170,000 more employees and families to benefit from EAP services in New York, following recent announcement

170,000 more employees and families to benefit from EAP services in New York, following recent announcement

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services were expanded in February to around 170,000 New York City Department of Education (DOE) staff and their families.

The widened access to EAP was announced by New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, schools chancellor Richard A Carranza and Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion.

New York City EAP services are free and confidential, and delivered by staff of licenced mental health providers.

They include assessment and evaluation interviews; clinical counselling where needed; referrals for treatment; support with alcohol and chemical dependency; assistance with finding financial and housing support; worksite visits to support employees who have been affected by a traumatic loss or event at work, plus help with issues such as caring for children or the elderly; domestic violence, sleep, abuse, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault, bullying, teen issues, anxiety, depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and stress.

Eugene Farrell, chair of UK EAPA, says: ““Teachers and teaching staff work extremely hard to support young people and I am delighted to see recognition of the effects this may bring on them and their families. The demands of the teaching profession are huge and I hope that these 170,000 employees and their families will feel able to take advantage of the new support services that have now been opened up to them.

“With teachers leaving the profession in the UK in droves, it would be interesting to see if a similar gesture of support from local authorities across the UK might have a positive effect on helping valued staff stay in their jobs.”

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