When you have a cold, do you find it easy booking a GP appointment? When you have a tweak in your back, do you find it easy booking a physio appointment? When you feel anxious, do you find it easy booking mental health support? For the latter, statistics show that 1 in 2 Australians would not reach out for professional mental health help. That’s alarming. But what if there was an expert, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) funded by your employer? What if we all felt safe enough to say, “I’m not okay today” and knew support was just a call away? That’s EAP support.
Take Converge as an example — we’re enlisted and funded by employers across Australia to deliver free, confidential, and holistic mental health and wellbeing care to employees. But in the EAP Australia space, there’s often a common misconception: EAP is only for those at crisis point or in desperate need of mental health care. While that’s one part of the service, Employee Assistance Programs also specialise in proactive mental health and wellbeing management. So, let’s explore what that means and break down some EAP myths. And by the end of the article, you should hopefully feel confident using EAP.
Please note: Check with your HR or wellbeing team to see if and what EAP services are available to you. We’re speaking from Converge’s perspective and the types of services we provide to showcase the power of employee mental health support.
Why you should be utilising EAP support
When it comes to mental health in the workplace, it’s just as important as physical health. But for many, seeking treatment is harder. Why? Stigmas, shame, and fear can hold people back. That should not be the case. The main aim of this article is to break down mental health support stigmas and demonstrate why you should reach out for help — regardless of where you are in your mental health journey.
And if EAP counselling is free and readily available, why wouldn’t you access it? Here are some reasons to use EAP services in Australia:
- When you need urgent mental health support
- Support with workplace pressures, relationship issues, trauma, burnout and more.
- When you want to chat about a challenge you’re facing
- When you want to explore strategies and ways of thinking that might help symptoms of anxiety and depression
- If something isn’t right – but you can’t quite put your finger on it
- When you want to explore different wellbeing avenues to get the most out of life
- If you want to manage your finances better.
- If you’d like to explore your nutritional intake and diet.
- If you’re struggling with sleep or restlessness.
- If you’re a leader and would like manager support with performance management, people leadership, conflict, wellbeing and more.
EAP support services that address holistic employee mental health and wellbeing
In an idyllic world, we’d all be able to reach out for support effortlessly. And honestly, if your organisation has an EAP, this can be very much the case. EAP is there for you, when you need it, and chiefly, your wellbeing is paramount. After all, you probably do your best work when your mentally fit and resilient. Here’s what EAP Australia providers like Converge can offer:
- Employee Counselling & Counselling for Immediate Family Members: This is what it says on the tin: mental health counselling for you, and depending on the EAP, your immediate family members (sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, partners, and even people who live in your household). These services are usually delivered by psychologists, counsellors and social workers who use evidence-based interventions and support to understand you and your unique challenges.
- Conflict Support: If you’re experiencing conflict in the workplace, an EAP could help you overcome these challenges and find resolution and balance in your working environment.
- Manager Support: This is for the leaders in an organisation. This service offers support for challenges synonymous with people leading. For example: performance management, staffing issues, employee wellbeing and more.
- Nutrition Support: Depending on your EAP, you may have access to expert dietitians and nutritionists, who can give you guidance and advice on your nutrition and diet. If you’re with Converge, this is definitely the case.
- Legal Support: We all know that the legal landscape is one confusing maze. So, you might be able to access support for a range of legal issues, including consumer rights, family law, wills and estate planning, and more. Again, this is one of our specialities.
- Career Coaching: Get a leg up on your career by leveraging career coaching experts. If you’re ready for that next step (whether that be a promotion or role change) or you’re going through a redundancy, we can help with interview techniques, resume development and more. This is an area where we shine!
- Financial Coaching: The cost-of-living crisis has been running rampant in recent years, so this service is more important than ever. Your EAP may offer financial coaches, who specialise in money education and awareness, including budgeting, retirement planning, debt management, superannuation, investing and more.
Why you should be proactive with your wellbeing
Being proactive about mental health and wellbeing is crucial. Getting ahead of issues and challenges means you can prevent them from exacerbating and impacting your personal and professional life. We can’t stress this enough: being proactive and seeking our support, no matter where you are on your wellbeing journey, will help you achieve goals, remain productive, and become or sustain mental health and resilience.
Is EAP confidential?
Many employees who consider accessing EAP counselling services worry about confidentiality. It’s a common obstacle that stops people from seeking help. But rest assured — EAP sessions are entirely confidential.
Information about your session is not imparted to your organisation – they may only share anonymised and aggregated data, which cannot be attributed to you. In the case of Converge, confidentiality matters to us, as does your privacy, so what you talk about with your clinician stays between you and your clinician.
Debunking EAP myths
Myths and “fake news” are topical in this day and age. And yet, the EAP space is not impervious to the odd myth or two. So, let’s debunk some misconceptions to help you understand the power of employee mental health and wellbeing support.
Myth 1
According to the EAPAA, EAP is only for employees with ‘crisis’ level issues. In fact, that’s not true. An EAPAA survey found that only 6% of EAP cases we’re for crisis counselling. Therefore, while EAP can be a crisis service, you can also utilise it at any point to enhance your wellbeing.
Myth 2
Another myth is that EAP counselling is not effective. Again, this is a falsehood. Take our data as an example, 67% of employees who utilise our services saw a boost in their wellbeing. In an EAPAA survey, they found that 87% of employees said EAP resolved their challenges.
Myth 3
Finally, EAP counsellors are not genuine, accredited mental health professionals. Again, wrong. In the case of Converge, our counsellors range from social workers, mental health professionals, psychologists, dietitians and more with at least 5 years of experience. With all this in mind, utilising EAP means you get quality support when you need it!
How to book a session
If Converge is your workplace wellbeing provider, booking is effortless – and there are three convenient methods:
- Through the Converge App: Download the Converge App in your app store. Make an account (make sure you grab your organisation code from your HR team) and then use the live chat or online booking function to make an appointment.
- Via our Online Booking Portal on the Converge Website
- Or call us directly via our 1300 687 327 number or your dedicated helpline number displayed on your posters.
It’s really that easy. So why not give us a try? This could be the moment where you say yes to greater wellbeing and no to the challenges holding you back!
Don’t partner with Converge? Contact our team today and enquire about how we can support your oganisation!
Frequently Asked Questions About Supporting Mental Health and Asking “Are You Okay?”
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential, employer-funded service that provides professional mental health and wellbeing support to employees. It helps individuals manage personal and workplace challenges through counselling, coaching, and specialist services such as nutrition, legal, and financial guidance.
Why should I access EAP support?
EAP support helps employees address a wide range of issues — from stress, burnout, and conflict to anxiety, sleep, or relationship challenges — before they escalate. It’s proactive mental health care designed to keep you healthy, resilient, and performing at your best.
What services does Converge EAP provide?
Converge offers comprehensive EAP support including individual and family counselling, manager support, conflict resolution, nutrition advice, financial and legal coaching, and career development assistance.
Is EAP counselling confidential?
Yes. All sessions are completely confidential. Employers only receive anonymised, aggregated data that cannot identify individual employees, ensuring your privacy is always protected.
How do I book an EAP session with Converge?
You can easily book through the Converge App, the online booking portal, or by calling 1300 687 327 (or your workplace’s dedicated helpline). Booking takes just a few minutes and gives you access to qualified mental health professionals when you need them.
