HAVEN Helpline & LifeWorks

HAVEN Helpline is a counselling and support service. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

Harassment, Anti-racism and Violence Emergency Network

A national, bilingual critical incident reporting line available to members of ACTRA (excluding UBCP/ACTRA members*), Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC).

What resources are available through HAVEN Helpline?

24/7 bilingual critical incident reporting line
Confidential counselling services*
Professional support staff available through LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell)
Incident report will be forwarded to the union for follow up with member’s permission

*ACTRA Members may request counselling services from someone with shared lived experiences. LifeWorks will do its best to accommodate such requests.

*Anxiety about returning to work: No one can anticipate how they might feel while living and attempting to work during a global pandemic. Anxiety over health concerns is real. Immediate counselling and support are available through HAVEN Helpline.

*Emergency Financial Counselling Support: Counselling support related to financial concerns is available through HAVEN as part of the Member Assistance Program (MAP). If you are in need of short-term emergency financial assistance, please contact The AFC (at 1-877-399-8392) directly. The AFC supports entertainment industry professionals working in TV and film, music, theatre, and dance. The AFC may be able to help provide you with short-term emergency financial assistance for essential household bills and costs that cannot otherwise be paid.

Is HAVEN accessible to performers who are deaf and hard of hearing?

Yes. ACTRA members can access HAVEN by chat via the Lifeworks app (access through the web or the Apple App or Google Play stores). Incident reporting, immediate counselling and referral to additional services can all be accessed through the chat function. For members requiring ongoing counselling, support is available in the following formats:

In-person counselling with an ASL fluent counsellor or with an ASL interpreter present. (Please note, in-person counselling may not be available due to the COVID-19 health pandemic.)
Text-based modalities (chat, MyMigo, E-Counselling)
If both options above do not work, arrangements can be made for an ASL-fluent Video Counsellor.

Members requiring accommodations should discuss their needs when speaking with a representative from LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell).

What is LifeWorks and how do I access it?

The LifeWorks app offers web chat, total well-being resources and special retail discounts. Users are also able to file an incident report through the app’s First Chat tool.
Lifeworks can be accessed through the web or by downloading the free app available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
If you did not receive the email from ACTRA inviting you to join LifeWorks, please email actra@actra.ca to get your log-in details.

COVID-19 information, resources and videos are available the LifeWorks platform. We have also included some helpful webinars below to help support you and provide you with more information about how to prevent the spread of the virus.

Webinar: Emotional Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic (25 minutes)
Webinar: Talking to your child about COVID-19 (25 minutes)

WellCan™ Created by LifeWorks, WellCan™ is a free collection of digital resources to support the mental health of all Canadians during COVID-19. Through the growing collaboration of organizations, WellCan™ addresses challenges brought on by COVID-19 by offering an extensive database of information. There are a number of toolkits, articles, tips and infographics available on the WellCan app. The free app is available on Apple and Android devices. For desktop access, visit wellcan.ca.

Depression and the pandemic: a deep dive To help bring awareness to the importance of mental health, LifeWorks has launched a microsite, which explores the relationship between the pandemic and depression through four pillars of wellbeing: mental, social, physical and financial.

HAVEN Helpline is available for situations related to workplace discrimination, harassment and violence emergencies.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions about HAVEN Helpline are available by clicking on the dropdown questions below. You can also download the PDF by clicking here. Please note, some of the support services outlined below might be impacted due to the COVID-19 health pandemic.

HAVEN-Related Questions

What counselling options are available through HAVEN Helpline?

Please note, some of the support services outlined below might be impacted due to the COVID-19 health pandemic.

In-person counselling.
Counselling over the telephone.
Support online (via E-counselling or an interactive support program).
ACTRA Members may request counselling services from someone with shared lived experiences. LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) will do its best to accommodate such requests.
Self-directed resource package and tools.

Is the service available in English and French?

Yes. HAVEN Helpline is a bilingual incident reporting line available to ACTRA members (excluding UBCP/ACTRA members), DGC and Equity members across Canada.

Can I access in-person counselling?

Please note, some of the support services outlined below might be impacted due to the COVID-19 health pandemic. Yes. Members have access to professional, confidential, in-person counselling related to incidents of workplace violence or harassment. ACTRA Members may request counselling services from someone with shared lived experiences. LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) will do its best to accommodate such requests. To make an appointment, call HAVEN Helpline 24/7, toll-free at 1-855-201-7823.

Who can I contact if there is a problem with the service?

Should you have a concern about the service, you can request a Quality Assurance Review directly with the Care Access Centre through the LifeWorks platform or E-mail ACTRA at feedback@actra.ca.

How is confidentiality respected and maintained?

LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) adheres to stringent standards to ensure it respects the privacy of its clients. LifeWorks meets all of the audited confidentiality and privacy requirements as established by the Council On Accreditation (COA). This is the highest standard of accreditation in the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) industry. No one will know you have accessed services unless you choose to tell them (within the limits of the law). No identifying information will be shared with ACTRA, AFBS or the DGC without your consent.

Is my personal information secure?

LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) takes steps to prevent your personal information from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorized way, altered or disclosed, in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). If you have any questions about security, please contact LifeWorks.

Will my information be tracked or sold?

LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) does not share or sell the confidential information it collects. They only provide aggregate reporting data to ACTRA. For example, LifeWorks provides the number of calls to HAVEN Helpline, from which provinces, and the number of persons accessing services. LifeWorks does not share any information that could identify any particular member. The aggregate data helps ACTRA ensure the service is being used and is meeting the needs of our members.

What is the LifeWorks app?

LifeWorks is a well-being resource, accessible from a mobile app or the web. Through LifeWorks, you have access to support and treatment to help you through difficult situations you may face in the workplace – including violence and harassment. You can also easily access HAVEN Helpline by phone (1-855-201-7823) or through the LifeWorks chat function. LifeWorks is available on the web at login.lifeworks.com, and the free LifeWorks mobile app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or from Google Play.

What online well-being resources are available on the LifeWorks platform?

Hundreds of articles, toolkits and audio recordings are available on LifeWorks. Produced and reviewed by industry experts and bestselling authors, there’s a wealth of content that can be tailored to meet your interests about issues related to Family, Health, Life, Money and Work. Simply log-in to LifeWorks and visit the “Life” section from the menu bar.

Where can I get help if there are technical issues with the app?

In the LifeWorks web app, hover over your profile image (top right) and select Help from the dropdown menu. On the Help Centre page, click the Submit a Request button. In the mobile app, tap the More tab (bottom right), then tap App Support & Feedback from the menu. Scroll the page and tap the Submit a Request button. Technical support requests are typically addressed within 24-48 hours.

Is the information I input into the LifeWorks app shared with my union, a third party or my insurance provider?

The information you input into the LifeWorks app is linked to your profile, but that profile is not shared with your union, a third party or your insurance provider. In other words, your Health Risk Assessments and newsfeed preferences are not shared.

Feedback about HAVEN Helpline can be directed to feedback@actra.ca.

Download our HAVEN Helpline Zoom background

HAVEN Helpline is available to ACTRA, DGC and Equity members with the assistance of:

*UBCP/ACTRA members have access to their own support resources. Click here to learn more.