The stress type affecting eight million Australians 

Picking up the data on corporate stress

Words: Joseph Lam Producer: Bianca Farmakis

Eight million Australians have access to employee assistance programs, with a take-up rate of almost 12 per cent. While confidentiality is a key element of the counselling, providers are offering data to assist companies in their mental health and wellbeing policies.

Long term approach

Cate Page, executive director at provider Converge International — one of the earliest EAP providers in Australia — says while the program is designed for short-term mental health assistance, providers are taking a longer-term approach.

“We’re in a unique position where we can work with organisations with the data we collect anonymously, and aggregate data. We can then feed non-identifying data back to organisations, allowing them to create wellbeing programs.”

Cate Page Executive director at provider Converge International

Employee Assistance Programs have been in the spotlight with the revelation that organisations such as the Australian Defence Force routinely ask candidates to sign over access to notes taken by psychologists during counselling sessions.

Long-term approach

Currently, employees are able to have three to six sessions of free counselling each year. The programs first became available in the 1980s, and have evolved to ensure confidentiality: managers do not know which staff members have attended.

Confidentiality is key

EAP providers regard confidentiality as crucial: information is only shared if subpoenaed if the client is at risk of hurting themselves or others. The exception is when a client signs over the notes, as per the ADF requests.

Lana Schwartz, a psychologist and president of the Employee Assistance Professional Association of Australasia, says EAPs exist for two reasons: They see the importance of mental health in terms of productivity Employers genuinely care about staff wellbeing

Major misconception

As mental health awareness has become commonplace, companies also have recognised that general wellbeing is important. One misunderstanding of EAPs is that the provider will diagnose the client; Page says this is not the purpose of the model.

Pandemic push

The take-up of EAP has increased during the pandemic, with almost 12 per cent of employees accessing programs when they are available. Schwartz says after the first lockdown in 2020, there was a huge increase in distressed calls to EAP providers.

“We don’t just want people to be not having issues in the workplace, we also want them to be coming to work with a positive mindset that they really want to be there.”

Lana Schwartz Psychologist and President of the EAPAA