HR Update
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a great time to take stock of how you’re doing emotionally. Here are events and University benefits vendor resources to help you learn about and support your mental health.
Events
Mindful Mondays
The Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing hosts drop-in mindfulness sessions on Zoom at noon on Mondays. Each session guides attendees through yoga or qigong movements and meditations. Learn more about Mindful Mondays and register. Each session earns 200 Wellbeing Points.
Financial Stress-Busters
Is money the source of stress? Learn about ways to reduce stress and take charge in this free LSS Financial Counseling webinar (Tuesday, May 7, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.). Earn 200 Wellbeing Points for attending.
Houseplants & Mental Health
Learn how to grow your mental health with houseplants. Join Minnesota Extension educator Robin Trott to explore the health benefits of indoor gardening in this free Health Coaching webinar (Tuesday, May 7, noon–1:00 p.m.). Earn 200 Wellbeing Points for attending.
Intuitive Eating
Looking to build a healthy and mindful relationship with food? Attend this free Health Coaching webinar (Thursday, May 9, noon–1:00 p.m.) presented by a U of M nutrition and dietetics student. Earn 200 Wellbeing Points for attending.
SKY Campus Happiness Retreat
Maintaining a regular SKY (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) breathing practice is proven to reduce anxiety. This retreat, held for two-and-a-half hours a day from May 13 to 15, will set you up to develop a practice. As one prior participant said, “Do it! Really—do it! I instantly felt my nervous system shift in doing the SKY breathing practices, and that's just in a three-day retreat.”
Learn more and register for the retreat, offered at a discounted rate of $75. Earn 1,800 Wellbeing Points for completing the retreat.
Coping With Distressing Current Events
Learn about research-supported tools to take care of yourself during difficult times and when support from a mental health professional is the right next step in this free webinar from Employee Assistance Program provider Lyra (Wednesday, May 15, 10:00–11:00 a.m.). Earn 200 Wellbeing Points for attending.
Swipe Right on You! Social Media and Your Mental Health
Explore the influence social media has on your cognitive abilities and mental health and how it affects your relationships in this free Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing webinar (Wednesday, May 22, noon–1:00 p.m.). Earn 200 Wellbeing Points for attending.
Resources
Counseling
Counseling and consultation services are available virtually, via telephone, or in-person with a professional counselor. You can get help no matter what you’re going through, including anxiety, depression, job concerns, family and relationship issues, grief, stress, substance use, and more.
- Lyra Health offers a variety of care options for eligible employees and their dependents at no cost to you.
- Find a mental health provider covered by the University medical plan using the Live and Work Well site from Optum. Use "medica" as your access code.
- Medica’s Family Support Navigator can help find providers and create a treatment plan for children and teens with complex behavioral health needs, like autism, eating disorders, substance use, or depression.
- Amwell offers virtual care options for University medical plan members.
Culturally Responsive Care
The practice of culturally responsive care guides mental health providers toward fully seeing and valuing you for all aspects of your identity, background, and experiences. These resources offer support across a wide range of clinical needs, including racial stress and trauma, PTSD, and the specific needs of members from historically underrepresented communities.
- BIPOC Mental Health Collective offers a space for BIPOC faculty, staff, and students to share their experiences and stories.
- Gender care support and services through Medica
- Lyra’s diverse network of counselors that self-identify across a broad range of racial, gender, sexual orientation, and other cultural identities
On-Demand Resources
These on-demand self-care libraries feature videos, articles, and meditations. Available topics include help with sleep, meditation, stress relief, yoga, fitness, and nutrition.
- Wellbeats offers on-demand classes for all abilities, genders, and ages (including kids!). Learn how to access Wellbeats through the Wellbeing Program, or log in to Wellbeats if you’ve already signed up. Plus you’ll earn Wellbeing Points for classes.
- Build healthy habits with Lyra Essentials.
- On-demand courses and live monthly small-group discussion groups led by mental health professionals are available with Lyra Learn. Register with customer code #UMN287.