Support is in demand following Sept. 11. (Health Care).(Brief Article)

As Hawaii residents cope with layoffs and stress that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, employers and workers are turning to employee assistance programs -- known as EAPs -- for emotional and psychological support.

Nearly 20 percent to 25 percent of calls to Hawaii Employee Assistance Services, a division of Child and Family Service, are related to the trauma of Sept. 11 or layoffs in the work force, says administrator Catherine Bruns.

The company serves more than 70 businesses with rates ranging from $12 to $30 per employee per year.

Straub's EAP experienced a surge in calls from corporate clients seeking advice on how to best support employees since the September incidents, says Carey Brown, Straub …