Why you should be using your company’s employee assistance programs (EAPs)
These days, more and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon and offering employee assistance programs (EAPs). But not every company does a good job communicating what EAPs are, how they work, or even that they’re on offer, which is why employee uptake is often quite low in comparison to other benefits. Some employees may also have reservations about using EAPs because they have misconceptions about the confidentiality clause. As the lack of awareness is a real shame, this Pacific Prime Latin America article spills the beans, and tells you why you should be signing up for EAPs today.
EAPs can help improve your mental health and wellbeing…
EAPs are a type of employee benefits program that companies provide to help their workforce deal with various issues in their lives – both personal and work-related, in order to stop these issues from affecting their performance at work. Typically offered along with a group health insurance plan, EAPs primarily focus on mental health help such as workshops/training, counseling, and 24/7 hotlines, and many will also either provide or signpost you to services and tools to solve your problems. When it comes to topics that EAPs can cover, it’s a broad range including:
- Professional relationships – Conflict resolution and networking
- Family situations – Childcare, marriage counseling, divorce, etc.
- Professional development – Education programs and coaching
- Financial counseling – Paying off debt, budgeting, etc.
- Career transitions – Promotions, lateral career moves, etc.
- Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and anger management
- Recovery from traumatic events like the loss of a loved one and accidents, as well as recovery from substance abuse
- And more.
..and uses short-term approaches to solve problems one at a time
It’s important to note that EAP counseling is usually short-term and focuses on solving a specific problem one at a time. As such, most EAP therapists will either use Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or short-term solution-focused therapy, which are two popular approaches that can effectively solve specific problems within a few sessions. When you sign up for a session, you can expect your therapist to ask questions to hone in on your specific problem. In addition, he or she will help you identify your goals, figure out your strengths, explore past situations, and identify shifts in thinking or perspective that can help you come up with a solution.
Mental health support like therapy doesn’t come cheap, so EAPs are a lifesaver
While telehealth apps have made mental health care a lot more accessible, the reality is that they are still unaffordable for many employees – especially considering the rising inflation and cost of living crisis in many countries. The free one-to-one counseling that your EAPs might provide is a good substitute, and you can keep seeing your therapist after you’ve used up your EAP sessions. Typically, sessions are provided both online and in person.
You’ll still be guaranteed confidentiality when using an EAP and can’t be penalized for what you say
Of course, many employees are put off by EAPs because they don’t feel comfortable with their employers knowing that they’re seeking mental health support or, worse, knowing the intimate details of what has been disclosed to the therapist. Needless to say, this is a huge misconception. Therapists working for EAPs must also uphold the same standards of confidentiality and privacy as all other therapists, and EAPs are set up to provide anonymity as much as possible. This means your name is not sent to your employer if you access EAP services and the contents of your discussions are certainly out of bounds.
Note: If you’re at risk of self harm, disclose child or elder abuse, or anything else that is illegal, your EAP therapist (just like all other therapists) is required to report the information to the relevant law enforcement or social service agency.
Get in touch with Pacific Prime Latin America today!
While your company may provide an impressive set of employee benefits, such as group health insurance and EAPs, it might still be worth securing an individual plan as well. This is because what your company provides may not completely meet your healthcare and lifestyle needs, and you may want to have coverage even after you’ve left your job. If you’re not sure where to begin in your hunt for health insurance, you’re more than welcome to get in touch with the team at Pacific Prime Latin America.
We’ve got over two decades of industry experience under our belt, and pride ourselves on providing expert and impartial advice to clients. When you come to us for a free consultation, you can expect to get a needs assessment and a tailored plan comparison of the most suitable options in the market, as well as heaps of support and assistance along the way. The best part? All these services will be provided to you at no additional cost versus going to the insurer directly.
Contact us to kick start your insurance journey today!
With over 5 years of experience in the field, Suphanida spends the majority of her day synthesizing complex pieces of insurance-related information and translating this into easy-to-understand, engaging, and effective content across a variety of media such as articles, infographics, whitepapers, videos, and more.
Suphanida is also responsible for planning and publishing three whitepapers released annually by Pacific Prime: The State of Health Insurance Report, The Cost of Health Insurance Report, and The Global Employee Benefits Trends Report. Additionally, she handles the LinkedIn profiles of Pacific Prime’s Founder and CEO, as well as Global HR Lead.
Suphanida’s strengths lie in her strong research and analytical skills, which she has gained from her BA in Politics from the University of Warwick and Erasmus Mundus Joint MA in Journalism from Aarhus University and City, University of London.
Being of Thai-Indian origin and having lived, studied, and worked in Thailand, the UK, and Denmark, Suphanida also has a unique, multicultural perspective that helps her understand the struggles of expats and globetrotters.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures.
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