5 reasons why employees don't use their EAP... and why they should

Edited by Jill Wright, 26 March 2018

1. Shame and fear of repercussions  

Despite increasing public recognition that caring for our mental health is essential and nothing to be ashamed of, some people still feel that there could be social repercussions and career consequences of consulting a professional. In fact, EAPs promote early intervention that can prevent more serious conditions and they are completely anonymous. Psychologists’ professional ethics prevent them disclosing the identity and issues of employees who take advantage of EAP sessions.

2. The issue must be work-related

Relationship and family issues are intimately connected with workplace issues and performance. Stresses in one area generally flow into the other and it can be impossible at times to distinguish chicken from egg. An EAP recognises that and in many cases even provides assistance to an employee’s family. Dealing with troubling circumstances in one sphere generally results in universal improvements in wellbeing and attitude.

3. Time Pressures

4. Thinks that talking won’t help

 The fiction of the strong and silent type who never needs help mercifully died with John Wayne. Keeping things bottled up generally has predictable, explosive consequences. Psychologists are experts in the science of the mind, and all the research shows that their interventions work.

5. EAP is too complicated

Simple, quick and easy. These three words perfectly describe the EAP services at Psychology Melbourne. And there’s one more: effective.