Understanding Employee Assistance Programs in Singapore

Understanding Employee Assistance Programs in Singapore (And Why Your Company Needs One)

Last Updated on October 6, 2025 by Manassa Shrikanth

Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW

A HR team planning workplace mental health initiatives through their company's Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Take a moment to picture this: an employee’s performance is dropping, they seem withdrawn in meetings, and they’ve taken more sick days than usual. You want to help, but as an HR professional or manager, you wonder what your options are.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are one of the most common HR mental wellbeing initiatives used by employers in Singapore to improve workplace mental health.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through what an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is, why your company needs one, top EAP benefits, and additional HR mental wellbeing initiatives to help create a truly supportive workplace.

This Article Contains:

What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a company-sponsored mental health service that provides confidential corporate counselling and other forms of support to employees. It typically includes access to professional talk therapy, as well as resources such as workshops, wellness seminars, and support groups.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) aim to prevent issues and support employees before workplace stress escalates into something bigger. Often, employees may turn to EAP services for support with issues like burnout, stress, anxiety, improving workplace communication, setting healthy boundaries, dealing with toxic colleagues or bosses, struggles with work-life balance, etc.

In Singapore, an increasing number of companies are adopting Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) as part of their HR mental wellbeing initiatives.

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Key Features of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Here’s what a typical EAP in Singapore may include:

a) Confidential corporate counselling in Singapore

Usually consists of several free talk therapy sessions with a qualified mental health professional (in-person, online, or over the phone).

b) Support for personal & work issues

Mental health support is provided for a range of issues, including emotional distress, relationship struggles, job stress, conflict at work, grief, etc.

c) Support groups & group counselling sessions

Many EAPs also offer support groups (within the organisation or external) as well as group counselling sessions. These can help employees explore shared forms of support and bonding with those going through similar experiences.

d) Workplace mental health seminars and workshops

Mental health workshops and seminars (whether hands-on, theoretical, in-person or online) are also a usual part of EAPs in Singapore. These help equip employees with practical strategies for everyday work life.

e) Manager referrals and support

HR teams and managers can refer employees and also seek guidance on handling team mental health concerns.

f) Crisis intervention

EAPs may also provide on-ground or online support for events like layoffs, retrenchments, workplace accidents, or sudden bereavement.

Who Delivers EAP Services?

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are usually delivered through external mental health providers and platforms. At Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), we offer end-to-end EAP services in Singapore. Our circle of expert counsellors and psychologists ensure confidential, professional, and high-quality care for your employees.

TYHO’s EAP services include the following:

One-on-one talk therapy sessions
Empathy circles (facilitated group discussions)
Wellness seminars
On-site support
Workshops (guided skills training)

5 Reasons Why Your Company Needs an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Did you know? Every year, SGD 15.7 billion is lost due to employee anxiety and depression in Singapore.

The truth is that much of this is preventable with the right resources and proactive measures. A strong Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help your organisation prioritise employee wellbeing and stay ahead of the curve.

Here are five reasons why your company should consider an Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

1) Rising Workplace Mental Health Costs in Singapore

As we saw earlier in this section, workplace-related anxiety, burnout, and depression are costing Singapore employers billions every year.

Without intervention through workplace mental health support such as EAPs, these costs can continue to rise, especially in fast-paced industries like finance, technology, and healthcare.

Tip

Track your company’s productivity over time, especially noting high-stress periods like launches, month-ends, etc. If you notice recurring negative trends, it may be time to invest in preventive mental health strategies like EAPs.

2) Increasing Risk of Absenteeism, Presenteeism & Burnout

While absenteeism and burnout are easily identifiable struggles that many companies face, presenteeism hides in plain daylight.

Sometimes, when work stress hasn’t reached the point of burnout yet, it can show up as presenteeism – working, but not at full capacity. It’s often more expensive than absenteeism and can quickly escalate into more significant issues.

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) gives employees direct access to mental health support, providing early intervention before stress turns into full-blown burnout.

When employees are offered much-needed workplace mental health support and care, productivity increases multifold. EAPs in Singapore can also help employees feel seen, heard and cared for, thus increasing loyalty, trust and job satisfaction.

Tip

Train team leads to recognise early signs of burnout, such as withdrawal, cynicism, or sudden dips in output, and refer employees to the EAP services before issues escalate.

3) Employee Retention Challenges in High-Stress Industries

High employee turnover is not only expensive but also affects a company’s image in the eyes of potential talent. Work stress is one of the leading reasons employees leave companies.

As an employer or HR team, this can be quite something tricky to navigate, especially in industries that are high-stress by nature. This is where Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) come in.

HR mental wellbeing initiatives, such as EAPs, help employees who may be struggling while also preventing issues like burnout from happening in the first place. They also increase trust and loyalty, which in turn boosts employee retention.

In addition to this, young talent today values positive work cultures and looks for workplaces that put employee mental health first. EAPs show that your company takes employee mental well-being seriously, thus attracting top talent your way.

Tip

Ensure your EAP partner includes multi-language and online options. This increases accessibility across a diverse workforce.

At TYHO, our Therapists provide in-person and online counselling in a range of languages, including English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Malay, Tagalog, Tamil and Hindi.

4) Meeting ESG, D&I, and Other Workplace Wellness Standards

In Singapore and beyond, companies are now accountable not just for environmental standards and financial regulations, but also employee wellbeing.

SGX-listed businesses are expected to report on social aspects of ESG, including employee wellbeing, mental health initiatives, and inclusive measures.

EAPs can help you meet these expectations in a structured way. They support diversity and inclusion by offering confidential help for neurodivergent staff, caregivers, and employees navigating through tough life transitions. At the same time, they also signal to both talent and stakeholders that your company takes mental wellness seriously.

5) Lack of Training for HRs & People Managers

Most HR professionals and team leads aren’t mental health experts, and that’s okay. But given that they are the first line of contact for most employees, they need basic tools and referral pathways to manage conversations around workplace mental health.

EAPs can provide training modules, manager toolkits, and specialised workshops, helping your people leaders gain confidence and clarity about when and how to step in to help out employees.

Tip

Consider organising quarterly mental health training workshops for HRs and people managers, in collaboration with your EAP provider.

Key Takeaways: Top 8 EAP Benefits

HR mental wellbeing initiatives, such as EAPs, provide a host of benefits to both employers and employees.

Here’s a quick recap of the top eight benefits of adopting an Employee Assistance Program (EAP):

EAPs help employees manage stress, anxiety, and burnout before they affect health or performance.
Managers and HRs get expert-backed support to navigate sensitive employee situations more effectively.
Workplace mental health initiatives like EAPs help employees stay focused, productive, and engaged at work.
A supportive work environment built through EAPs encourages loyalty and reduces employee turnover.
EAPs help spot early signs of mental health issues, preventing long-term complications like burnout and absenteeism.
EAPs can equip employees with healthier communication styles and can help reduce workplace conflict through counselling and coaching.
Employees feel more valued and satisfied when their employer prioritises their mental health.
EAPs also support broader company goals like ESG compliance and building a truly inclusive workplace.

Ready to explore EAP services for your company? Click here to get started with TYHO’s services!

Book a session with a qualified Therapist today!