Counselling & Solutions for Anxiety and Depression

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Hey everyone. I'll try to keep it short. I am finding a trend that many nurses and healthcare professions in general suffer in silence with anxiety and depression and they are not given appropriate treatment in a timely manner. And to see a counsellor takes so long. And Employee Assistance Programs only offer short term counselling (3-4 sessions) which are inadequate to get over a severe depression/anxiety. And the cost of therapy is difficulty for some to afford so they do not do anymore than is provided by their EAP which makes them feel more hopeless and like they will never get over it. What would you guys feel are solutions to these issues.

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Specializes in ER.

Our current social structure is exacerbating people's tendencies towards anxiety and depression. The increasing complexity of workplaces, the constant barrage by various sources of media, the breakdown of families all contribute.

The pressure on the middle class is worse than ever. Also, people are in worse physical condition than in the past due to unhealthy diets and lack of exercise.

I think there are many contributing factors.

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Thank you for you reply. I agree with all the problems.

I'm looking at focusing on the OPPORTUNITIES. What opportunities are available that I set in motion at my hospital to assist nurses who actually need help (I had a colleague get diagnosed with post partum depression but she was not feeling well prior to this but was too concerned to seek help for her mental health). What systems can actually help deal with the issues.

Hope my question makes sense

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Specializes in ER.

I seriously doubt any hospital cares enough to put money into this.

If I ruled the world, hospitals would have on site daycare, 24 hrs a day. They would have massage therapists, exercise rooms, nap rooms for break time, and very healthy choices in cafeterias.

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I agree. Interesting article called Do EAPs Work or Just Make Employers Feel Good?" https://www.thebalancecareers.com/do-eaps-work-or-just-make-employers-feel-good-1917971

I just posted the below on another forum and I do believe its money related as so many things are unfortunately. There are opportunities/solutions though if we get creative

"The EAP is contracted by an outside organization. So the contract only allows for short term counselling. In my research and some of my own opinion, EAP can only be short term because if it was long term the company that offers the program would loose lots of profit margins. I read somewhere that only 11 or 16% (these numbers might be off), but a small percentage of individuals at organization utilize EAP. If companies pay 30$ - 50$ per employee a months (larger organizations pay less per employee) then if only a small percentage utilize counselling services, then the company providing the services would have large profit margins. So I do not think they are allowed to utilize long term treatment or the employer would have to pay a huge premium for programs (that not many employees use - Although I think that most individuals should be in counselling on the regular since life happens to everyone all the time."

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
18 hours ago, JohnDoe23 said:

I agree. Interesting article called Do EAPs Work or Just Make Employers Feel Good?" https://www.thebalancecareers.com/do-eaps-work-or-just-make-employers-feel-good-1917971

I just posted the below on another forum and I do believe its money related as so many things are unfortunately. There are opportunities/solutions though if we get creative

"The EAP is contracted by an outside organization. So the contract only allows for short term counselling. In my research and some of my own opinion, EAP can only be short term because if it was long term the company that offers the program would loose lots of profit margins. I read somewhere that only 11 or 16% (these numbers might be off), but a small percentage of individuals at organization utilize EAP. If companies pay 30$ - 50$ per employee a months (larger organizations pay less per employee) then if only a small percentage utilize counselling services, then the company providing the services would have large profit margins. So I do not think they are allowed to utilize long term treatment or the employer would have to pay a huge premium for programs (that not many employees use - Although I think that most individuals should be in counselling on the regular since life happens to everyone all the time."

I have generally found that EAP programs are inadequate to the nurse who at his/her wits end finally goes to HR for a referral. I also think that because of the negative stigma associated with any type of metal illness and the things that may go with it, absenteeism, chemical dependency etc many nurses are terrified to use this resource lest their confidential treatment is somehow referred to the BON. If you don't think this happens then have a read on the nurses in recovery forum where many nurses are being forced into treatment for problems they don't have at great cost to their finances and careers.

While a vast number of people seem to suffer a general lack of coping skills - I have observed in my psych career that those with emotional resilience or an ability to sail with life's ups and downs rarely need to seek out counseling. They fill their lives with things that bolster that resilience. You employer is not responsible to provide treatment for you. That is what health insurance is for. The fact that it is now a law that everybody in the US purchase health insurance or pay a penalty means that no one has an excuse to not have insurance since the ACA has made health insurance accessible and affordable for everyone? (NOT) .

Hppy

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