ComPsych Reports Significant Increase in Critical Incident Counseling Requests for Employees; More Than 27 Percent of Incidents Are Related to Workplace Anxiety and Layoffs.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 20, 2003

ComPsych Corporation, the pioneer and worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (employee assistance programs, managed behavioral health, work-life and crisis intervention services), experienced a 23 percent increase overall in critical incident counseling requests for its client companies in first quarter 2003 over first quarter 2002.

These critical incident stress debriefings, or CISDs, were conducted at employer sites by ComPsych counselors in group and one-on-one sessions to minimize employees' adverse reactions to trauma.

Of the CISDs ComPsych conducted in first quarter 2003:

- 27 percent were related to worker anxiety and terminations

- 35 percent were related to robberies

- 38 percent were related to the death of an employee (of this, 4 percent were employee suicides)

"Clearly, the increase in CISD requests underscores the need for corporations to have emergency counseling services in place," said ComPsych Chairman and CEO Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz. "Even if a company does not provide an ongoing counseling program, it is critical to have a safety net to handle the after effects of employee trauma, whether that trauma is caused by death, acts of violence and terrorism or layoffs. These events can immobilize a workforce in the short term, and can continue to distract and impair employees for months or years afterward if not dealt with properly.

"In light of the uncertain times in which U.S. companies now operate, having a crisis counseling service in place is one highly effective way to be prepared for the unknown," Dr. Chaifetz added.

About ComPsych

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Chicago, ComPsych provides its programs to more than 1,000 companies throughout the U.S. and 90 countries, covering more than seven million individuals. Clients range from the Fortune 500, i.e. American Express, General Electric, Schlumberger, DuPont, J.P. Morgan Chase and Comcast, to smaller public and private concerns, i.e. Chanel Inc., Krispy Kreme, Mervyn's and Tiffany & Company, as well as government entities and Taft-Hartley groups. The company offers a full range of employee assistance, behavioral health and work-life services, creating "Build-to-Suit" programs, which help employers attract and retain employees as well as improve employee productivity and performance. For more information, visit www.compsych.com.