Amidst a wealth of EAPs, each offering something different, therapy emerges as a consistently desirable perk at work, and one of the most effective.
And, with a shortage of 2,000 qualified therapists and waiting lists of up to 18 weeks to access therapy thorough the NHS, it comes to no surprise that many are turning to their employers for support.
The post-pandemic world saw online therapy gain increased prominence globally, as a convenient and for many, less daunting way to obtain mental health support.
Business leaders are now beginning to gain awareness of the importance of offering online therapy to support employees, fast-tracking the journey towards building a happier workforce.
A newly launched platform is already making its mark in the online therapy landscape, positively impacting businesses across the UK.
Tim Ladd, managing director and founder of Carecoins, which helps employers more effectively invest in the mental health of staff, warns that more employers need to embrace this vital resource.
He says: “Amongst UK employees, the uptake in EAPs is notoriously low. This is due to a number of reasons, mainly the fact that these often don’t offer the support employees are looking for.
“This means employees are unhappy, and employers don’t see a return on investment, discouraging them from continued investment into mental wellbeing resources.
“We’ve been told time and again that therapy is a highly effective way to ensure employees feel safe and supported in the workplace, and it’s time we listen.”
When it comes to accessibility, online therapy ticks a number of boxes, reducing the need for employees to take time off to travel to an in-person appointment, and allowing them to access support from any location, at any time.
And for those that receive therapy through their employer, it’s also essential that they can access it in a format that works for them.
“It’s not enough to offer therapy to employees and hope for the best,” continued Mr Ladd. “It’s crucial that therapy is personalised, and that a large selection of therapists is made available, ensuring the needs of each individual are covered.”
Privacy is also a significant concern for many – though often, for the wrong reasons.
“It’s certainly upsetting to see that stigma surrounding mental health is still so prevalent in many places of work,” comments Mr Ladd.
“This is one of the main reasons employees want anonymity when it comes to accessing mental health support, and of course, it’s vital that this is a guarantee, particularly if the alternative is staff being too reluctant to access support resources at all.
“This is why we’ve built Carecoins to be a platform that provides full control to the employee, including complete privacy, meaning employers and managers won’t know if an employee is currently in therapy, or why.”
Carecoins aims to remove barriers to mental wellbeing, delivering therapy through a unique and highly flexible format designed to make individuals feel at ease.
Through a human-to-human consultation, the platform matches each individual with a qualified professional capable of providing the type of therapy required by the employee.
It also offers the ability for companies to monitor the effectiveness of their investment through a bespoke reporting platform, all while safeguarding the privacy of employees.
“We wanted to ensure Carecoins could benefit employees and businesses alike,” said Mr Ladd. “We’re on a mission to champion the sheer power of therapy in changing lives, and not just at work.”
