Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
EAP NEWS
UAlbany Employees’ Link to Resources for Health & Well-Being
What is mental health
wellness? Within the work-
place, mental health well-
ness is the practice of per-
sonal awareness that helps
you stay in control of what
you think, what you feel,
and how you react to every-
thing going on around you.
Two examples of practicing mental
health wellness are:
Reaching out to patch up a relationship with a
coworker with whom you had a conflict earlier so
the negative exchange doesn’t fester and harm your
relationship and thereby create unnecessary stress.
Saying “no” to avoid feeling overwhelmed and
delivering less than your best work.
If you are conscious of your thoughts and feelings and
practice this self-awareness regularly, you will make
decisions more in-line with what you truly want as you
interact and respond to the environment. Without prac-
ticing mental health wellness, you are more likely to
respond to the world on “autopilot,” reacting emotional-
ly rather than in a rational manner conducive to reduc-
ing stress and producing a positive impact on your men-
tal health.
Mental health awareness is about intrapersonal skills,
Should You Get Up Earlier?
M A Y 2 0 1 8
Mental Wellness in the Workplace
Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
(con’t) meaning what’s going on inside of you, thinking
upstream, counting to ten, taking a deep breath, and
weighing the external and internal realities of a decision
or a response. When you practice mental health well-
ness, you make better decisions while you increase the
likelihood of being happy, healthy, and more productive,
and discovering more meaning in your job.
You may hear time man-
agement gurus insist that
getting up at 5 a.m. amounts
to secret sauce for increasing
personal productivity. Propo-
nents of morning solitude
argue that this time of day
allows you to focus better on
key issues, take advantage of
your best mental state, and achieve more as you make
key decisions before the distractions of the day begin.
Author Robin Sharma, a productivity coach, calls this
“the 5 a.m. club.” Launching yourself before the rest of
world awakens may have advantages, but here’s a tip—
experiment first with getting up 15 minutes earlier than
usual. You may discover magic in that small amount of
time and get all the benefits of an early riser. If desired,
add more time. Decide what you will do with these gold-
en minutes or hours; otherwise, you may find yourself
staying in bed!
Page 2 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
The Art of Asking for Feedback Don’t wait for feedback from your supervisor. Instead, ask for an “assessment” re-
garding projects and assignments. Preface the request with your goal. For example, “I
want my monthly presentations to department heads to be engaging and effective.
Can you assess this morning’s presentation?” This approach is more likely to produce
the feedback you want. A less specific request such as “Can you give me feedback?”
risks a more general response like, “You’re doing fine. If there is a problem, I will let
you know.”
Communicating with Millennials for Peak Productivity A lot of business literature focuses on how to communicate with millennials. Did you know that 70% of millennials
prefer digital communication to any other type? Workplace tips: When giving assignments, include “the why.” Millen-
nials are less motivated by simply being told, “do it.” Team skills, challenges, less fear of change, applying technology
to problems, high energy, finding the answer, and pushing the limits of discovery—these are strengths and values of
millennials. Consider these attributes when needing to boost productivity. Don’t pit older workers against millennials,
and avoid an “us vs. them” work climate. To learn more, search “millennials in the workplace” online.
PTSD and the Workplace Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition resulting
from experiencing war, crime, sexual assault, accidents, or another threat
to one’s life or from witnessing a threat to or victimization of another per-
son. Flashbacks, hypervigilance, and frightening thoughts are some of
many possible symptoms. Seven to eight percent of people will experience
PTSD in their lives, so it’s likely you know a coworker with PTSD. As with a
person with any other disability, you can support workplace inclusion by being compassionate and patient. Employees
with PTSD may experience difficulties with concentration, memory, interpersonal interactions, or anxiety during stress-
ful moments. Here are some tips:
Do not perpetuate the stigma of mental health issues with humor or labels.
Be a willing listener.
Be honest in your observations—for instance, “Jim, I see you are a little preoccupied today. How are you doing?”
Be nonjudgmental. Don’t minimize or make light of fears or concerns expressed by your coworker—instead, be
reassuring.
Encourage your coworker to get support from UAlbany EAP or a medical provider when sadness, depression, or
stress appears severe.
Page 3 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Update on E-Cigarettes: Time to Escape the Vape?
Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
More teens now use e-cigarettes than smoke tobacco. Use of and sales to minors of
either type is illegal. E-cigarettes are not as toxic as tobacco, but researchers are discov-
ering unintended consequences of these devices. For example, e-cigarettes can be
abused to get a stronger hit by manipulating the device, and this practice is growing.
Another unintended consequence is younger children using e-cigarettes and turning to
real tobacco later because these devices are only about 50% as satisfying as real tobac-
co. If teens start using e-cigarettes, they are seven times more likely six months later to
be smoking tobacco than teens who have not tried either. Nicotine in any form is a high-
ly addictive drug. A new study of some e-cigarette products found the vapor contains
known carcinogens and toxic chemicals. Myth debunked: There are seven FDA-approved
aids to quit tobacco—substituting e-cigarettes is not one of them.
The rate of teen suicide has increased over 70 percent in the past ten years. White
males 14 to 21 years old are at highest risk for taking their own life, although African
American teen suicide has also surged by the same amount. Knowing the warning signs
can potentially help anyone play an intervening role in preventing a tragedy. Be aware,
and never dismiss a teen who expresses hopelessness about the future, appears to be
coping with overwhelming distress, withdraws from friends and social activities, suffers a
great loss, faces personal humiliation, or is in severe legal trouble. These are known trig-
gers for suicide. Anyone talking about or writing about suicide requires an immediate
show of concern and support. Never hesitate to ask about suicidal thoughts if you are
concerned.
One-Question Quiz for Alcoholism Try this one-question quiz: “Have you ever seriously wondered whether you
could be an alcoholic or have an alcohol problem?” The emphasis is on the word
“seriously.” Whether your answer is yes or no, make an appointment for a profes-
sional assessment. Why? Those without any symptoms of alcoholism never
seriously consider this question. Millions of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts have gathered their wisdom over the
years in books, resources, self-help groups, and even short quizzes to help those with alcoholism or other drug addic-
tions diagnose themselves. This is one of those quizzes. To view another more in-depth self assessment quiz (CAGE),
visit: https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/addiction-self-test.htm
Source: Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide http://www.sptsusa.org/
Slowing the Rate of Teen Suicide
Source: drugabuse.gov [Search “e-cigarettes].
Page 4 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Are you finding yourself struggling with any of
the following?
Family, parenting, and relationship issues
Work stress and conflict
Substance abuse or dependency
Elder care
Mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety)
Legal and/or financial concerns
Grief and loss
Or anything else related to work or home that is
causing you undo stress and affecting your ability to be as productive as you once were?
You don’t have to deal with it alone. Support is available through UAlbany’s Employee Assistance
Program (EAP). The mission of UAlbany EAP is to provide services to support a healthy, productive work-
force. Available to all employees is the voluntary, confidential Information, Assessment, and
Referral Service provided by UAlbany EAP Coordinator, Brenda Seckerson. Take advantage of this
confidential assistance available to you as an employee benefit.
Confidential support, information, and
referrals are available through EAP to assist
you in finding a way to address your concerns.
To schedule an appointment for a confidential Information, Assessment & Referral session,
contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
518-442-5483
EAP Website: http://www.albany.edu/eap
Early intervention is the key! Contact EAP.
Employee Assistance Program-sponsored events and
services are open to UAlbany and Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS employees, GSEU
members, and retirees.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in
which you stop to look fear in the face.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Page 5 M A Y 2 0 1 8
Consider these factors:
Diet is linked to the hippocampus, a key area of the brain involved in learning, memory, and mental health. People with healthy diets have more hippocampal volume than those with unhealthy diets. 1
Eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, olive oil, and other healthy foods while eating less unhealthy junk and processed foods can be an effective treatment strategy for depression.
Exercise doesn’t have to be done for hours on end. Ten minutes of moderate or vigorous activity at a time, fifteen times a week will get you to the recommended amount.
Just one hour of exercise a week is related to lower levels of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. 2
There is a strong relationship between having mental health problems and having gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. 3
Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is the most important thing a person can do to keep their gut healthy.
Sleep plays a role in our moods, ability to learn and make memories, the health of our organs, how well our immune system works, and other bodily functions like appetite, metabolism, and hormone release.
Sleep also increases the amount of space between brain cells to allow fluid to flow and clear away toxins. 4
Stress is a normal part of life. When stress comes and goes relatively quickly the body can return to functioning in a normal, healthy way. 5 When you are constantly reacting to stressful (chronic stress), cells in your immune system can cause inflammation that doesn’t go away. Take steps to find ways for you to cope with stress through such things as exercise, meditation, hobbies, nature, therapy, and learning to set aside perfectionism. Source: Mental Health America http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may See page XX for the full reference list.
May is Mental Health Month
#4Mind4Body Campaign The “May is Mental Health Month” campaign was launched in 1949 by Mental
Health America and is the most highly recognized mental health awareness event in
the nation. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being. And remember, mental illnesses are
common and treatable.
So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally. It’s important to pay attention to both your physical health
and your mental health because it can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery. Mental
Health America’s theme this year is Fitness #4Mind4Body. The campaign is meant to educate and inform individuals
about how eating healthy foods, gut health, managing stress, exercising, and getting enough sleep can go a long way in
making you healthy all around. A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health condi-
tions like depression and anxiety, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems. It can
also play a big role in helping people recover from these conditions. Taking good care of your body is part of the ap-
proach to support mental health. It’s all connected!
Living a healthy lifestyle may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on
those successes. By looking at your overall health every day – both physically and mentally – you can go a long way in
ensuring that you focus on your Fitness #4Mind4Body.
Mental Health America Screening Tools: http://screening.mentalhealthamerica.net/screening-tools
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/
Page 6 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Looking for Reading Ideas?
Check the EAP Office Lending Library. Compiled by Oscar Nunez, EAP Office Work Study Student
In keeping with this month’s theme of focusing on our mental health, we are highlighting three of the books in the EAP Lending Library on the topic. In addition to those listed below, employees can find books on other subjects related to mental health such as anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and addiction. Take advantage of the EAP Lending Library’s resources to promote you and your family’s mental health.
Compulsive hoarding disorder is very real and relevant in our society today. This mental
health issue arises when someone feels the need to buy and keep everything they own,
reaching a maximum capacity in their homes. Scientists David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost,
and Gail Steketee study mental illnesses like compulsive hoarding and authored the book
Buried in Treasures. For someone with compulsive hoarding disorder, this easy-to-read
book can provide a path to understanding about what is necessary to keep and what
isn’t. The book is also helpful for family members of a loved one experiencing this condi-
tion.
Are you letting depression get in between your relationship with your partner? In her
book When Depression Hurts Your Relationship, author Shannon Kolakowski, PsyD
talks about all the ways you might be affecting your partner when you are depressed
and the ways to prevent and address this. Kolakowski gives a clear understanding about
how to regain intimacy and reconnect with your partner as well as with yourself.
Family members play a crucial role in recognizing mental illnesses, but confronting the
family member who might have a mental illness can be the hardest part. In their book
Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness, authors Bodie Morey and Kim T. Mueser,
PhD outline the many ways you can identify certain symptoms and the approaches to
take with the symptomatic family member without scaring the individual. The book
offers a clear guide on how to address these situations, how to get treatment and
maintain wellness.
Visit the Library page on the EAP website for a full list of topics, books, and DVDs/CDs that the EAP Lending
Library has available. Contact EAP if you would like to borrow any materials. [email protected]
Page 7 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Page 5—May is Mental Health Month Article References
Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse
May is Stroke Awareness Month Did you know that strokes kill more than 133,000 Americans annually? According to the American Stroke Association
and American Heart Association, each year about as many Americans have a stroke as a heart attack with stroke being
the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. And don’t think strokes only happen to people later in life.
Having high blood pressure is a risk factor but can be controlled. So, know your number and seek treatment to take
preventative measures.
Be aware of the signs of stroke. Use the F.A.S.T. method to help you determine if someone is having a stroke.
As the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) states, “Addiction can happen to
anyone, any family, at any time.” The OASAS website has important information regarding prevention as well as how
to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid drug abuse.
To access the OASAS resources, click here.
Call the OASAS helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (I-877-846-7369).
Contact UAlbany EAP for a confidential conversation if you have concerns about
heroin or prescription drug abuse. Support and help is available!
[email protected] 518-442-5483
1 Jacka FN, et al. Western diet is associated with a smaller hippocampus: a longitudinal investigation. (2015). BMC Med. 13:215.
2 Ten Have M, de Graaf R, Monshouwer K. Physical exercise in adults and mental health status findings from the Netherlands mental health sur-
vey and incidence study (NEMESIS). (2011). Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 71(5):342–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.04.001
3 Mussell, M, et al. Gastrointestinal symptoms in primary care: prevalence and association with depression and anxiety. (2008). Journal of Psy-
chosomatic Research. 64(6): 605-612.
4 Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. Science. 2013 Oct 18;342(6156):373-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1241224. PMID: 24136970.
5 Powell ND, Sloan EK, Bailey MT, et. al. Social stress and myelopoiesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Oct 2013, 110 (41)
16574-16579; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1310655110
F—FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Time is of the essence!
Page 8 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
EAP Lunchtime Wellness Program
Low Maintenance Gardening
We love the look of a lush flower-filled yard and vegetable-filled garden, but it is a lot of work. We don’t want a concrete slab either. We want something in between these extremes, something that meets our needs as our lives get busier and our bodies get older. Join us for this talk by Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Martie Teumim who will cover editing and simplifying our plantings, the importance of soil and mulch, the benefits of less lawn, including drought and disease resistant plants and shrubs, and placing the right plant in the right place.
Presenter: Martha (Martie) Teumim has been an Albany
County Master Gardener off and on since 1982. During the
past several years she has been part of a Cornell-based
team which studied the topic of climate change and created
educational products on the subject.
To Register Contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
call 442-5483 or register online
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
Noon - 1:00 pm
UPTOWN CAMPUS
Friday, May 4
Assembly Hall, Campus Center 4 TOWER PLACE
Tuesday, May 22
Room 608
Page 9 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
EAP LUNCHTIME WELLNESS PROGRAM
*HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS*
What’s Bugging You? Garden Pests in 2018
Who is destroying my garden? Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener David Chinery will offer advice about the “new pests on the block” this gardening season including oak wilt, emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and lily leaf beetles. He’ll discuss the basics of identification and steps to take to protect your plants. Bring your questions. If you have a sample of a bug you would like identified, bring it!
To Register Contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
CALL 442-5483 OR REGISTER ONLINE
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
Tuesday, May 8
Noon—1:00 pm
Room 110 A
School of Public Health
Registration deadline:
Monday, May 7
Page 10 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
EAP Lunchtime Wellness Program
The EAP summer tradition continues!
This fitness class fuses Latin dance rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a
dynamic fitness program that provides body sculpting and toning, while giving an effective
and FUN cardio workout. The music alone will get your heart pumping! Zumba’s goal is sim-
ple: “To want you to want to work out, to love to work out, and to get hooked!”
Instructor: Paula Harrington, certified Zumba
instructor. Paula also teaches Zumba for NYS
employees at the Corning Tower.
TWO Summer Classes
Tuesdays (8 weeks), June 5 – July 31* Class fee $48.00
and
Thursdays (8 weeks), June 7 – August 2* Class fee $48.00
Noon – 12:45 pm Location: Dance Studio, Campus Center West Extension You must register online for each class separately. Make check payable to:
Paula Harrington Registration deadline: Friday, June 1. Submit payment to EAP
Office, MSC Room 200.
NOTE: If you are registering for both classes, you only need to write one check.
To Register Contact: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
[email protected] 442-5483
Or, register online: http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
*No classes week of July 4.
Page 11 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
To our UAlbany Community:
We are pleased to share that the University at Albany will participate in this year’s CDPHP Workforce Challenge on Thursday, May 17, 2018, and we invite you to join us as a member of our team.
The Capital District’s second largest road race, the CDPHP Workforce Challenge unites thousands of participants from organizations throughout our area. And as one of the largest employers in our region committed to the health and well-being of our campus community, we believe this event also supports our mission of public engagement.
The event begins at 6:25pm at the Empire State Plaza. Participants can either run or walk the 3.5-mile race. Team UAlbany will be provided T-shirts to wear during the race, and we’ll cap off the event with a fun, post-race social.
Register here (look for “University at Albany”). The registration fee is $25. Additional race questions can be directed to Sam Axley, director of Campus Recreation at [email protected].
We hope you’ll join UAlbany at this year’s CDPHP Workforce Challenge. Let’s flood downtown with a sea of purple!
Sincerely,
Michael Christakis Sheila Seery
Vice President, Student Affairs Associate Vice President, Government & Community Relations
Co-Chair, Team UAlbany Co-Chair, Team UAlbany
CDPHP Workforce Challenge
Run or Walk!
Page 12 M A Y 2 0 1 8
Free Tai-Chi Class on Campus There’s still time to experience Tai-Chi class this semester! Have you been interested
in trying Tai-Chi? Or, maybe you’ve taken Tai-Chi in the past and would like the oppor-
tunity to enjoy the experience again? The UAlbany Confucius Institute is still offering
FREE Tai-Chi classes.
UPTOWN CAMPUS: Mondays, January 29 to June 25 from Noon—1:00 pm
Campus Center Studio West, 1st Floor
DOWNTOWN CAMPUS: Fridays, March 16—May 11 from Noon—1:00 pm
Richardson Room 002
Instructor: Vera Childers - A Master of Tai-chi who has been teaching Tai-chi for 27 years in the Capital District.
If you have any questions about the Tai-chi class, contact Ling Li. [email protected]
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain
an artist once we grow up.”
~ Pablo Picasso
EAP-sponsored events and services are
open to UAlbany & Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS
employees, retirees and GSEU members.
UAlbany EAP E-News
May 2018
Publisher/Contributor
Brenda Seckerson
Contributor
Confucius Institute
Michael Christakis
Oscar Nunez
Sheila Seery
Copy Editors
Joanne Bocchino
Kathy Gurney
Merissa Mabee
Clipart/Photos
Marcia Catrambone
Frontline Newsletter
Openclipart.org
Publicdomainpictures.net
EAP website:
http://www.albany.edu/eap
Page 13 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R
Disclaimer: Material presented
in this newsletter is intended for
educational or informational
purposes only. It is not intended
to replace the advice of a quali-
fied health professional.
EAP is a joint labor/management program and is part of the NYS Employee Assistance Program - Contact Info: 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235 ~ 518.486.9769
Photo: Marcia Catrambone, EAP Committee Member, UUP Representative
Stop
and
smell
the
flowers.