While an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is an essential resource for many companies to support their employees’ mental health and well-being, it is important to recognize that it is just one piece of the puzzle.

Employers should consider investing in additional health promotion services to complement their EAP and support their employees’ overall health and wellness. Here are a few compelling reasons why:

1. EAPs typically provide reactive support: While EAPs offer valuable support for employees who are already experiencing stress, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, they tend to be more reactive in nature. In contrast, health promotion services focus on proactive strategies to prevent stress and illness before they occur, promoting overall wellness and resilience.

2. Health promotion services address the root causes of stress: Many EAPs provide counseling and mental health support, which is important, but they may not address the underlying causes of stress and illness. Health promotion services can help employees identify and address the root causes of stress, such as poor nutrition or lack of physical activity, and provide tools and resources to manage stress more effectively.

3. Health promotion services can promote a culture of wellness: By investing in health promotion services, employers can demonstrate their commitment to their employees’ health and wellbeing, and create a culture of wellness within the organization. This can lead to increased employee engagement, job satisfaction, and retention.

4. Health promotion services can save money in the long run: By promoting wellness and preventing illness, health promotion services can ultimately help reduce healthcare costs for both employers and employees. This can include reduced absenteeism, lower healthcare claims, and increased productivity.

Overall, while an EAP is a critical resource for many companies, it should not be the only tool in their arsenal for promoting employee health and wellness. By investing in additional health promotion services, employers can provide their employees with the tools and resources they need to thrive both inside and outside of the workplace.

Here are just a few of the agencies using health promotion in their workplace:

Edmonton Fire Services, Alberta

Region of Waterloo, Ontario

City of Vancouver, B.C.

City of Barrie, Ontario

City of Calgary, Alberta

Regina Police Services, Saskatchewan

McGill University, Quebec

University of British Columbia

BC Emergency Health Services

BC Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)

A sampling of Canadian Agencies who have CISM teams to support their employees:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Canadian Armed Forces

Correction Services Canada

Firefighters Without Borders Canada

Canadian Red Cross

Toronto Police Service

Edmonton Police Service

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue

BC Emergency Health Services

A sampling of American Agencies who have CISM teams to support their employees:

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) –

National Park Service

New York City Police Department (NYPD) –

U.S. Department of State

American Red Cross

American Hospitals:

Cleveland Clinic

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital –

Mayo Clinic

Mount Sinai Hospital

To date, Rising Tide IHP has worked with RCMP officers throughout 44 detachments within the Southeast District, Regional District victim services case managers, Southeast District RCMP telecommunication operators, City of Kelowna municipal police employees and the multi-agency team from the Kelowna Child Advocacy Centre.

It’s important to note that Rising Tide IHP isn’t limited to providing workplace health promotion services exclusively to emergency services agencies. In fact, Tacey works with a variety of employee groups to improve physical and psychological well-being in the workplace. With the COVID-19 pandemic, workplace health promotion has become increasingly important as many employees continue to work from home or face new stressors in their work environment. By prioritizing workplace health promotion, employers can help their employees improve their overall well-being and increase their productivity and job satisfaction. So, regardless of your industry or employee group, investing in workplace health promotion is a smart decision for any organization.

In her consultant role, Tacey has the flexibility to work with any employer or agency around the world, remotely. While she loves delivering workshops and trainings in person for optimal engagement and impact, Tacey understands this may not be an option for every budget and is happy to accommodate with a remote solution that is just as effective and impactful. Whether you are across town or across the globe, Tacey is here to support you in achieving your workplace health promotion goals.

Rising Tide IHP is based out the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada.