ValueOptions Calls on Employers to Support Returning Service Members with Veteran-Focused Employee Assistance Program

NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than 30 years serving military members and their families through TRICARE^® and the Military OneSource employee assistance program—as well as being proudly headquartered in Norfolk, home to one of the largest military installments in the nation—ValueOptions^® is committed to supporting returning service members year-round. In honor of Veterans Day, ValueOptions is calling on employers to join that commitment by developing military-friendly workplaces with veteran-centric Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

As 1.4 million service members leave active duty to return to civilian life, many will face psychological and readjustment difficulties, particularly within the workforce. Veterans employed in a civilian atmosphere—some of whom will be there for the first time—can experience anxiety about the major lifestyle change, apprehension about their new role or feelings of insignificance among their coworkers.  

"Veterans tend to have very positive attributes that serve them well in the workplace, including a strong work ethic, leadership skills and the ability to be highly adaptive," said Rich Paul, ValueOptions Senior Vice President, Customer & Product Strategy Officer. "The question is, once hired, how can employers pinpoint and provide the support veterans both need and deserve? Veteran-focused employee assistance programs give veterans and employers the tools they need to help returning soldiers not just adapt to, but thrive in, a civilian work environment."

Veteran EAPs help employers provide peer support for service members and their families and specialized care for past trauma issues, connect eligible veteran employees to financial and legal services, and promote respectful interactions between all employees within the workplace. In addition to EAPs, ValueOptions also provides free resources to employers to increase understanding of the unique asset our military members are as employees, and to shed light on potential workplace pitfalls due to civilian employee perception. For more information on EAPs and other veteran-focused resources, visit http://veteaps.com/.   

And as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 5.2 million adults will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within a given year, many of whom are veterans who experienced trauma in a combat situation, ValueOptions is making sure to encourage care for any veterans who may also be adjusting to a change in their mental health. Stamp Out Stigma—a company-wide initiative to address the prevalence of mental illness and its surrounding stigma as a barrier to treatment—provides a variety of mental health resources, and even tools for workplace-wide campaigns to promote an open dialogue about mental disorders.

Stamp Out Stigma also showcases personal stories of individuals who have experienced mental illness with its award-winning video interviews, which includes the effects of PTSD on a veteran and his family. To hear these compelling narratives and to learn more about stamping out the stigma of mental illness, visit www.stampoutstigma.com.

About ValueOptions^®
ValueOptions is a health improvement company that serves more than 32 million individuals. On behalf of employers, health plans and government agencies, we manage innovative programs and solutions that directly address the challenges our health care system faces today. A national leader in the fields of mental and emotional wellbeing, recovery and resilience, employee assistance, and wellness, ValueOptions helps people make the difficult life changes needed to be healthier and more productive. With offices nationwide and a network of more than 130,000 provider locations, ValueOptions helps people take important steps in the right direction. We help them live their lives to the fullest potential. Visit www.valueoptions.com for more information.

About Stamp Out Stigma  
Stamp Out Stigma is an initiative to ensure we remove stigma as a barrier to people seeking the care they need to recover. This initiative commits us all to recognize the high prevalence of mental illness and to reeducate ourselves, friends and family on the truths of mental illness. When we do this, we reduce the stigma. This campaign reminds each of us that we can help transform the dialog on mental health from a whisper to a conversation. Visit www.stampoutstigma.com for more ways to starting talking about mental health.

Video with caption: "ValueOptions' Employee Assistance Programs are designed with returning veterans in mind. Our EAPs focus on the physical and mental wellbeing of your workforce, and can help shape a vet-friendly working environment that utilizes these men and women to their full potential — benefiting your entire staff and your bottom line." Video available at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNJe-MoYQqY 

Image with caption: "ValueOptions logo." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130624/PH36534LOGO

SOURCE ValueOptions