHF & Intensions Consulting, 2025
That’s rough—and it’s not right.
We’d never invest in quality work gear without planning to maintain it. Waiting for something to break isn’t a plan—it’s teeing up for failure.
That’s where Telus Health comes in: bridging the gap between what people need and what they have access to—because leaving people unsupported isn’t just bad for human beings: it’s bad business.
83%
the percentage gap between the benefits Canadian employees have and the benefits they say they want.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada and TELUS Health
$16 Billion
the cost to Canadian employers in lost productivity due to mental-health related absences
Source: TELUS Health reports, How much are you losing to absenteeism, Mercer
8 in 10
Canadian employees would consider changing jobs for better wellbeing support
Source: TELUS Health, Morneau Shepell
Any business—even the most cutthroat corporation—should understand this simple logic: brutalizing the most valuable resource (the human resource) will costs them money.
Unsupported workers lead to higher turnover, lower engagement, eroded professional trust, increased risk to reputation and ultimately, a direct hit to the bottom line. Supporting workers isn’t just the morally and ethically right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do.
Enter The UA Canada National Wellness Program: Real Tools, Real Support
Enter the UA Canada National Wellness Program: real tools, real people, and real support—designed for those who keep our communities running.
The UA Canada National Wellness Program, inclusive of Telus Health’s platform, is easy to use and practical to access:
Use it online, by phone (1.833.778.2627), chat, or app—24/7/365.
Sign in to Telus Health’s wellness platform via our general login to access the platforms core offerings.
Set up a private, anonymous account—no tracking by UA Canada or your Local.
Access supports for:
Mental health
Physical health
Financial help
Legal advice
Addiction counselling
Family services
Relationship & skill building support
Coverage includes you and your family—completely free with your union membership.
All interactions are confidential (within standard safety guidelines).
In short: the UA Canada National Wellness Program is the maintenance kit for the most important tool—you.
Support is available in many forms—talk, text and connect to a real human 24/7 for support services that are only a click away.
What Services Are Available to You?
Lots.
Seriously. The UA Canada National Wellness Program provides a suite of resources that act as a curated hub for mental, physical, emotional, and practical support, all in one place.
Sound like a pitch?
Yeah, we get it.
One more thing on your to-do list.
And when it comes to mental health—what, are we just going to sit around hugging each other?
Yeah… no.
Hugs are great, but practical help is what this program delivers.
With the goal of putting a wide range of tools and services at your fingertips—for you and your family, these wellness offerings aren’t just about mental health. We’re talking about everything from nutrition advice to financial coaching to legal counselling.
No weeks-long wait for appointments.
No endless Google searches to find the right expert.
No phone tag or frustrating email chains.
No $300 “intro” calls just to get started.
Instead? You log into one platform. Within minutes, you’re connected—by phone, video call or chat—to someone who can match you with virtual services fast and tailored to your needs.
Finding the right support can feel overwhelming—knowing what’s available is the first step.
What Supports Can You Access:
Supports aren’t just for you—they extend to any family member living in your household (yes, even an elderly parent or in-law living with you counts!) Coverage also includes children or dependants under 25 who are temporarily away at school—as long as your home remains their permanent address.
Mental Health & Emotional Support
1-on-1 solution-based therapy and counselling (in-person, phone, or video)
Crisis support and grief counselling
Help for stress, anxiety, burnout, depression
Anonymous peer-to-peer community via Togetherall
Self-help courses, tools, and mental wellness articles
Family & Relationships
Marriage and relationship counselling
Parenting support (newborns, teens, adoption, blended families)
Help caring for elderly family members
Family law resources (divorce, custody, wills)
Legal & Financial Services
Free consultations with licensed lawyers
Help with wills, estate planning, tenant rights, identity theft
Financial coaching: budgeting, debt, bankruptcy, retirement planning
Workplace Stress & Critical Incidents
Support for job-related stress, shift work, or seasonal layoffs
Help after critical incidents or traumatic job events
Health, Nutrition & Lifestyle
Fitness and weight loss toolkits
Video resources on fitness, sleep, pain ,and energy management
Counselling and guidance from a registered dietician or nutritionalist
Mini-courses on stress management, routine building, resilience
Addiction & Substance Use
Confidential support for alcohol, drug, gambling, or smoking issues
Toolkits You Can Use Right Now
Downloadable and printable guides and toolkits are available through the platform for:
Health & wellbeing
Financial planning
Grief and loss
Legal checklists
Emergency planning
Each toolkit includes step-by-step instructions, expert insights, and practical tips.
Anonymous Peer-to-Peer Support
Ever been on a Reddit forum? Or maybe you’ve spent time in a Muskoka chair with friends on a dock, just talking? You vent about your day, someone else says, “Yeah, that sounds brutal”—and suddenly, you feel a little better?
That’s the power of a supportive community.
In fact, a 2023 study from JMIR Mental Health found that:
Online forums make valuable contributions to social well-being and access to a range of timely support services for… people experiencing mental ill-health, and, while doing so, involve users in the processes of resilience building. Source: JMIR Publications, 2023
Translation? Even online connection helps people feel better.
That’s why MyMAP includes access to Togetherall, a peer-to-peer mental health support forum. All usernames are randomly generated. Your employer, union, or Telus Health cannot see what you post. Togetherall is monitored 24/7 by trained mental health professionals who only intervene when necessary—such as in emergencies or moments of distress.
So if you need a place to vent about your supervisor, or stress about your kid acting up at school—this is that place.
It’s full of people who get it. After all, they are here for the same reason you are.
No trip to cottage country required.
Don’t Forget the Perks
There’s more than just mental health supports—MyMAP includes perks and tools you might not know you have access to.
If you caught our recent blog on Union Savings, you already know we’re serious about deals and discounts that help reduce the cost of everyday life for our members. While not every Local is enrolled in Union Savings, all UA Canada members can access exclusive perks through Telus Health—no individual account needed, just your general UA login.
These are perks, exclusive offers, and discount codes designed to reduce daily costs on the brands and products you already know, trust, and use.
Some of the best perks you can access include:
Preferred pricing on HelloFresh, Apple, LASIK, Ray-Ban, Great Wolf Lodge, Ripley’s, and more
Cash back offers at Walmart, Best Buy, TEMU, Adidas, Under Armour, Shoppers, Sephora, Vistaprint, and others
Wellness and lifestyle rewards for you and your family
Okay… So Why It Matters for HVAC Workers
Did those perks catch your interest? Maybe the fitness toolkits stood out? Maybe not.
But hear us out: You’re not the only one who might want to use them.
Think about how even a short downpour can ruin a picnic, or how a boiler that seems to be functioning perfectly can still be unsafe without obvious warning signs.
So just like you pack an umbrella on a sunny day—or a combustion analyzer on a job—you’ll be glad you have it when you need it.
The thing is, your MyMAP platform isn’t just for you. It’s also for your family.
Still not sure?
Here are a few (totally hypothetical but surprisingly familiar) situations where MyMAP can make a real difference:
Real-Life Support: When You Might Use It
Your elderly mother-in-law is struggling to live alone.
She won’t consider assisted living, and your partner is overwhelmed trying to manage her care. It’s starting to consume your home life.
With MyMAP:
Your spouse can access straightforward resources like Adjusting to Your New Role as a Caregiver. Articles and short modules cover financial support options, tips for difficult conversations, and alternatives to nursing homes—like in-home care.
You’ve fallen behind on bills.
Some unexpected life stuff hit, and things are starting to spiral. You don’t even know where to begin.
With MyMAP:
Use tools and expert guidance on myeapsupport for debt management, budgeting, and coping with financial stress. Connect directly with certified financial counsellors or browse resources like Maintaining Financial Wellness During a Major Life Incident.
Your teenager is acting out…or shutting down.
They’re online constantly, grades are slipping, and you feel out of your depth.
With MyMAP:
You’ll find expert advice on how to talk to teens, recognize red flags, build better communication, and set healthy screen-time boundaries. Your teen can also access Togetherall for anonymous, moderated peer support—no parental permission or employer visibility required.
Your new landlord seems sketchy.
Deposits are changing, fees are unclear, and you’re losing sleep.
With MyMAP:
Book a legal consult or talk with someone who specializes in tenant rights. You'll also find resources like Tenant and Landlord Rights and Responsibilities and legal checklist toolkits to help you protect yourself.
Bottom Line? Don’t Wait Until Things Are Bad
Use it early. Use it often. It’s there to make life easier, not harder.
Pro Tip:
Everyone uses the same general login (to stay anonymous). Once you're in, you can set up a private account to:
Schedule appointments
Chat live with support
Get matched with services near you
Take self-guided mini courses
Join the Togetherall anonymous forum
Access help via phone, app, text, or chat
How to Access MyMAP Services
Getting support doesn’t have to be complicated—MyMAP helps guide you from where you are to where you need to be
Sold yet? Still skeptical? Totally fair.
Another website. Another app. Another login.
We get it—digital fatigue is real.
But here’s the thing: it only takes a few minutes to set up.
Once it’s done, you’ve got a trusted, professional support system in your back pocket—available anytime you or your loved ones need it. The platform is designed to be simple and easy to use. And if you run into problems while on the platform, getting help and providing feedback are as easy as navigating to the “Web Help Centre” at the home of the platform homepage, and submitting a request for assistance.
Bookmark it. Save the login. Tell your family it’s there when they need it.
This is like your preventative maintenance plan—except for your mind, your family, and your future.
So… How Do I Access MyMAP?
Step-by-Step Guide
Go to uacanada.ca
Click “Wellness” in the top navigation bar
You’ll be redirected to the UA Canada National Wellness Centre
Log in using the universal login
Username: uamap
Password: wellness
Pro Tip:
While you’re creating your personal MyMAP account, take a minute to set up your anonymous Togetherall account. That way, support is ready to go whenever someone in your household needs it.
Now You Have Some Options:
Pro tip: Know your route—explore MyMAP ahead of time so you’re ready when support is needed
Download the Telus Health One app
Available via the Apple App Store or Google PlayUse the web portal
Connect to Telus Health One through your browserPrefer to talk to someone right now?
Call 1-833-778-2627 — listed at the top of the UA Wellness homepage
Once you access the app or portal, you’ll land on the MyMAP homepage.
From there, you can:
Chat live with a support rep
Book services and browse available supports
Access self-guided tools, articles, and programs
Log in or create your anonymous personal account for full access
You’ll be prompted to log in or create your personal (anonymous) account to access everything.
Looking for more help?
Check out the Navigation Walkthrough video at the top of the Wellness homepage for a step-by-step overview.
UA’s Pro Tips for Getting Set Up:
Save the 24/7 help number somewhere visible: 1-833-778-2627
Add it to your phone—and your family’s
Download the app for easy access
Bookmark the web portal
Set up your Togetherall account
Use a secure third-party password manager
Take a few minutes to explore—you might find something useful
Bonus: Download our Family Support Kit infographic a handy reference with login details and the wellness number. Post it on the fridge or by the computer so support is always easy to find.
Final Note from the Union
“Mental health” is a loaded phrase. For many, it brings to mind awkward group therapy circles or breathing exercises that feel more confusing than calming (turns out there’s real science behind those exercises—wild, right? We were surprised too).
The truth is, everyone has mental health. One in four people struggle with theirs.
That’s 25% of the population, yet the stigma still runs deep. Changing that may take a generation.
But the stigma isn’t yours to carry. The tools we offer are.
Tradespeople are expected to work hard, provide for others, stay physically tough and emotionally steady—and still have something left for families, relationships, hobbies, and dreams.
You’re not just doing a job. You’re building a life. And any job worth doing deserves the best tools for it.
Our best work often happens before anything breaks.
We don’t wait until the multimeter fails—we calibrate it.
We clean the grill before the burgers hit.
We make sure the people we care about—including ourselves—know where to go and what to do to get help when they need it.
Quietly, without fanfare, we care for what (and who) matters.
That’s not extra.
That’s our standard.
Because the job is tough—
and we’re built to be tougher.
Skill. Strength. Exceptional Standards.
UA Local 787.
This article is part of our ongoing “Tools Beyond the Trade” series, created to help UA Local 787 members better understand and access the full range of benefits available to them. While this series focuses on supports covered by UA Local 787’s Collective Agreement, some programs—like MyMAP—are available to all union members under UA Canada.
From navigating your pension to accessing medical, insurance, and mental health supports, this series is here to make sure you get the most out of your union membership.
Stay tuned as new posts launch throughout 2025, and explore all the perks and protections you’re entitled to as a UA Local 787 member.
Got questions?
Visit our FAQ Page
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Read more from our ongoing blog series
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