- FAQ
Common questions, answered.
Workplace and school mental health is a new conversation in Pakistan. Here are the questions we are asked most — answered honestly.
Will employees actually use this? Mental health is stigmatised in Pakistan.
This is the most common concern — and it is entirely valid. Our EAP is built around absolute anonymity. Employees access support via personal WhatsApp or a private phone line, never through company systems. Nobody at your organisation knows who has used the service. This is contractually guaranteed. We also run awareness sessions that normalise the conversation without pressure. Utilisation begins modestly and grows steadily as trust builds — usually within the first quarter of launch.
What does HR actually see in the reports?
HR and leadership receive only anonymised, aggregate data: total sessions used, broad topic categories, and overall utilisation rates. No individual names, no case details, no personally identifiable information — ever. This is a contractual guarantee, not just a policy.
How do we justify this cost to our finance team?
We help you build the business case. Research shows that every PKR 1 invested in employee mental health returns PKR 5–8 in reduced absenteeism and improved productivity (WHO, 2023). Replacing a mid-level professional costs 50–150% of their annual salary — often more than the entire annual EAP cost. We provide a fully worked ROI framework document formatted for CFO and board review.
Can this satisfy our global HQ's EAP requirements?
Yes. Our programmes align with WHO workplace wellbeing guidelines and ISO 45003. We produce quarterly compliance reports in English formatted for global HQ submission. Several multinational parent companies have formally reviewed and approved Aasara as a compliant local EAP provider for their Pakistan operations.
What do schools get that they can't hire directly?
Three things. First, clinical credibility — our counsellors are registered psychologists with specialist training, not generalist HR professionals. Second, our proprietary resilience curriculum, developed specifically for Pakistan’s academic pressure environment. Third, the protection of an independent service — students talk more openly to someone who is not a full-time member of school staff. The perception of independence matters enormously.
How is sports psychology different from regular counselling?
Sports psychology focuses specifically on performance — managing pre-competition anxiety, building concentration routines, recovering confidence after failure, and developing team cohesion. It is not therapy. Our sports psychologists are trained in both clinical psychology and sport science. The language is performance-focused, not therapeutic, which makes it much more acceptable to athletes and coaches who might resist traditional counselling.
Do you support Urdu-speaking clients?
Fully. All our counsellors are bilingual — Urdu and English. Sessions, materials, the helpline, and all written resources are available in Urdu. For factory-floor workers and field-based employees we also provide Punjabi-language support and can design Urdu-only group sessions. No employee or student should be excluded from support because of language.