Why EAPs no longer work – and what employers can do about it

A Mental Health Crisis That’s Only Getting Worse

You reach for help—only to be met with a 12-week waiting list or a chatbot that redirects you to an overloaded NHS service. This is the reality for thousands of UK workers today.

The UK’s mental health landscape has shifted dramatically:

• Over 1.8 million people are currently on waiting lists for mental health services in England, with many waiting more than 90 days for care (source: NHS England).

• Post-COVID, mental health-related absences have skyrocketed, accounting for over 50% of all long-term sickness absence in 2023.

• The UK’s working-age population has grown by over 4 million in the past decade, but public mental health infrastructure has not scaled accordingly.

  
  

EAPs: Designed for yesterday’s workforce

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) were once a well-intentioned benefit. But let’s be honest—they’re no longer fit for purpose:

• Low uptake: Industry studies show only 2-5% of employees actually use their EAP.

• Opaque outcomes: Employers rarely know whether the service worked—or even what kind of help was accessed.

• One-size-fits-none: Most EAPs rely on outdated models: impersonal phone lines, limited therapist panels, and tight session caps.

It’s the equivalent of offering a gym membership without any equipment, trainers, or space to exercise.

The Employer’s dilemma

You’re paying for support your employees don’t use. Meanwhile:

• You’re covering rising costs of absenteeism, presenteeism, and staff churn.

• Your leadership team is under pressure to “do more” for mental health, with little qualified guidance on what actually works.

• Your people are suffering in silence, and trust in your wellbeing strategy is eroding.

  
  

It’s not a lack of care—it’s a lack of effective solutions.

There Is a Better Way

Medstars is built for real-life, not just the policy handbook.

We’re doctor-led and designed to be used, not ignored. That means:

• Same-day GP consults—with time to listen, not rush

• Mental health support that works—from therapy to specialist referrals

• Prescription delivery, diagnostics, and onward care—joined-up, not piecemeal

• Simple access—no 0800 numbers or login labyrinths

• Useful HR insights—so you know where support is working (and where it’s not)

All of this, starting at around the same cost as your EAP.

But the experience your team and your business will have is something else entirely.

Let’s Stop Ticking Boxes

In today’s workforce, health support cannot be a checkbox benefit. It’s not a poster in the kitchen. It’s a commitment to your people, to their futures, and the profitability of the business.

See what Medstars could look like in your business—get started here