Leading with Innovation: Setting New Standards in Employee Mental Health Support

With the surge in mental health concerns across industries, the need for more innovative and responsive workforce mental health and employee assistance programs (EAPs) is evident. That’s why CuraLinc has always had an unwavering commitment to innovation and the continuous expansion of our services.

Each year, we introduce new features aimed at dismantling the stigma around seeking mental health and making it more accessible. Our approach to innovation is to design features and care modalities that help the program appeal to a wider audience in a way that encourages individuals to seek assistance, possibly for the first time. Our dedication ensures that our EAP remains a vital, evolving resource, adept at meeting the varied needs of today's diverse, global workforce.

Let’s take a look at the most important feature releases of 2023 and what’s ahead for 2024.

Highlights from 2023

Platform updates

CuraLinc's digital platform has undergone exciting updates aimed at making accessing care and resources easier and more personalized than ever before. Now, members can expect a more tailored experience with personalized recommendations for resources, care modalities and relevant client benefits based on their treatment history, search habits, location and plan design, among other inputs. The platform's navigation has been revamped for simplicity, featuring vibrant visuals and a user-friendly layout that allows for seamless exploration of treatment options. Additionally, CuraLinc unified its member experience across the globe onto one platform, available in over 30 languages, ensuring consistency and feature parity for all users regardless of where they live and work.

Good to know: A greatly-anticipated update to the digital platform in 2024 will enable improved benefit access by integrating with and spotlighting relevant employee benefits and programs across the employer’s benefit ecosystem – such as an MSK, telehealth, wellness, fertility or child care benefit – in the ‘recommended for you’ section of the platform.

Addiction Care Navigator

Substance use disorder is on the rise, yet studies show only 10% of those at risk seek the care they need. While employees often have access to a range of support modalities through their employee assistance program, it’s common for people to research substance use care options on their own, quickly leading to unnecessary financial burden and stress.

Addiction Care Navigator offers accessible, confidential and stigma-free support to address these barriers. With a brief, clinically validated assessment, individuals receive personalized action plans with resources and guidance for care options. Moreover, our Addiction Care Coaches, equipped with advanced training in Screening, Brief Intervention and Referrals to Treatment (SBIRT), are available to provide in-the-moment support and ongoing guidance throughout each member's care journey. With CuraLinc, individuals can trust that they're not alone in their recovery journey, receiving the support and care they deserve every step of the way.

Good to Know: Addiction Care Coaches will proactively reach out to participants with the highest identified risk, with their consent, to provide targeted support and assistance.

Supervisor Connect

Supervisors play a crucial role in shaping workplace culture and employee satisfaction. With the launch of Supervisor Connect, we're equipping supervisors with the essential skills required to lead and manage high-performing teams effectively. Leveraging the extensive resources within our EAP, Supervisor Connect focuses on enhancing supervisor skills and confidence in people management, ultimately driving higher retention rates, engagement and organizational performance.

Through an online assessment, supervisors can identify their strengths and areas for growth as people managers. Our outcomes-driven content comprises interactive courses tailored to provide supervisors with practical skills to navigate everyday workplace challenges with confidence.

Good to know: Supervisor Connect seamlessly integrates with CuraLinc’s management consultation services, offering supervisors an additional layer of support and guidance for real-world situations.

CuraConnect*

CuraConnect is our innovative answer to a common challenge: reaching the employees who need help the most but might not seek it out. With CuraConnect, we're stepping beyond the traditional boundaries of employee assistance by proactively connecting with those facing significant challenges, from mental health struggles to financial or caregiving burdens.

The magic behind CuraConnect lies in its method of identifying those at risk. We dive into a mix of data and real-world factors – everything from demographics to life events – to find employees who might be silently struggling. Once identified, these individuals receive personal outreach from our licensed mental health clinicians. This isn't just a nudge towards available resources; it's in-the-moment support, a clinical assessment and a guided pathway to the right company-sponsored or community support systems.

Good to know: CuraConnect's approach is expansive, linking employees not only to the resources available through their EAP but also to the company's existing benefits or even community resources.

Personalized communications

Seeking mental health support is deeply personal and varies significantly from one person to another. Consequently, the approach to communicating mental health program details must be tailored to each individual.

CuraLinc’s platform is designed to delve into the preferences and risk factors of our users, allowing us to tailor messages that resonate on a personal level. Although promoting these programs at a group level remains a crucial aspect of any employee assistance program (EAP) engagement strategy, our adoption of new, technology-driven personalized communications is set to enhance awareness and participation. By delivering messages that normalize seeking help and encourage connection with relevant resources, we aim to address each member's specific needs effectively.

Good to know: Employees who use the program’s clinically validated digital mental health navigation tool receive ongoing communications that are tailored to suit their risk profile.  

FMLALinc*

CuraLinc's FMLALinc service streamlines the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) process for employees, managers and HR teams alike, providing a seamless, efficient approach to leave management. By leveraging an intuitive online dashboard, FMLALinc facilitates the submission, tracking, approval and management of FMLA leave requests, ensuring compliance while minimizing administrative burdens. This service not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports employees through potentially stressful periods, ensuring they have the information and assistance needed to manage their leave effectively.

Good to know: FMLALinc is designed with privacy and ease of use in mind, offering secure access to leave data and status updates 24/7. This accessibility ensures a transparent and supportive leave management process for employees, managers and HR.

Employee Recognition Platform

In the landscape of today's job market, attracting and retaining top talent is a significant challenge for employers. One of the most effective strategies to ensure employee retention is through recognizing and valuing their contributions. With the introduction of CuraLinc's employee recognition platform, we've taken a step further in enriching the employee experience. This platform not only provides employees with a personalized stream of content related to mental wellbeing that matches their interests but also offers peer-driven accolades to deepen their engagement with the organizational culture. Beyond serving as a platform for promoting the employee assistance program (EAP), it also enables employees, HR, and benefits teams to digitally commend colleagues for their teamwork, collaboration and leadership and celebrate both team and individual milestones, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and connectivity.

Good to Know: Employee recognition is a no-cost opt-in feature for all EAP clients. To learn more or to add this to your program, contact your CuraLinc client relationship manager.

New and noteworthy for 2024

Mindstream

Set to launch in late Spring 2024, Mindstream is an emotional fitness studio offering live and on-demand fitness classes for your mind. With a variety of topics, formats and lengths (all delivered by subject matter experts), Mindstream promises to be a versatile addition to any daily routine, promoting personal growth, enhancing relationships and encouraging self-care. Integrated seamlessly with CuraLinc's program and care plans (and embedded at no extra cost for CuraLinc clients), Mindstream is a holistic approach aiming to prevent mental health issues before they arise, thereby improving overall wellbeing and productivity while increasing the utilization of EAP resources.

Good to know: Mindstream will be integrated with workplace tools like Teams, Zoom and Outlook – making mental health support as accessible and routine as checking emails or attending meetings.

Life coaching

Our life coaching services offer a personalized approach to personal and professional development, guided by International Coach Federation (ICF) Certified Life Coaches. Tailored to individual goals, these sessions cover a wide range of topics from career advancement to work-life balance, delivered through flexible formats to suit every lifestyle. Participants gain valuable tools for decision-making, goal-setting and stress management, leading to measurable improvements in both personal growth and workplace performance. This program is seamlessly integrated with our broader program, providing a holistic support system that empowers employees to thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Good to know: Our life coaching services include access to a diverse pool of ICF Certified Life Coaches, ensuring that employees can find a coach who resonates with their personal and professional values and goals.

Onsite work-life services*

Our onsite work-life services place a specialist directly within the workplace reach to provide quick, personalized access to essential resources that address everyday stressors, thereby enhancing performance and mental wellbeing. Culturally competent and equipped with master’s-level qualifications in social work, our specialists deliver in-person guidance across a broad range of areas, from child care solutions to overcoming barriers to basic health needs.

Our comprehensive management of the service – from staffing to onboarding and oversight – ensures a seamless experience for our clients, all integrated within our broader employee assistance program framework. With global reach and online scheduling flexibility, onsite work-life services are a vital link in our mission to support and elevate the mental health landscape in the workplace.

Good to know: Onsite work-life services encourage EAP utilization in a destigmatized way by focusing on addressing daily stressors over mental health. However, if a work-life consultation reveals a potential clinical need, the onsite specialist can swiftly facilitate access to more specialized mental health support through the EAP.

*Additional fees associated