Resources for Faculty and Staff

Need help to cope, quit or be there for a friend? Smoking cessation supports are available in the community and through your employee benefits program.

Learn about coverage available to you under your employee benefits program.

Prescription smoking cessation products

• If you have coverage under the University’s extended healthcare benefit, you can access up to $500 per lifetime in coverage for prescription smoking cessation drugs.
  
  As of May 31, 2019, the $500 lifetime maximum for smoking cessation resources available through our employee benefit plans will reset. This means those eligible employees who have previously used some or all of that benefit will have access to the full $500 again. Contact Sun Life Financial for information on the types of smoking cessation therapies covered.

• If you have access to a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and have allocated your flexible spending credits towards your HCSA, you may choose to put the money towards smoking cessation supports.

Counselling

• Regular, full-time employees and Sessional Lecturers can access smoking cessation programs through U of G’s employee and family assistance program provider, Homewood Health.
  • By phone: call 1-800-663-1142
  • Online: visit www.homeweb.ca
    • Create or sign into your account
    • Search for “Smoking Cessation” or “Stop Smoking and Get Your Life Back!”

Also check out:

• Tips for helping a friend or colleague quit smoking
• Smoke Free Curious for Quitting Tools and resources to support you in your journey
• Smokers Helpline from the Canadian Cancer Society and their First Week Challenge 
• How to Quit Smoking from the the Lung Association
• STOP program from Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Leave the Pack Behind: Web resource with research-based information and links to supports
• Walk or Run to Quit from the Canadian Cancer Society and the Running Room
• Pregnets: Helping pregnant and post-partum women quit or reduce smoking 
• Stop Smoking Clinic through the Guelph Family Healthy Team 
• Smoking, Vaping, Tobacco: Government of Canada smoking cessation guides and plans 
• Crush the Crave free mobile app
• QuitNow Men from UBC and the BC Lung Association

Stress can be a very uncomfortable feeling and many who are trying to quit or have quit may be tempted to turn back to smoking or vaping as a means to cope with stress and anxiety. For additional wellness resources to support your mental and physical health, visit U of G's Wellness@Work website. 

• Employee Assistance Program (for faculty and staff), 1-800-265-8310
• Faculty and staff are encouraged to review their benefits coverage for psychological services under the extended health plan.