EAPs shown to be most commonly offered benefit out of all mental health programmes in the workplace, according to new research

EAPs shown to be most commonly offered benefit out of all mental health programmes in the workplace, according to new research

Support for employee mental health via an EAP is the most commonly offered benefit by employers, an interesting new survey has revealed.

The new research from Employee Benefits/Health Shield Healthcare shows that an EAP is now offered by 90% of employers surveyed and is one of the primary means of supporting employee mental health.

The EAP came in significantly higher than the next most popular offer mental health benefit: flexible working or work/life/balance priorities – at 71% – and was more than twice as popular as the third highest ranked benefit for mental health: Access to education and guidance, such as workshops and online information.

Interestingly, the research showed that flexible working had grown in popularity over recent years as employers had come to see its benefits to staff wellbeing.

A new option that has been added this year was trained mental health first aiders in the workplace, which had been taken up by 38% of respondents. On-site occupational health, on the other hand, was at the bottom of the take-up with only 14% opting for this particular service for their staff.

EAPA chair, Eugene Farrell, says: “EAPA welcomes this latest research. It’s a terrific endorsement of the work that we are all striving towards: getting all UK employers to recognise how important an EAP is to their staff’s mental and physical wellbeing.

“It’s great to see that so many employers clearly feel that an EAP is the single most important benefit they can offer to staff when it comes to looking after their mental health. The benefits of access to a confidential counselling service are obviously clear to the vast majority of business leaders who have taken part in this research, and it’s great to see.

“At EAPA we support anything that benefits people and their mental health that is provided by their employer – so it’s also interesting to see how many people value flexible working, for example, as a way of reducing stress and balancing work and personal life.”

You can read the full article here.