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Post-holiday let-down. Shepell·fgi Research Group Report
January 30 2007
TORONTO, January 31, 2007- Does this time of year leave you feeling let-down, sluggish and down-right blue? According to The Shepell·fgi Research Group, and its most recent research report entitled: Post Holidays and the Broken Promise Effect an EAPs Perspective, reports of mental health problems increased in January. Suicidal thoughts increased by twenty seven percent, feelings of anger augmented to fourteen percent, and depression increased by seven percent this January. Recently, Psychologist Cliff Arnall designated Monday January 22, 2007 as the most depressing day of the year. Most people have just come out of the holiday season with high expectations and now that the holiday season is over, these people find themselves dealing with residual holiday stress. Most are struggling to adhere to New Years resolutions, are worrying about receiving post-holiday credit card bills, or trying to maintain a work-life balance. This can leave us all feeling like we are fighting for survival during the post-holiday season.
"It is common for people to think that once the holiday season is over, so are their stressors," explains Paula Allen, Vice-President of Health Solutions and The Shepell·fgi Research Group , "but the truth is, January is a time of residual holiday stress. Our studies reveal that there are fifteen percent more EAP accesses in January, compared to the rest of the year, fifty-one percent more than December alone."
Allen is citing the organizations recent research report entitled: Post Holidays and the Broken Promise Effect an EAPs Perspective, which examined Employee Assistance Program (EAP) access patterns for the month of January of 138,933 employees in 806 organizations.
Key findings of the Report show that:
- There are 15% more accesses in January compared to the rest of the year (51% more than December alone).
- EAP access increases in January impact 75% of presenting problems.
- January is associated with more reports of domestic violence (55% more) and other social health issues involving care giving (42% to 50% more), marriage and relationships (10% to 42% more), and family (14% to 37% more).
- Reports of mental health problems also rise in January, including suicidal thoughts and feelings (27% more) anger (12% more) and depression (7% more).
- Reports of physical health problems such as medical stressors (13% more) and weight management (10% more) rise in January.
- Other January increases were found for reports of debt and credit (39% more), career (28% more), and life transition issues (15% more).
"Social health issues, physical health concerns and mental health problems all increased in the month of January says Karen Seward, Senior Vice-President of Business Development and Marketing at Shepell·fgi." "Organizations need to recognize this trend and that social, mental and physical health issues are costly if they are not prevented or properly treated."
According to Seward, one of the best strategies that employers can use to combat post-holiday stress in the workplace is to promote awareness of EAP, well before, during, and after the holiday season to ensure that the program is used when needed.
In order to manage employee health and wellness with a more preventative approach, the Report offers the following recommendations:
- Promote EAP awareness among employees throughout the year, both to prevent the emergence of post-holiday health problems and reduce the January rush to EAP.
- Implement year-round employee health and wellness programs that provide crucial information to employees, enabling them to manage their lifestyles more effectively (e.g., on-site health risk assessments).
- Leverage the new year as a time of employee renewal and engagement. This may involve re-connecting employees to their jobs, re-connecting jobs to the vision and strategy, and setting clear performance expectations for the rest of the year.
"Organizations that implement these procedures will end up with not only effective employees", adds Seward, "but a healthier workplace all year round."
About Shepell·fgi
Shepell·fgi, the leading provider of prevention-focused Employee Assistance Programs, offers an enhanced choice of services that address physical, mental and social health issues. The company services over six million employees and their families across Canada, the United States and internationally. Shepell·fgi helps organizations maintain healthy employees and healthy workplaces. www.shepellfgi.com
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