Hate Asking For Help? You’re Not Alone

Nothing is more American than self-reliance—we view "going it alone" as a virtue. Cowboys don't ask for directions—and when the going gets tough, the tough get going. The unfortunate result of this resolve is that many of us get hopelessly lost and find the going much tougher than it has to be.

What makes people reluctant to ask for help? "Many people fear that they'll be turned down," notes Liz Ferron, senior consultant for VITAL WorkLife. "Others have asked for help in the past and didn't get it."

The good news is that your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit provides a sure-fire way for you and your family members to get immediate help from highly qualified resources.

VITAL WorkLife' master's- and doctorate-level counselors can help you tackle virtually any challenge you face, large or small. Among the free services provided are:

• Face-to-face or virtual counseling sessions—all you have to do is ask. (Your HR professional can tell you how many sessions per incident—a unique reason for calling—are included in your plan, or call us at 800.383.1908.)
• Unlimited telephone counseling at any time, day or night, every day of the year
• No-cost chemical dependency assessments and referrals
• No-cost consultations with lawyers and financial planners with discounted rates for ongoing issues
• No-cost debt and credit counseling, plus assistance with issues surrounding identity theft

Your EAP Benefit: Providing Help on Demand

"There's no limit to the number of times you can call," says Ferron. "You don't have to 'save' your benefit for some major issue. We're a great sounding board and source of information any time you've got a question or concern."

According to VITAL WorkLife's latest satisfaction survey of employees who'd taken advantage of their EAP benefit:

• 95% reported feeling that VITAL WorkLife was successful in addressing their concerns
• 98% reported they would recommend the use of VITAL WorkLife to family or co-workers

Struggling With a Work or Life Issue? We Can Help

With a single call to VITAL WorkLife, you'll get free, confidential help with all sorts of issues—large and small.

Your EAP benefit includes free and confidential professional support services from VITAL WorkLife—24 hours a day, 365 days per year—to help you and your family members address a wide range of life challenges, including:

• Marital and relationship troubles
• Depression, stress and anxiety
• Parenting and child concerns
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Addictive behaviors such as gambling, eating and shopping
• Anger, grief and loss
• Legal and financial problems
• Interpersonal conflict at home or work

We also recommend calling or visiting VITAL WorkLife online any time you want information regarding:

• Setting and achieving educational goals
• Developing weight loss goals or fitness regimes
• Achieving work/life balance
• Developing skills needed to advance in your career
• Retirement and financial planning
• And more!

Getting Started: Making the Call

When you call, it's easy to select what resource you're looking for! You can ask for information and how to access resources. You can ask to be transferred to a professional for immediate counseling by phone.

"If you don't feel like discussing your problem over the phone, simply ask for a face-to-face counseling session," says Ferron. "We'll even stay on the phone with you while the appointment is made. We're very user friendly, and we want to get you the help you need."

Our services are confidential. Unless you've been referred to us as part of a performance-related issue and have signed a release, your employer never knows that you or a member of your family has called.

Web-Based Work & Life Resources: Free, Unlimited Access

Your EAP benefit also includes unlimited access to a wealth of web-based Work & Life Resources through your Member Website.

"You'll find thousands of articles on everything from parenting, aging, living well and balancing your life to career development and working or living abroad," notes Ferron. "You'll also find a variety of tools for managing and enhancing your life."

Those tools include:

• A Learning Center with interactive e-learning sessions on workplace and interpersonal issues, and downloadable audio tips for listening on the go.
• Live monthly webinars, or access to the archives of past webinars, on a wide variety of topics.
• A Corporate Perks/Savings Center that offers online discounts of up to 25% on hundreds of name brands.
• Legal and Financial resources for resolving a wide variety of issues, including free document templates and hundreds of articles and other information.
• Tools for assessing your health, audio and video advice on health topics, and access to both WebMD and Medline Plus.
• A Relocation Center with extensive information on US communities.
• A searchable provider database where you can find everything from adoption agencies and child- or eldercare providers to legal and medical providers, volunteer opportunities, wellness facilities and more.

To access those resources, follow these three easy steps:

1. Go to VITALWorkLife.com and click on member login.
2. Enter your user name and password, and click submit.
3. Once you're at the VITAL WorkLife' website, click on the green box at the left of the screen that says "Click Here To Go To Your Online Work & Life Resources" or the other box that says "Click Here To Go To Your Online Legal & Financial Benefits."

Pathways to Well Being Call VITAL WorkLife at 800.383.1908 or access resources through your VITAL WorkLife App