Mental health is top of mind for employers, and for good reason. Data shows that Americans continue to struggle with a variety of challenges that are interfering with employees’ mental health and workplace productivity. According to a study by Mental Health America:
- 83% of survey respondents feel emotionally drained from their work
- 90% of employees report that their workplace stress affects their mental health
- 71% of employees find it difficult to concentrate because of their work environment
In the face of increasing stress in and out of the workplace, it’s become more important than ever for organizations to support employees’ mental health by providing easy access to employee assistance programs (EAPs).
What is an EAP?
An employee assistance program (EAP) is a workplace benefit that helps employees manage everyday challenges that could negatively impact work or life.
EAP services were introduced in the 1930s as a tool to improve workplace safety and job performance by helping employees address alcohol abuse. Since then, EAPs have expanded their services to help employees with mental health concerns and other life challenges.
When searching for an employee assistance program, it’s helpful to review the different types of EAP services offered and the provider’s approach to care. To learn more, check out our EAP Guide.
Understanding the need for EAP services
The premise for EAPs is easy to understand: Organizations are more likely to have an engaged and productive workforce when employees have the support they need to manage life’s challenges. This, in turn, leads to greater organizational success, making EAPs a win-win benefit.
Although employee assistance programs have been around for decades, recent studies underscore the ongoing need for mental health support, financial wellness programs, and treatment for drug and alcohol concerns.
In its most recent “Stress in America Report,” the American Psychology Association says, “There is mounting evidence that our society is experiencing the psychological impacts of collective trauma.” Global conflict, racism, inflation, and climate-related challenges are contributing to this ongoing stress.
As explained in our Stress Guide, long-term stress can have a debilitating impact on mental health. When left unaddressed and untreated, stress can be harmful to physical health, lead to unhealthy behaviors, and negatively impact relationships, families, workplaces, and society as a whole.
To meet the needs of today’s organizations and people, AllOne Health has expanded its EAPs to provide a whole health approach to wellness.
Our Whole Health Approach Supports:
AllOne Health has transformed the EAP experience by providing modern access to mental health care, expansive solutions for whole health, and high-level partnerships with organizations, teams, and human resources.
Here’s a closer look at how our employee assistance programs (EAPs) make it easier for employees to improve their mental health:
1. Greater Access to Care
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) help employees address mental health issues, substance abuse, stress, financial problems, and concerns with work-life balance. These challenges can be detrimental to a person’s overall health and well-being, but they’re not included in traditional health insurance coverage.
AllOne Health EAPs offer digital and traditional access to mental health professionals. These options make it easier and more convenient for people to connect with mental health professionals how and when they want. They also make care more accessible for those who live in areas where there is a shortage of mental health professionals.
Our latest survey asked members to name their preferences for accessing counseling services, and here’s what we found:
2. Support for Youth Mental Health Crisis
Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an alarming report showing that American high school students are experiencing a mental health crisis. The data found a dramatic increase in depression, risky behaviors, and thoughts of suicide.
Bringing greater attention to this crisis is a start. Reversing the trend will require a multifaceted approach, with families, schools, and employers working together. For parents and teens, employee assistance programs are an excellent resource for information and referrals for short-term counseling or in-the-moment support.
3. Access to Culturally Competent Care
Our provider network includes diverse clinical professionals who span the country. Our care connecting team matches employees with culturally competent providers who specialize in concerns related to minority mental health, LGBTQ+ issues, teen mental health, workplace mental health challenges, and more.
4. Address Whole Health
Our whole health approach to wellness recognizes that mental health, physical health, and behaviors are all intertwined and are greatly influenced by relationships, surroundings, work, and other aspects of life.
Our latest member survey found that 99.5% of respondents agree that adopting a holistic approach that considers the mental, emotional, and physical health of employees and the overall health of the organization, positively influences the well-being of individuals and the organization.
To provide this whole health approach, AllOne Health has expanded its employee assistance program to include the following services:
- Short-term Counseling Sessions. These sessions canhelp employees and their family members manage stress, anxiety, grief, and depression, resolve conflicts, improve relationships, overcome substance abuse, and address everyday challenges.
- Life Coaching. A life coach has training in helping people achieve more by forming healthy habits, learning new skills, and tapping into self-motivation and accountability. With the assistance of a life coach, employees can reach new goals, manage life transitions, improve stress management, and become more effective and productive.
- Financial Consultations. Employees can receive help with budget coaching, financial planning, bankruptcy, homebuying, debt management, identity theft, retirement planning, and saving for college.
- Legal Referrals. Employees can receive assistance with various legal matters, such as estate planning, wills, real estate, bankruptcy, divorce, custody agreements, elder care, elder abuse, and adoption.
- Work-Life Resources and Referrals. These specialists can help employees obtain resources and referrals for child care, elder care, pet care, adoption, and other life issues. They can also help employees locate special needs support, including referrals for education, enrichment activities, housing, transportation, and community resources.
- Medical Advocacy. A medical social worker has specialized training in helping people navigate the healthcare system, benefits packages, or health insurance plans. Employees can contact a medical advocate for help with insurance claims and coverage, and securing doctor referrals, medical equipment, transportation, and options for transitional care or discharge.
- Organizational Support. AllOne Health employee assistance programs include support from an account manager who works closely with the HR department and leadership teams to support workplace mental health, reduce absenteeism, and improve employee retention.Account managers can also advise supervisors on when to make “formal” and “informal” referrals to the employee assistance program. They can also help secure training programs and help organizations and leadership teams cope with various critical incidents impacting the workplace, such as natural disasters, an employee’s illness or death, workplace violence, layoffs, or other onsite traumatic incidents. Account managers can also help organizations obtain crisis management support.
5. Prevent Burnout and Address Work Stress
It’s often said that people leave bad managers, not bad companies. Our EAP provides easy access to leadership and management consultations through AllOne Consulting, a team of dynamic professionals with experience in developing teams and leaders, creating inclusive cultures, and resolving conflicts.
Next steps?
Finding the right employee assistance program for your organization can be challenging. When selecting or renewing an employee assistance program, it pays to look closely at what is offered. Review contracts carefully, watch for added fees for services, and check employee utilization rates.
AllOne Health is in the business of care, and service is what matters most. We view EAPs as a partnership, where we help organizations, leadership teams, employees, and their family members find the support they need to manage life’s challenges and become the best version of themselves.
This, in turn, has a positive ripple effect, strengthening families, communities, and society as a whole. To learn more, contact AllOne Health. To request a free quote from our sales team, click here.
