The document discusses crisis support services provided to government departments and employees. It offers telephonic support for COVID-19, psychosocial, legal, and financial issues from wellbeing professionals. For more serious issues requiring face-to-face support, employees will be referred to employee assistance programs, medical schemes, or community networks. Training on the services is provided to employees and managers. The crisis support aims to benefit departments without formal employee assistance programs by providing confidential, short-term, and solution-focused support during personal or work-related hardships exacerbated by COVID-19.

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SUPPORT SERVICES: CRISIS SUPPORT
• The Crisis Support desk will equip and support individuals to deal
with the challenges associated with COVID-19 and other personal
crisis or traumatic events.
• Psychosocial, legal, financial or wellbeing concerns.
• Telephonic support only . If face to face support is required,
individuals will be referred (Scheme benefits, EAP or Community
networks)
• Our team of wellbeing professionals is available during business
hours
• This will particularly benefit Government Departments that do
not have Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) services in
place.
• Healthi Choices will provide the relevant Employee and
Managerial training on the service via HWSS Orientation
sessions.
• The Crisis support capacity that is currently used for the Maternity
programme will provide the telephonic support

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Departments without Employee Assistance Programmes Departments with Employee Assistance
Programmes
Employees
experiencing
psychosocial
difficulties
 Information, advice and coaching on COVID-19 risks and
concerns
 Refer employees and their families to relevant
service provider for further support
 Follow-up to monitor resolution where
appropriate
 Counselling to those employees in traumatic situations
who are experiencing: abuse; crime and violence; loss of
significant others; and/or relationships
 Counselling to those employees who are experiencing:
loneliness; stress; anxiety; depression; and/or with
addictions
Employees
experiencing legal and
financial difficulties
 Facilitate advice for employees who are experiencing
financial difficulties
 Facilitate advice for employees who are experiencing
legal challenges
Training GEMS HWSS Employee and Manager training via GEMS HWSS
Wellbeing Promotion Wellbeing Change Leaders website
How to access support
Tel: GEMS HWSS Events line
Please call me: SMS GEMS to 32377 (Preferred Option)
Managers can email: cloevents@gems.gov.za
SUPPORT SERVICES: CRISIS SUPPORT

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CRISISSUPPORT
Confidential, individual support
Short-term, solution-focused
COVID-19 impact: Personal & work-
related
Free to Govt departments

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CRISIS SUPPORT: Impact/Benefit
Employees
Better overall health
Improved motivation &
morale
Reduced work stress
Sense of control
Better life balance
Department
Assist with managing
productivity
Reduced absenteeism
& sick leave
Talent retention
Increased safety

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CRISIS SUPPORT : Process
Contact Centre
– call
answered
Assess your
need
Professional
assistance
Service
delivery/
referral
Case closure

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SUPPORT SERVICES: WELLBEING PROMOTION
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 Promoting the reputation of the GEMS as a wellbeing partner to Government departments,
individuals and their families
1. Promoting the reputation of the GEMS as a wellbeing partner to Government
departments, individuals and their families
 Membership growth (acquisition and retention)
Wellbeing Promotion
forms part of the
GEMS HWSS offering
and it is not required
to order this service
1.Content to promote ALL wellbeing
benefits and services within the
Scheme, Government and Employees
1.Targeted engagement with priority
populations :NCD’s, Mental Wellbeing
and Women’s Wellbeing
1.Informed by National Health
Awareness Calendar
1.Campaigns 1.Monthly Wellbeing Campaigns
1.Targeted Campaigns (NCD’s, Mental Wellbeing
and Women’s Wellbeing)
1.Toolkits (posters, SMS’, emailers,
rules of engagement)
1.Wellbeing Change Leaders
website; monthly newsletters and
weekly news flashes.