Strategies | Business strategy and the bottom line | programs (EAP). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health adequate coverage for mental health, behavioral health and Services Administration (SAMHSA) notes, “EAPs can help substance use disorders. employees with personal problems that affect their job APA also advises leaders to look for ways to strengthen performance. EAPs can identify and address various health, their plans by removing barriers to accessing support. “For financial, and social issues, including mental and substance example, choose a plan with out-of-network mental health use disorders.” benefits so employees can access clinicians who may not be Chaisson strongly advocates for EAPs, acknowledging that in network with your provider. You should also ensure that she has benefitted from their services, including the opportumental health benefits and resources are easily accessible nity to receive debriefing treatment. and understandable and support A Psychology Today column defines employees across the continuum debriefing as: “a specific technique of mental wellness.” designed to assist others in dealing with the physical or psychological Continuing to symptoms that are generally associated with trauma exposure.” Combat Stigma If center staff experience a traumatic incident, debriefing Keeping mental health in the can help staff better process the spotlight through these and other experience, Chaisson says. “We efforts should help you achieve need to encourage healthcare another important goal: getting staff professionals and the general to speak up when they are strugpublic to accept that sometimes gling with their mental health. That’s we need to debrief ourselves. especially important given what has Using an EAP is not a weakness.” transpired over the past few years. While nearly all mid-to-large comThe COVID-19 pandemic While nearly all mid-to-large companies offer panies offer EAPs, only about 4% of heaped even greater stress on EAPs, only about 4% of employees use them yearly, employees use them yearly, accordhealthcare workers, with a survey according to Mental Health America (MHA). ing to Mental Health America (MHA). taken from June to September Reasons for low usage include a lack 2020 revealing that 93% of health of employee awareness that an EAP exists, the services workers reported being stressed out and stretched too available, and how to access the services. MHA recommends thin, and 82% saying they were emotionally and physically several tactics to increase EAP awareness and education. exhausted. “COVID brought out the stress, anxiety, and issues that were already there in healthcare but made them Among them are sharing information about the EAP throughout the year, inviting an EAP representative to discuss services, much more exacerbated,” Mingus says. A silver lining of the pandemic was that talking about mental and ensuring management is aware of the available services. health, including one’s situation, has become less stigmatized, Given that mental health is still largely stigmatized, MHA Mingus says. “Mental health has advises companies not to just come to the forefront. Before focus on the mental health serCOVID, people weren’t upfront vices associated with an EAP. EAP about their mental health because services may include financial planthey were worried about losing ning education, family assistance their jobs or being looked down and caregiver resources. MHA “Mental Health “Mental Health upon. That seems to be changing.” states, “The intention of an EAP at Work” from the Resources for Chaisson says that centers can is to help employees maintain U.S. Department Employers” from Mental help keep this positive momentum a positive work-life balance and of Labor Health America going by giving the mental health serve as an additional support of staff greater attention and when life matters interfere with appreciation. “We must continue performing at their best at work.” “StigmaFree Company” “Workplace Well-Being to work to change the percepThe American Psychological from the Resources” from the tion of healthcare workers. If we Association (APA) recommends National Alliance Office of the on Mental Illness Surgeon General reduce burnout and dysfunction, that business leaders review their we must allow healthcare workers existing health insurance policies to be human.” to determine whether they include
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Additional mental health resources
