Thriving-Informed Practices for Workplace Behavioral Health: New Efforts, New Survey

This article, written in association with the Employee Assistance Professionals Association, gathers input toward developing a new certificate course on thriving-informed practices.

Please take the survey now and win a chance to be entered into a raffle.

Of the many fields available to students and professionals in mental and behavioral health, EAPs are amongst the most successful. Many EAPs believe in and use practices that promote human potential and thriving and not only treat disease.

From before until after the COVID pandemic, we have seen greater stress on psychologists and behavioral health providers from increased severity of symptoms amongst clients, a shortage of providers, and resultant compassion fatigue [1] [2] [3]. This stress can have a trickle down effect on service quality and perpetuate a negative cycle, wherein the providers themselves may not also get the care they need. These concerns are amplified in workplaces, with employers showing increased prevalence of mental health disorders and alcohol addiction in their workforce from 2021 to 2024 [4]; see chart.

BACKGROUND

NOT GLOOM AND DOOM. Let’s stop there to say that not all is gloom and doom. Many positive practices are in place to buffer against and even prevent these issues, at least preventing them from worsening. Fortunately, workplace providers (employee assistance, trainers, coaches, human resources, wellness leaders) are on the front-line with known, tried-and-true approaches that can help. Sometimes they need a refresher, connecting with others, and a positive outlook [5].

HUMAN POTENTIAL. Reflect on these phrases: human potential, growth psychology, personal development, post-traumatic growth, healthy personality, mindfulness, and spiritual health. Each of these refers to an amazing array of courses, books, certificates, and scientific research that began flourishing in the 1960s. The past twenty years have seen even more growth in the scientific study of self-transcendence, thriving, and its relationship to well-being. Investing in human potential can move us into a thriving-informed outlook that is self-fulfilling.

In the field of psychology alone, self-transcendence is a central topic in three peer-reviewed journals: The Journal of Humanistic Psychology (founded in 1961), The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology (founded in 1969), and The Journal of Positive Psychology (founded in 2006). Other recent science journals include Mindfulness (founded in 2010), and The Journal of Happiness Studies (founded in 2001). Taken together, these journals include thousands of research studies—many with practical tips and insights.

To be clear, the study of human growth and consciousness has existed for many years, long before 1969, in areas of philosophy, religion, and mysticism. Given the immense amount of attention to this subject, one might think that humanity—especially teachers and those providing help, guidance, and human services support—would have figured out a way to overcome human suffering.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKS. In fact, study after study shows that coaching, therapy, and (in the workplace) an employee assistance program can help a lot when designed well and actively promoted. See a list of references below. And from my experience speaking with providers, many of those who stay healthy despite challenges are those who strongly believe in human potential, self-transcendence, stay current, connect with others, and have optimism.

OUR NEW SURVEY

Our organization and the Employee Assistance Professionals Association are launching a new certificate course on thriving-informed practices. We want to know what you need and think.

Please complete our survey now and stay tuned for updates.

LINK HERE: https://preventiontools.wufoo.com/forms/qevmyv80pte35s/

Given the stressors mentioned above, the growing shortage of providers, and the increased need for help, our hope is to support students, coaches, and therapists in applying positive approaches in systematic ways and using evidence-informed methodologies.

REFERENCES ON EFFECTIVENESS OF WORKPLACE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND EAPS

1.    Attridge, M. (2023). The current state of Employee Assistance Programs in the United States: A research-based commentary. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 13(8), 74-91. http://hdl.handle.net/10713/20645

2.    Attridge, M. (2024). Workplace Outcome Suite© (WOS) EAP Industry Global Report No. 6: Use and Effectiveness of Over 140,000 Counseling Cases from 2010 to 2022. [White paper 97 pages]. TELUS Health & Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA). http://hdl.handle.net/10713/22543

3.    Attridge, M., & Pawlowski, D. (2024). Employee assistance program counseling improves clinical and work outcomes: CuraLinc Healthcare results from over 85,000 cases. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 14(3), 207-243. http://hdl.handle.net/10713/21668

4.    Attridge, M., Pawlowski, D., & Fogarty, S. (2023). Mental health coaching from employee assistance program improves depression and employee work outcomes: Longitudinal results from CuraLinc Healthcare 2020-2022. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 13(2), 313-331.      http://hdl.handle.net/10713/19539

5.    Bajorek, Z., & Bevan, S. (2020). Demonstrating the effectiveness of workplace counselling: Reviewing the evidence for wellbeing and cost effectiveness outcomes. [White Paper]. Report 553. Brighton, UK: Institute for Employment Studies. https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/553.pdf

6.    Csiernik, R., Cavell, M., & Csiernik, B. (2021). EAP evaluation 2010–2019: What do we now know? Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 36(2), 105-124. https://doi.org/10.1080/15555240.2021.1902336

7.    Long, T., & Cooke, F.L. (2023). Advancing the field of employee assistance programs research and practice: A systematic review of quantitative studies and future research agenda. Human Resource Management Review, 33(2), 100941. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9664754/pdf/main.pdf

8.    McLeod, J. (2010).  The effectiveness of workplace counselling: A systematic review. Counselling Psychotherapy Research, 10(4), 238–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733145.2010.485688