Division Title
Health and Wellness

EAP Services

Select one of the links below for more information:

Health and Wellness

Work/Life Balance

Addictions

Crisis Intervention

Mental Health

Working Effectively

Supervisory Resources:

Health and Wellness

EAP takes a holistic view of the individual, helping you to examine healthy choices so you can maximize your physical, emotional and occupational well-being. Our EAP Consultants collaborate with you to establish a commitment toward change, set specific goals and suggest appropriate resources on topics such as:

  • Addictions
  • Assertiveness & Communication Skills
  • Financial Wellness
  • Mental Health
  • Motivation Enhancement
  • Personal Etiquette
  • Retirement Life Planning
  • Stress Management

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Work/Life Balance

Achieving effective work-life balance is a juggling act that requires planning, flexibility, resourcefulness and occasional support. EAP Consultants can help to assess your needs, explore change strategies and suggest resources to balance work responsibilities with family and outside activities and improve challenging situations. We provide consultation on work-life issues such as:
  • Caregiver Issues
  • Family and Significant Relationships
  • Financial Stress
  • Parenting
  • Stress Management
  • Time Management

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Working Effectively

The demands of the modern workplace can contribute to increased workloads, communication barriers and work-related stress. Job coaching is an EAP service that helps you explore your options for effectively handling work-related concerns. As Employee Assistance Professionals, the EAP Consultants possess expertise in workplace issues and organizational dynamics. We understand that employees are NIH’s most important asset and provide consultation on issues such as:
  • Assertiveness Training
  • Being a New Manager
  • Career Development
  • Career Change/Adjustment
  • Conflict Resolution - Job Coaching
  • Physical Health & Accommodations
  • Returning To Duty Assistance
  • Time Management

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Mental Health

Our EAP Consultants are here to assist you in managing challenging circumstances and emotions. Like physical injuries or illnesses, mental health concerns are legitimate health issues that may require professional consultation and care to facilitate healing.  Staffed by licensed behavioral health professionals, EAP is the only NIH resource officially designated to provide comprehensive assessment, supportive counseling and referral services to the NIH workforce. We provide consultation on issues such as:

  • Anxiety and Stress

  • Caregiver Fatigue

  • Compulsive Behaviors

  • Depression

  • Eating Disorders

  • Life Transitions

  • Interpersonal Conflict
  • Personal Crisis
  • Relocation Stress
  • Suicide Prevention

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Addictions

Addiction is one of the leading health problems in the country, negatively impacting  personal and professional wellbeing in significant ways. Our EAP Consultants will work with you to understand how your addiction may affect you or someone you love. We have specialized expertise in assessing these issues and guiding you toward appropriate additional support resources. If you suspect that you or someone you’re close to may have an addiction problem, we encourage you to contact us for consultation. We can help you develop a plan to address issues such as:

  • Alcohol Abuse
  • Compulsive Behaviors
  • Drug Abuse
  • Food Addiction
  • Gambling Problems
  • Workaholic Behavior 

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Crisis Intervention

EAP provides a full range of onsite Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) services to support workgroups impacted by traumatic events. From the death of an employee to incidents of workplace violence or larger scale tragedies, our EAP Consultants have specialized training to provide timely individual and group support appropriate to the specific situation. Our consultants educate affected workers on normal reactions to trauma, promote resilience strategies, and offer referral and follow up services to persons needing additional support. If your workgroup has been impacted by a critical incident, early intervention is a key to maintaining well-being and productivity. 
 

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Supervisory Resources

Select one of the links below for more information:

EAP Supervisory Consultation

Referring an employee to the EAP can be an effective strategy to enhance productivity when performance or conduct issues emerge that may be related to personal or work issues. When considering corrective action, it is recommended that supervisors consult with both the EAP office and their Employee Relations (HR) representative to explore options and intervention strategies, which may include formal EAP referral. EAP provides supervisory consultation on issues including:

  • Absenteesism
  • Conduct
  • EAP Referral Strategies
  • Employee and Supervisory Workshops
  • Loss of an Employee
  • Morale
  • Organizational Conflict
  • Productivity
  • Reorganization
  • Supervisory Stress
  • Work Performance
  • Workplace Violence/Trauma

link to Supervisory Resources Section

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Managing Employee Performance Difficulties

The role of the supervisor is often challenging, especially when helping an employee who is having work performance issues. The NIH Employee Assistance Program is available to provide consultation services to supervisors who would like guidance for effectively communicating performance concerns to their employees. Below are a few tips to consider when approaching an employee.
  • Schedule a meeting with the employee. Pick a neutral, quiet, and private meeting area, i.e. a conference room.
  • Use "I" statements when speaking to the employee. Use well documented facts when presenting the issues at hand. For example, " I have noticed that in the past 3 weeks you have been late to work 3 out of 5 days each week. What can be done to aide you in arriving to work on time?"
  • Provide a few suggestions for changing the problem behavior and ask for the employee's ideas.
  • Avoid criticism.
  • State the ways in which you can help to carry out the plan for improvement.
  • Make short-term agreements.
  • Remember to acknowledge improvements, however small they may be.
  • Be prepared to offer the employee resources. Have an understanding of the resources so that you may answer any questions the employee may have.

link to Supervisory Resources Section

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Supervisor Sample EAP Referral Letter

What Should Be Included in the Letter?
  • Make a positive statement
  • Identify the specific problem(s); i.e., performance, leave, etc.
  • Specify how the referral relates to potential adverse actions
  • Refer the person to EAP
  • Inform the person that there is no cost for EAP services
  • Assure confidentiality
  • Set up a time frame
  • Express your continued concern
  • Include a copy of EAP brochure

Upon completing the letter, contact EAP about your referral. Below is a sample letter:
Sample Letter
From: Supervisor's name
Subject: Referral to the Employee Assistance Program
To: Employee's name
Date:
 
I have been your supervisor for (length of time), and have known you to be a capable and dedicated employee. In recent months, however, there has been a significant decline in the quality of your work performance /conduct...
 
The purpose of this memorandum is to express my concern for you, and to outline significant deficiencies in your work performance/conduct that may indicate a need for professional assistance. This memorandum does not constitute a disciplinary action, but may be used as documentation if the problem persists and personnel action becomes necessary.
 
I strongly recommend that you seek assistance from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Attached is a brochure describing the free services provided by EAP.
 
The EAP services are completely confidential. No information can be released to me or any one else without your written consent. EAP is free to all employees and their immediate family members.
 
Please contact the EAP at (301) 496-3164 for an appointment. Again, I strongly recommend that you contact EAP for an appointment by (DATE).
 
I will continue to observe and evaluate your performance and/or conduct.
 
(Supervisor's signature)
 
Attachment: EAP brochure
 

link to Supervisory Resources Section

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Workshops

EAP is available, with prior notice, to provide orientation, specific training and hand-on workshops to NIH employees. Workshops may take the form of lectures, discussions, or informal brown bag seminars depending upon the needs and preferences of your workgroup.

We offer workshops on a variety of topics related to work, health, lifestyle and wellness.

If you are interested in having EAP provide onsite training or outreach activities, please contact us at (301) 496-3164 or complete the Event Request Form.

Suggested Training Topics:

  • Caregivers: Identifying Needs, Stress, and Burning-Out 
  • Communication Skills
  • EAP Orientation
  • Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
  • Grief and Loss: EAP as a Resource
  • Holiday Blues
  • Interpersonal Dynamics at Work
  • Relocation Stress Management
  • Retirement Life Planning
  • Stress Management
  • Supervisory Tools (this training counts towards the OPM/HHS Mandatory Supervisory Training Requirements)
  • Thriving Through Organizational Change
  • Veterans Coping with Transitions
  • Work/Life Balance
  • Workplace Civility

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Event Request Form





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