Over 44 million American adults have a mental health condition and the rate of youth experiencing a mental health condition continues to rise, so chances are mental health has impacted our lives through either our own experience or that of a loved one.1
In May, Mental Health America (MHA) promotes Mental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to stop the stigma associated with it. Mental health in the workplace is one aspect of the discussion, and MHA works to help individuals and employers understand how common mental health conditions are and emphasize the importance of mental health as part of an employee’s overall well-being.
Individuals can have highly successful professional careers and also manage a condition, whether short or long term, but having access to support along the way can make a difference. In previous blog posts, we have shared information on meditation apps, the MyStrength portal and suicide contagion. This month, we wanted to remind you about the additional resources available to staff and faculty. As always, we encourage you to reach out to the Wellbeing Hotline at any time.
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Behavioral Health Benefit
GW employees that participate in the UHC PPO and HSP plan are provided a behavioral health benefit that includes counseling and substance abuse recovery services. Telemental health is also provided under this benefit and allows you access to mental health professionals from a tablet, phone or computer.
A 24/7 support network available for free to you and members of your household. Licensed network professionals are available for up to 5 counseling sessions for free. The highly confidential services cover the following areas, but are not limited to:
- Stress, anxiety and depression
- Relationship/marital conflicts
- Problems with children
- Job pressures
- Grief and loss
- Substance abuse
Resources for Living also helps with our to-do lists. Everyday tasks can build up and add to one’s anxiety or stress. Let them do the work (for free!) by finding dog walkers, day cares/child care, house cleaners, a handyman and more. They will provide a list of resources and from there you can follow up as you see fit.
(links to Aetna list of classes):
Enlist a specialist to talk to your team or department about a topic that’s related to work/life balance. Resources for Living provides a robust catalog of sessions that include topics such as stress management, wellness for busy people, resolving conflicts and more. Please reach out to benefits@gwu.edu for more details.
Meditation Sessions and Seated Chair Massages:
In recent studies, 10 minutes of meditation proved to be enough time to enhance creativity, problem-solving and reduce negativity. Monthly meditation sessions are a new service offered to both the Foggy Bottom and VSTC campuses. We encourage groups to come together – bring your team, bring your colleagues! Each session can accommodate 15 – 20 people.
Seated chair massages not only feel good but can also have meaningful impacts on the body. A lower blood pressure, reduced muscle tension and improving sleep quality are just some of the benefits that users report. Monthly massages are offered at both the Foggy Bottom and VSTC campuses. (link to registration)
The benefits of exercise and its impact on easing symptoms of anxiety and mental health are a great reason to seek out a free exercise class on campus. Thanks to the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences, GW faculty and staff can enjoy free yoga and metabolic effect classes this summer.
Together, we can all do our part in helping each other thrive at work and reduce the stigma and misconceptions about mental health.
Resources: https://hbr.org/2018/11/we-need-to-talk-more-about-mental-health-at-work
1 https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america; https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/StigmaFree/StigmaFree-Company
