The Co-operators is co-sponsoring a new program by St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph that will support the latter’s healthcare staff.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph’s new Centre for Resilience, Learning and Growth will focus on integrating resilience, learning, and development strategies to support the mental health, wellness, personal and professional growth of its personnel at all levels of the organization, a release said. This includes the medical clinic’s physicians, nurses, care providers, and support staff.

The program will be a multi-year project and will first launch in St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph. As the program’s tools and strategies are developed, it will be extended to support others within the St. Joseph’s Health System and other healthcare partners across the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team.

"The entire healthcare sector is facing unprecedented stress, burnout and staff shortages. We’ve been through rapid change and uncertain times that have left our people feeling stretched, strained and exhausted. The retention of a resilient, enabled and empowered workforce is critical to our mission of providing compassionate, person-centred care to those we are privileged to serve,” said St. Joseph’s vice president of people and strategy Sandra Ramelli.

"We are truly honoured to partner with St. Joseph’s to establish the innovative Centre for Resilience, Learning and Growth to deliver unique support for healthcare providers in our community," added The Co-operators executive vice president and chief operating officer of P&C manufacturing Lisa Guglietti.

Guglietti also noted that the Co-operators recognizes that to continue building resilient communities, it has to provide healthcare workers with personal wellbeing resources and the tools to grow professionally, so that they are better equipped to face future challenges.