Employee assistance plans only help if they are utilized. It seems like such a simple statement, but in reality there are many people who never use their EAP to their best benefit.
They may not realize the extent of their plan's coverage for things like substance abuse and mental health treatment or even counseling. They may feel ashamed to seek help or are afraid of losing their job if they admit that there is a problem. The truth is, they risk a lot more than that if they don't seek help, and their EAP can be the place to get it.
Employees
It's widely known that stress, depression and substance abuse directly affect employee performance over time. Loss of productivity, lack of motivation and job loss are all likely results of untreated mental health and substance abuse problems. These affect both the employee and the employer, and they also can have a negative impact on the workplace in general.
Why don't most employees seek help through an EAP? Generally, it is fear of being found out or reprimanded by the employer for having a problem. Employees may feel they will be treated differently or seen as weak by their employer for needing to seek treatment for a mental health or substance abuse problem.
But that's not the case at all. Early diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues not only improves the life of the patient, but it can also make them a more valuable employee.
Families in crisis
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 in 5 U.S. adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder, but they don't seek treatment for it.
When a family member suffers from mental illness or substance abuse, the entire family suffers. Depression and substance abuse are two common illnesses that often go untreated, resulting in divorce, physical abuse and broken families. These two illnesses are treatable, often with amazing results.
Why don't more people seek treatment and keep their families intact? Again, the stigma associated with seeking help keeps many people from seeing a mental health provider. Sometimes, the cost seems too much, with some insurance plans offering little or no coverage for mental health benefits.
Many employees would seek counseling for these types of problems if they could afford them, and they may not realize that free or reduced cost visits are available under their EAP. Plus, if they consider that untreated mental health issues could lead to poor job performance and result in job loss, it's definitely less expensive to seek help to fix the problem rather than let it cost them their job.
Not just for depression
Most people consider using an EAP for individual counseling or substance abuse treatment, but the benefits go further than that. Marriage counseling, grief counseling and counseling for problems in the workplace are all common types of services covered under an EAP.
Children with learning disorders and behavioral problems can also utilize EAP services, helping them to improve and enrich their life and relieve stress within their family. An EAP isnt just for people who are depressed or addicted, it's beneficial for a multitude of problems, and its not just for employees; it helps the entire family.
Employee assistance plans are so much more than just a way for employees to seek help for workplace-related stress. They offer employees and their families an opportunity to seek help for problems that can destroy lives if left untreated. They offer employees a chance to feel better about themselves, their work and their family life.
By offering a solution that doesn't cost lots of money and that won't negatively impact an employee's career, employers that provide an EAP are giving their workers and their families a chance for a healthier, happier future — and that's good for everyone.
