Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Mental Health Care Program

Personal, family, work, or social challenges can sometimes overwhelm employees. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) have been shown to positively impact employee morale and organizational productivity (Nunes et al., 2018). As a result, large corporations have widely adopted EAPs. Integrating mental health services into EAPs can further enhance their effectiveness while reducing overall costs.

Workplace mental health risks, also known as psychosocial risks, can be linked to the nature of the work or working hours, the work environment or opportunities for career development, and many other factors. Some specific examples include:

• Misuse or lack of skills for the job
• Excessive workload or pace, understaffing
• Prolonged isolation or inflexible working hours
• Lack of control over job design or workload
• Unsafe or poor working conditions
• Organizational cultures that condone negative behaviors
• Lack of support from colleagues or experiencing abusive supervision
• Violence, harassment, or bullying
• Discrimination and isolation
• Role ambiguity
• Under- or over-promotion
• Job insecurity, poor pay, or lack of career development opportunities
• Work-life imbalance

Economic downturns or political and social instability can lead to job loss, financial insecurity, reduced job opportunities, or increased unemployment rates.

The workplace can amplify these larger issues, negatively impacting mental health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that employers take responsibility for the health and safety of their employees, particularly focusing on improving mental health. The goal is to:

Preventing mental health conditions in the workplace is essentially about managing psychosocial risks. The WHO recommends that employers do this by implementing organizational interventions that directly target work conditions and the work environment. Organizational interventions involve screening, surveys, and assessments, followed by the reduction, modification, or elimination of workplace risks to mental health.

Leaders play a crucial role in creating a supportive work environment for mental health. By providing educational resources, promoting open communication, and offering accessible mental health services, organizations can help their employees thrive.

The WHO recommends:

• Manager Training: Equip managers with the tools and knowledge they need to create a supportive work environment where employees feel comfortable seeking help for mental health concerns. Training should focus on recognizing the signs of emotional distress, developing effective communication skills, and understanding the impact of workplace stressors.
• Employee Education: Promote mental health awareness among employees through educational programs and resources. By reducing stigma and increasing understanding, we can encourage employees to seek help when they need it.
• Comprehensive Support: Offer a comprehensive range of mental health support services, including individual counseling, stress management workshops, and access to physical activity programs.

The WHO recommends three interventions to help individuals with mental health conditions achieve, maintain, and participate in employment:

• Accommodate the workplace: Adjust the work environment to suit the abilities, needs, and preferences of employees with mental health conditions.
• Implement return-to-work programs: Combine these programs with ongoing clinical mental health care provided by specialists to help employees reduce mental health symptoms.
• Provide ongoing support: Continue to offer mental health and vocational support after treatment and return to work.

Addressing mental health in the workplace requires the voluntary participation of employees and experienced mental health professionals.

• Demonstrate commitment: Integrate mental health benefits into company policies.
• Invest in resources: Allocate budget for mental health initiatives and services.
• Align with human rights: Update workplace policies to comply with international human rights standards.
• Integrate across departments: Incorporate mental health into existing occupational safety and health systems.
• Involve employees: Include employees in decision-making processes.
• Use evidence-based practices: Base initiatives on the latest research on psychological risks and effective interventions.
• Adhere to regulations: Comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines.

A supportive workplace can have a significant positive impact on employee well-being and productivity. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to be engaged and satisfied with their jobs. By offering mental health resources and accommodations, organizations can:

• Reduce absenteeism and presenteeism
• Improve employee morale
• Enhance overall company culture

When employees share their mental health concerns, they are often taking a significant leap of faith. It's essential to approach these conversations with empathy and understanding. Remember, their decision to open up may have been influenced by a variety of factors, including their personal experiences, the company culture, and the nature of their concerns. Here's what mental health experts suggest:

Listen Carefully

Create a space for employees to share and make suggestions for change. But don't try to know the innermost thoughts of each employee.

Let Employees Know the Organization Wants to Support Them

The company needs to clearly express its intention to cooperate in solving the problem, by integrating counseling and psychological therapy programs into the general welfare program, in an accessible and usable way.

Don't Give Advice

Everyone is different and managers should not act like they understand what employees are going through. Don't diminish employee experiences by asserting that everything will be fine.

Confidentiality

Support employees and mental health professionals to keep personal information as private as possible.

Consider and Accommodate

There are many things employees may want or need to take care of their mental health, such as adjusting schedules, working alone or in groups, seeing a doctor, or taking "mental health days." The company should proactively make adjustments for everyone within the organization.

Seek Professional Assistance

Managers are not therapists and should not provide health advice. Offer feasible solutions, like a "menu of options" about the services the organization has covered to support employees.

Online Resources or Tools

The company can also integrate with any reputable online mental health care platforms, such as therapy or meditation apps. Remember that the best clinical care should be guided by professionals.

Organizational and Leadership Goodwill

The ideal work environment is one where employees feel shared, empathized, and supported when needed to balance work and life. Managers need to have open discussions about these issues, provide the necessary conditions and privacy for employees to feel more comfortable sharing.

Technology can empower employees to voluntarily share more detailed information through platforms and tracking apps. This enables organizations to adopt a preventative approach, transforming workplaces into supportive environments where employees can address emotional imbalances, identify the root causes of psychological issues, and seek help when needed. As a pilot, modern technologies can be used to monitor the psychological and emotional impact of work on employees through sentiment analysis tools. Organizations that foster healthy work environments and care for their employees will have the opportunity to attract top talent.

Our comprehensive mental health program provides employees with the tools and support they need to thrive. By offering both self-guided resources and live counseling, we help businesses:

• Boost employee morale and satisfaction
• Reduce absenteeism and presenteeism
• Improve productivity and performance
• Create a more supportive work culture

Wellcare offers a robust mental health program accessible through a mobile app. Our services include both self-paced support resources and live counseling sessions with qualified mental health professionals. Businesses can effortlessly implement this program nationwide, ensuring consistent and high-quality mental health support for all employees, regardless of location.

Our telemedicine solution offers a holistic approach to employee mental health. From automated self-help tools for common stress and psychological issues to personalized consultations with experienced therapists, we provide a range of options to suit individual needs.

• Easy and Effective: Proactive mental health self-care tools for common burnout or mild to moderate mental health issues.
• Affordable: Competitively priced 1-on-1 or group therapy sessions with qualified experts for more severe and persistent mental health conditions.
• Confidential: 100% anonymity to protect everyone's information.
• Comprehensive: From automated psychological support tools, to remote consultations with psychiatrists, to counseling with psychology professionals, to integration with major nationwide pharmacy chains. A seamless end-to-end experience.
• Preventative: Technology-based solutions provide instant, unlimited access to resources and support, regardless of location. We help scale early intervention and preventative care to reduce human and economic costs for businesses.

• Personalized Wellness: Offer a customizable telemedicine program that caters to the unique needs of your workforce.
• Skill Development: Empower your employees with the knowledge and tools to make informed health decisions.
• Positive Workplace Culture: Cultivate a supportive and caring work environment through targeted wellness initiatives.
• Measurable Results: Track the success of your program with comprehensive data and analytics.

• Offer comprehensive support to HR throughout the implementation process
• Promote the telemedicine program to encourage employee adoption
• Track usage data and gather feedback to enhance the user experience
• Continuously improve the program based on employee input

• Enhances employee resilience: Prevents burnout by promoting mental well-being.
• Expands accessibility: Reaches employees in various locations and addresses diverse needs.
• Comprehensive care: Goes beyond mental health treatment to include skill-building, deeper therapy, and personalized care.
• Fosters a positive culture: Emphasizes the crucial role of mental health in overall well-being.

Investing in your employees' mental health is a smart business decision. Our comprehensive wellness platform can help you:

• Reduce absenteeism and presenteeism
• Improve employee morale and engagement
• Enhance productivity
• Create a positive company culture

Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about how our services can benefit your organization.

1. Nunes, Ana & Richmond, Melissa & Pampel, Fred & Wood, Randi. (2018). The Effect of Employee Assistance Services on Reductions in Employee Absenteeism. Journal of Business and Psychology. 33. 10.1007/s10869-017-9518-5.
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work
3. https://hbr.org/2021/02/when-your-employee-discloses-a-mental-health-condition