Page updated 5 November 2024

Employee Assistance Service

We can all experience difficulties that leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed and with a reduced sense of wellbeing. At times, all we may need is a little help, information or guidance, or at others – someone to talk to.

The UCD Employee Assistance Service (EAS) is a 24/7 free and confidential support service designed to assist you in dealing more effectively with any personal or work-related problems you might be facing. The service is operated confidentially by Spectrum.Life, the largest provider of employee health and wellness services in Ireland.

The service can be used by a UCD employee, their spouse, civil partner and dependents where the family member can be described as over the age of 18 and residing in the family home.

Learn more about contacting the service and how it works on the Service Information page.

What to expect when you contact the EAS

Download the PDF below for a high-resolution version of the process map.

Contact Details

To access the EAS directly:

• Freephone 1800 814 243
• WhatsApp: Text ‘Hi’ to 087 369 0010
• SMS: Text ‘Hi’ to 087 145 2056
• International (local charges apply) 00353 1518 0277

Should you prefer, counselling is supported in 34 languages (see below). Please note initial contact via phone is in English.

UCD Wellbeing Hub

The UCD Wellbeing Hub provides you with customisable wellbeing plans, self-help resources, links to UCD’s wellbeing supports and a gateway to the Employee Assistance Service for more pressing issues.

This is your very own wellbeing hub (available as a desktop portal and mobile app) that provides you with access to customisable wellbeing content. Topics covered are based on the three core areas of mental wellbeing, nutrition and exercise. Use the hub to track your steps and kilometres exercised, find recipes, find fitness plans to suit your needs, and complete courses in stress management, sleeping better, dealing with anxiety and more

The hub is managed by Spectrum.Life and any details you record are confidential between you and the provider. Only strictly anonymised usage data is shared with UCD to ensure we can develop this service to best suit colleagues needs.

Registering for the hub

(opens in a new window)Register now using your UCD email address. As you are creating an account on the Spectrum.Life system, outside of the UCD environment, it is essential that you don’t use your UCD Connect password for this account.

Log into the EAS Hub

Once you have created your personal account, you can log in using this login (opens in a new window)link.

Spectrum Life recommend you use Google Chrome to ensure the best performance on the platform. You may also download a mobile app from the App Store or Google Play by searching for Spectrum.Life. Please note the App does not have UCD specific information.

For technical support contact (opens in a new window)support@spectrum.life

EAS Information Sessions

You are invited to attend the Spectrum.Life Employee Assistance Service (EAS) online information session. During this presentation we will provide an detailed overview of Spectrum.Life’s EAS service. The EAS is a short-term confidential counselling service that supports individuals and their immediate families as they work through any personal or work-related concerns.

The EAS is much more than just a counselling service and this presentation will talk you through some of the benefits, how you can access it and who can access it from your family. This presentation is less than 30 minutes long.

We will leave some time for Q&A. Please note that this session is open to employees from many organisations, therefore please be mindful of this if you are asking any questions.

The session kicks off at 9.30am and will occur on the third Friday of every month, please see below some upcoming dates across 2024:

• 15th November 2024
• 20th December 2024

Please click on the zoom link below to attend. You can access through your browser, no need to download the application.

(opens in a new window)Zoom link to webinar

Password:  820799

Latest webinar series

Mental health and returning to the workplace – available via the UCD Wellbeing Hub as series of 5 recorded webinars covering:

• Building New Routines and Responding to Change
• Mental Health Self Care
• Supporting Resilience
• Understanding Anxiety
• Managing Stress

Services

The EAS offers access to a telephone helpline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can help you with a wide variety of problems. The fully qualified team of counsellors and experts are highly experienced in personal and work-related issues and can offer in the moment support and counselling (where clinically appropriate) to support anyone suffering with issues related, but not limited to:

• Depression, anxiety, stress
• Grief and bereavement
• Addictions
• Relationship and marital problems
• Work stress and work-life balance issues
• Workplace conflict and communication
• Life transitions such as career progression or retirement

In addition, you and your family can access the EAS for signposting to appropriate advice/services on the following:

• Legal Assistance
• Financial Assistance
• Consumer Advice
• Career Guidance
• Life Coaching
• Mediation
• Support for Non-Irish Nationals & their Families
• Health Advice, including Physio, Podiatrists and Dietitians.
• Advice on practical, day to day issues and services

All calls are answered by our EAS team and all cases are handled by one of our experienced Case Managers (all fully trained and qualified counsellors), who will carry out an assessment to ensure you receive the specialised assistance that you need.

Learn more about the service and how it works on the page.

Confidentiality

All services provided through the Spectrum.Life EAS are done so in total confidence. The identity of individuals and personal details will always be protected by the Case Managers and our team of counsellors. This information will never be shared with or reported to UCD or management team or anyone else, without the employee’s clear consent.

To access the service all Spectrum.Life will require is confirmation that you work in UCD or are the spouse, civil partner or dependents of a UCD employee and some high-level information, so they know you are eligible for the service.