With daily (and even hourly) media updates regarding COVID-19, or coronavirus, many employees are anxious about the uncertainty in both their work life and their home life. Learning to manage that anxiety will not only help them make healthy and well-informed decisions, it will also improve their reaction to the crisis and strengthen their personal and professional wellbeing.

In times of stress or trauma, an employee assistance program (or EAP) can help employees develop coping skills to address real or perceived threats in a productive manner. After learning more about the employee's ability to cope, as well as their current stress response (fight or flight, face, freeze), the program can put a care plan in place to maximize the likelihood of a healthy outcome.

Unfortunately, for the time being, many employees aren't willing to risk their health and safety to visit a counselor for an in-person session -- and, likewise, many counselors aren't willing to accept new appointments for face-to-face therapy. As a result, EAPs are being counted on to deliver care through remote and digital modalities.

CuraLinc, like most EAP providers, offers a variety of remote and digital access points that allow participants to address stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, relationship issues and grief from the privacy of their own home.

• VIDEO. CuraLinc’s video counseling platform, eConnect®, is included with all EAP models. eConnect® is a confidential and secure technology-based counseling medium that provides members with video and web chat access to licensed masters- and doctorate-level mental health professionals who possess a BC-TMH (Board Certified TeleMental Health accreditation), as well as experience in distance counseling. Participants can schedule a 30- or 60-minute counseling session at their convenience.

• PHONE. CuraLinc’s licensed and experienced mental health clinicians are available around-the-clock, every day of the year, to provide immediate support and guidance to employees who are trying to cope with Coronavirus-related anxiety.

• TEXT THERAPY. Textcoach™ is a convenient and stigma-free message-based therapy application that is embedded within every CuraLinc EAP model. Through a secure desktop and mobile platform, licensed counselors (also known as 'Coaches') help participants boost emotional fitness and wellbeing via an exchange of text messages, voicenotes, tip sheets, resource links and videos.

• SHORT CODE. Employees can text a 5-digit code to CuraLinc and a licensed counselor will call them at a time of their choice.

• LIVE CHAT. CuraLinc offers live chat through the EAP’s web and mobile platforms. While it’s an excellent avenue to connect quickly to care, like Textcoach™, it’s not a suitable modality for employees with severe or acute conditions.

• DIGITAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. CuraLinc's Digital Behavioral Health (cCBT) platform is an innovative online and mobile program that offers evidence-based content, practical resources and daily inspiration to foster meaningful and lasting behavioral change. Personalized eLearning programs to help participants overcome stress, depression, anxiety and substance use disorders are supported by simple tools, weekly exercises, and daily inspiration in a safe and confidential environment.

• SELF-SERVICE TOOLKITS. CuraLinc’s technology suite for EAP clients includes resource-heavy interactive toolkits for mindfulness, resiliency, mental health first aid and meditation — all of which are ideally-suited for use during this unprecedented and stressful time.

Although face-to-face counseling is still the cornerstone of an EAP, alternative treatment channels are vital to the success of the program during times when in-person counseling may not be the modality of choice for many participants. To learn more about CuraLinc’s technology suite, visit curalinc.com/technology.

CuraLinc hosted a short webinar for employers on March 13, 2020, titled ‘From Panic to Resilience: Coping with Coronavirus Fears’. In this video, the CuraLinc team reviewed precautionary recommendations for employers, common stress responses from employees, timely organizational resources, as well as the program’s remote and technology-based care modalities referenced above. The webinar can be viewed at coronavirus.curalinc.com.