Employee Assistance Programs for Health Professionals

When employers take the time to support the mental health of their staff, everyone benefits. Good mental health is important for a productive and safe work environment, especially in industries like healthcare, where the risk of burnout is high, and the wellbeing of others is at stake. In this blog, we will look at how healthcare professionals and their employers can benefit from an Employee Assistance Program that focuses on the healthcare industry.

What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

An Employee Assistance Program, or EAP for short, is a confidential mental health and wellbeing service provided by employers that aims to support employees who may be struggling with personal or work-related problems. Qualified and experienced mental health clinicians run EAP programs and can assist workers who may be suffering from minor issues such as low mood or workplace worries through to complex conditions such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts or behaviours. Many of these issues can be brought on by events such as relationship breakdowns, home or workplace conflicts, sleep difficulties and past or present traumas.

Why have a specialised EAP service for healthcare professionals?

When it comes to maintaining optimum mental health, healthcare professionals face several unique challenges that need to be understood. These include:

·       High-pressure work environments

·       Long working hours and variable shift rotations

·       Potential exposure to vicarious trauma

·       The need to frequently manage crisis situations

·       Workplace-related bullying and conflict

·       Prolonged exposure to chronic and acute stress.

Maintaining a specialised EAP service for healthcare professionals is important as it creates a safe space in which the needs and emotional risks of healthcare professionals are understood. When individuals feel heard and understood, they can better communicate their concerns. Better communication leads to improved mental health outcomes for employees and significantly reduces their risk of burnout.

How healthcare industry employers benefit from a specialised EAP

Industry-specific EAP programs help employers and managers to reduce workplace disruption caused by high staff turnover and stress-related sick days. Supporting your staff when they are experiencing workplace or personal challenges is a great investment because it statistically leads to:

·       Fewer sick days

·       Increased staff productivity

·       Better employee retention.

Compared with the costs involved with on and off-boarding new staff, EAPs are also cost-efficient. Investing in the wellbeing of your staff through an EAP program can save your organisation tens of thousands of dollars down the track.

Contact us today to learn more about how our EAP for Healthcare professionals can be implemented in your workplace.