June is ‘Employee Well-Being Month,’ includes behavioral health support, resources

Each June, “Employee Well-Being Month” is recognized in an effort to spotlight the workplace’s role in helping create healthier, happier employees. As acknowledged via one of the five pillars of the Healthy Boiler Program, behavioral health plays a key role in overall employee well-being.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health disorders are among the most burdensome health concerns in the United States. Additionally, more attention is shifting toward mental health and the workplace as employers continually recognize that untreated mental health conditions lead to disruptive and costly challenges like absenteeism and reduced productivity. Add in the stress, anxiety and hardships related to work brought about by COVID-19, behavioral health is at the forefront of employee well-being across the globe.

Mental Health America’s 2021 Workplace Health Survey (Mind the Workplace) measured the attitudes and perceptions of over 5,000 employees across 17 industries in the United States between Feb. 13 and Sept. 9, 2020.

According to the survey, “Nearly nine in 10 employees report that their workplace stress affects their mental health. Over 65 percent of employees find it difficult to concentrate because of their work environment, compared to 46 percent of respondents in 2018.”

Key findings, according to Mental Health America, were:

• Most employees are experiencing signs of burnout.
• Employees are not receiving the support they need to manage stress.
• Workplace stress is severely impacting employees’ mental health.
• Employees are concerned about their current financial situations.

“It’s important for individuals to remember that they are not alone,” says Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “If at any time an employee feels like their emotional well-being – or the emotional well-being of a co-worker – is being pushed to the limits and they need help, they can address their concerns with their supervisor and/or use the resources the University and community have available to them. Regardless of whether they are working on campus, remotely or have a hybrid-work arrangement, there are resources and tools that can help. An emphasis on behavioral health as part of our overall health and well-being continues to be a priority of HR-Benefits. And part of that is ensuring that the faculty and staff know these resources are available and know how to access and use them.”  

Mental health resources for faculty and staff

In support of employee well-being and the behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program, Purdue offers many mental health resources to faculty, staff and students.

Human Resources created a Mental Health Resources webpage in early 2020 to showcase the variety of mental health resources available from Purdue as well as community-wide and nationally. The goal of the webpage is to meet the diverse community of employees where they are by providing direct links, information and tools to help them address and/or manage any mental health-related needs they might have.

Mental Health resources to assist students

Faculty and staff, who work with students or have a student at home, can direct them to the resources below for behavioral health assistance. Note: LiveHealth Online Psychology and LiveHealth Online Psychiatry services are also available to Purdue students who are covered on a Purdue health plan. Mental health visits through LiveHealth Online are covered at 100 percent on the Purdue student health plan.   

Office of the Dean of Students

• Continuous Network of Support
• Services and information
• Presentations and trainings
• Student of Concern reporting link

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Therapy services at CAPS
• Self-help resources
• Group therapy
• CAPS YouTube channel
• NAMI On Campus – A free, virtual support group on campus.
• Thriving Campus – Service that provides students a way to search for mental health providers in many areas, locally and across the country.
• WellTrack – Interactive, self-help therapy app.

Coming soon – SupportLinc

Purdue has partnered with CuraLinc to expand the University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for benefits-eligible faculty and staff using SupportLinc. Implementation is scheduled for July 1. SupportLinc is a confidential resource that helps individuals deal with life’s challenges and the demands that come with integrating home and work. Employees will be able to access confidential, professional counseling as well as expert referrals to address a wide array of persona and work-related concerns, such as:

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• Marriage and relationship problems.
• Grief and loss.
• Substance abuse.
• Anger management.
• Work-related pressures.
• Stress.

Employees can choose how to get the assistance they need:

• In-the-moment support – Reach a licensed clinician by phone 24/7/365.
• Web portal – A one-stop shop for accessing resources, referrals, expert consultations and much more.
• Mobile app – Program support and resources including live chat with a licensed counselor and expert, searchable content.
• Text therapy – Exchange text messages, voicenotes and resources Monday through Friday with a licensed counselor through the mobile and desktop app.
• Animo – Strengthen mental health and overall well-being using self-guided content, practical resources and daily inspiration to foster meaningful and lasting behavior change.
• Navigator – Take the guesswork out of emotional fitness. Click the Navigator icon on the web portal or mobile app, complete a short survey and receive personalized guidance for accessing program support and resources.

SupportLinc also provides expert referrals and consultations:

• Legal consultation.
• Financial expertise.
• Convenience resources – referrals for child care, elder care, home repair, housing needs, education, pet care, adoption and more.

“We are excited to add SupportLinc to the variety of mental health resources already in place for Purdue employees,” Shaffer says. “Expanding the reach of our EAP will also expand the services the counselors at the Center for Healthy Living will be able to provide, and we will continue to look for ways to add and enhance programs, tools and resources that cater to mental health and wellness needs of the Purdue community.”

More information will be shared about SupportLinc via Purdue Today, email and the Healthy Boiler newsletter before implementation of the services.

Questions

Any questions regarding benefits coverage and / or mental health resources available to faculty, staff and dependents or the Healthy Boiler Program, can be directed to Human Resources at hr@purdue.edu, HRHelp (secure email) or by phone at 765-494-2222 or toll-free at 877-725-0222.