Employee Assistance Programs for Mental Health
Prioritizing mental health at work can help employees and employers, as healthy employees drive an organization’s success. Recent research by nonprofit Transamerica Institute found that 43% of workers often feel anxious or depressed. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are often provided by employers as a part of their employee benefits package and are designed to support employees in addressing a wide range of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Although EAPs may cover services beyond mental health, we will exclusively cover mental health support in this section of our guide. To learn more about the full range of services potentially offered by an EAP, check out our podcast episode Employee Assistance Programs Explained.
How Employee Assistance Programs can help
When we struggle with mental health issues, many aspects of our lives can be impacted, including our ability to work effectively. For instance, we may experience reduced productivity, miss work (“absenteeism”), or show up to work without being engaged (“presenteeism”) when we have unaddressed mental health concerns.
An EAP may provide confidential and professional support to employees. Contacting your EAP is a proactive first step to getting help for mental health concerns. EAPs typically offer short-term counseling and referrals to specialized mental health providers for long-term care.
The specific supports an EAP offers may vary, so it's essential to check with your employer to see what services are available. Typically, EAPs offer:
- Crisis Intervention. We all go through hard moments in life which can make our lives feel out of control. Crisis intervention services provide immediate support and guidance in emergency situations. If you want to learn more about how to support someone in the direct aftermath of a traumatic event, check out our podcast episode Psychological First Aid: Responding to Trauma.
- Short-term Counseling. Many of us will face depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other issues that require counseling. An EAP may offer short-term counseling to help us navigate these situations.
- Referral Services. Sometimes our mental health concerns require long-term care. In these situations, a referral to a mental health professional such as a therapist or psychiatrist would be necessary.
- Wellness resources. Some EAPs may offer helpful wellness resources such as workshops on healthy eating, mindfulness, and stress management.
Looking for ways to pay for mental health services?
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, find out if your employer offers an EAP or contact a mental health professional for support. If you need immediate assistance that is not life threatening, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides a helpline for people experiencing mental health concerns: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264).
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