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Skybi’s Guide to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for Modern Workplaces
Creating a mentally healthy workplace isn’t just a perk — it’s a necessity. In today’s fast-paced work environment, employee mental health has become a crucial concern for businesses. In 2022/23, an estimated 875,000 workers were suffering from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety (Mental Health Foundation, 2023), and the number continues to rise. Around 12 billion working days are lost each year due to mental health disorders, costing the global economy approximately USD $1 trillion annually in lost productivity (World Health Organization, 2024).
Companies are increasingly expected to support employee well-being, not only to meet ethical responsibilities but also to maintain strong employee performance. One powerful and cost-effective solution is a well-designed Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — a confidential, company-sponsored service that connects employees to professional counselling, mental health education, and practical tools to cope with life’s challenges.
What is An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
An EAP is a workplace benefit that provides employees and sometimes their immediate family members with short-term mental health support, including:
- Confidential counselling (face-to-face or virtual)
- Legal and financial consultations
- Work-life balance support
- Critical incident response
- Mental health literacy programs
EAPs are voluntary, free to access, and strictly confidential. They are especially helpful for employees dealing with stress, burnout, grief, conflict, and transitions — both personal and professional.
What’s Included in a Modern EAP?
While the core of an EAP remains grounded in emotional support and access to counselling, modern EAPs have evolved to match the demands of today’s workforce. More flexible, preventive, and digitally accessible than before, contemporary EAPs often include:
At Skybi, we offer an EAP model that integrates these modern features while remaining locally grounded. Our programs are designed for Malaysian workplaces, combining global best practices with culturally relevant services such as short-term counselling, mental health screenings, HRD-claimable training, advocacy booths, multilingual support, and managerial training.
Why Every Company Should Prioritise Mental Health
Neglecting mental health can have serious financial and organisational repercussions. Research by Deloitte (2020) estimates that for every £1 invested in mental health initiatives, employers can gain up to £5 in returns through increased productivity and reduced turnover.
A robust EAP can contribute to:
- Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism
- Higher morale and retention rates
- Improved employee engagement
- A more open and psychologically safe workplace
How to Launch and Effective EAP in Your Organisation
Creating an impactful EAP takes more than signing a contract. It involves strategy, communication, and leadership support. Key steps include:
- Select the right provider — Partner with a trusted and professional EAP provider (like Skybi) who understands your business environment and workforce needs.
- Promote the program effectively — Use onboarding, internal communications, and visible leadership support to raise awareness.
- Foster a culture of openness — Normalise mental health conversations, encourage open dialogue, share success stories, protect confidentiality, and train managers to support early intervention.
- Evaluate and refine — Use anonymised usage data to assess effectiveness and improve the program.
Why Skybi?
Skybi delivers a trauma-informed EAP model, thoughtfully tailored for Malaysian workplaces and modern workforce needs. Our employee counselling services feature:
- Flexible access (online or onsite)
- Licensed local mental health professionals
- Multilingual support in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Korean, Indonesian, and Hindi
- Confidential analytics to measure engagement while protecting privacy
We collaborate with HR teams to design EAPs that match your goals, culture, and budget, whether you’re a startup or a regional enterprise.
Ready to Create a Culture of Support?
A strong employee mental health program sends a clear signal: we care about our people. Let’s build workplaces where mental health is supported, not sidelined.
Partner with Skybi to build a resilient, people-first culture that grows with your team.
Learn more about Skybi’s Employee Assistance Programs
References
Deloitte. (2020). Mental health and employers: Refreshing the case for investment. https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/consulting/articles/mental-health-and-employers-refreshing-the-case-for-investment.html
Harvard Business Review. (2021). What psychological safety looks like in a hybrid workplace. https://hbr.org/2021/10/what-psychological-safety-looks-like-in-a-hybrid-workplace
Mental Health Foundation. (2023). Mental health at work: statistics. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/mental-health-work-statistics
World Health Organization. (2024, September 2). Mental health at work. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work
written by Jia Min (Intern) on 14 Feb 2025; edited and verified by Kai Lin on 14 May 2025
