CONCERN: EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

A Benefit for Employees and Families

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CONCERN: EAP Services

• Work/Life Benefits– Parenting and Childcare Resources– Eldercare Services– Financial Counseling– Legal Consultations– Pet Care Referrals

• Short Term Counseling 1-5 visits per issue per 12-month period

• Free Confidential – 24/7 800 number answered “live”

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Getting Started

• Call for an appointment 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday

• In crisis situations, call 24/7 for immediate telephone support

• For more information– Ask your HR/Benefits Department– www.concern-eap.com– Call CONCERN at (800) 344-4222

Resiliency during Tough Economic Times

Objectives

• What is Stress?• Define Resiliency• Economic Stress• Talking about finances• How to boost your resiliency

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Types of Stress

• Eustress (positive stress)• Distress (negative stress)

– Acute Stress– Chronic Stress

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Stress Reactions

• Fight, Flight or Freeze• Negative effects on mental

well-being, physical health and hormonal system

• Cortisol (stress hormone) can create both physical and emotional reactions

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Resilience

• The key is not to try to avoid stress altogether, but to manage the stress

• It involves maintaining flexibility and balance in your life:– Monitoring your emotions– Taking action and resting– Gaining support and nurturing yourself– Relying on other and yourself

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Impact on Health

• Reality: increased anxiety, depression, grief, or hardship can be damaging

• Take good care of yourself, both physically and psychologically

• Remember: the flight attendant instructs you to put on your oxygen mask first!

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Financial Stress

• 66% of Americans identify the economy as a significant source of stress in their lives

• 75% are stressed by money• Housing costs are a major

cause of financial stress• 48% report that job stability

is a significant concern10

Managing Economic Stress

• Pause but don’t panic• Identify your financial stressors and

make a plan• Recognize how you deal with stress

related to money• Turn these challenging times into

opportunities for real growth and change• Ask for professional support

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Establish a Spending Plan

• Write it down– Use your actual current income– Identify a list of debts vs expenses– Trim flexible expenses then reduce fixed expenses

• Planning ahead– Start to save – pay yourself first– Start/continue an emergency fund– Consider other way to increase your income

Couples talking about Finances

• Keep your cool• Soften your “start up”• Don’t be a mind reader• Think, then speak• Repair before exiting

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De-stress through simplifying

• Get into action• De-clutter your environment• Donate all unused belongings• Organize all your financial and

important papers

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Strategies for Building Resilience

• Make Connections• Avoid seeing crises as insurmountable• Accept that change is a part of life• Move toward your goals and take

decisive action• Keep things in perspective and maintain

a hopeful outlook• Take care of yourself

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