Onsite Screening and Enhanced EAP counselling Improve Health Outcomes

In this recent article, published in the Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health. Over a 2-year period, patients at a rural community health center who were screened on-site for multiple behavioral health risk factors and, and if found at risk, were offered no-cost counseling on-site at the health center. The researchers found significant improvement for global health; depression symptoms among a subsample with depression as a clinical issue; and work presenteeism and estimated hours of lost work time among the employed subsample. Improvement in global health was significantly associated with improvement (reductions) in hours of lost work productivity at all later times. Improvement in global health was moderated by level of household income (more improvement among patients with lower income levels), but not by clinical or demographic factors. This research has applicability for employers looking to support their people through integrated workplace health solutions.