Concordia Journal Home > Archives > April 2, 2009 issue >

Finding the help you need 

Unfortunately, a variety of life stresses can lead to dependence on drugs or alcohol that hinder our ability to function effectively. For those employees in need of an impartial counsellor to help with addiction or any other problem, there's the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

The EAP's Drug and Alcohol Recovery Program (DARP) is for anyone concerned about their own habits or the habits of a friend. If you or someone you know have experienced negative consequences as a result of your use or have noticed increased use of drugs or alcohol, the EAP is there if and when you need it.

From there, the EAP's counsellors will be able to perform an initial assessment and provide an action plan to help you deal with an issue at hand.

Since its establishment in 1992, the EAP has been providing members of the Concordia community with counselling to help deal with any number of issues. The confidential information service can help those affected by substance abuse, gambling, internet addiction, personal or emotional issues, interpersonal issues, work-related concerns, sexual harassment, violence or bereavement.

"What’s important about our program is that we have a great deal of flexibility built into our systems," says EAP Chair Miriam Posner. "We offer short-term counselling of six to 12 sessions for any one issue. But if another issue arises, we're able to create another six to 12 to resolve that problem as well."

"Of course, the cornerstone of what we do is confidentiality. All information disclosed will always remain confidential and will never be shared in any way."

Posner has been with the EAP since its inception and even served on the selection committee that helped found the program. She's also got quite the history at our fair institute. She's been working at Concordia for 35 years. As a student, she completed her BSc in 1974 at SGW, as well as her MBA in 1989.

Posner emphasizes the EAP's willingness to help employees wishing to help a colleague or family member who's been affected by a problem.

"We're happy to provide advice to someone, say, who wishes to bring an abuse problem to their attention or wishes to learn ways to stop being an enabler," she says.

"The university and the EAP has always prided itself in providing itself with services like this," she says. "It's offered tremendous amount of support to help our community members move forward in the past, and we're happy to continue to do so."

The EAP offers a helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week in both English and French at 1-800-387-4765. Posner encourages eligible employees to visit the website (eap.concordia.ca) or call ext. 3667.