Lancashire Mind Highlights the Importance of Employee Assistance Programmes | Member News

As poor mental health and workplace culture continue to impact our workforce and economy, Lancashire Mind is highlighting the importance of effective Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs). The charity is urging business leaders to ensure their EAPs truly meet the needs of their workforce, providing meaningful mental health and wellbeing support when it’s needed most.

Reports published in 2024 found that:

25% of UK workers report feeling unable to cope with workplace stress, showing the need for more support (1)
45% of UK workers feel uncomfortable discussing mental health concerns with their manager, fearing negative repercussions (2).

As pressure to support colleagues rises, we are seeing an increase in businesses relying on senior managers and line managers, who are taking on more and more when it comes to supporting staff, which in turn is affecting their own health. This is coupled with an increase in presenteeism- when an employee is constantly present at work despite being unwell and time taken off for poor mental health.

Support offers are everywhere, and there are so many organisations offering to work with your business to improve wellbeing, culture and productivity. It can be hard to know where to start.

If you are looking to bring in an EAP offer or to change providers, consider:

If you have a generic provider offering “support”, does that go deep enough to meet the complexity of mental health at work?
A national provider might not grasp the cultural, economic and social pressures your workforce faces. And if they don’t understand your people, how can they support them?
Many EAPs offer “unlimited” support that’s vague, complex, or leaves staff unsure of what they can access, and so people don’t use the service.
Have you or your team ever felt like you’ve been pushed through a call centre, or that your provider is ticking boxes rather than listening? That leaves employees feeling like just another number – and employers frustrated that they’re paying for support that doesn’t truly support.

At Lancashire Mind, we want to alleviate the challenges we see faced by our local business community and nationally, using our local expertise, lived experience and a trusted name in mental health to provide confidential, accessible, and preventative EAP support across Lancashire.

Reports in 2024 found that:

52% of employees feel more engaged and productive when their organisation offers mental health resources, such as access to counselling or wellness programmes. (3)
Companies that foster a culture of open communication and mental health awareness see a 20% increase in employee retention rates. (3)

At Lancashire Mind:

Every EAP call is answered by a professional with trauma-informed expertise and safeguarding training. A real human being, ready to listen, guide and connect your team member to the right support straight away.
We’re clear and transparent about what your EAP includes: counselling, coaching, therapy and practical self-help. Designed with decades of frontline experience and tailored to your workforce. No gimmicks, no guesswork, no hidden limits. Because support only works if people feel confident using it.
We know Lancashire because we are Lancashire, and that means better, more relevant support for your teams.
Costs from £7 per person per year.

Our EAP provides your businesses with:

Your own dedicated webpage
A support phone line
1-2-1 mental health support, including therapy and coaching
Manager training to support their own and their team’s well-being
Wellbeing in the Workplace tool kit
Mental health e-learning courses
Self-help resources

We are: Local, Personal, Affordable, Effective. By choosing Lancashire Mind, you’re not just investing in employee wellbeing, you’re investing in a stronger, healthier Lancashire. To access the right support for your teams today, visit or email: