To raise awareness about mental health in the United States, May is recognized as National Mental Health Month. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four adults – approximately 61.5 million Americans – will experience mental illness in a given year.
In support, U-M’s MHealthy Thrive! stress management program, Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (FASAP), and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in Michigan Medicine are encouraging university faculty and staff to take a moment each day this month to “check in” on their emotions.
“Just like physical health, emotional well-being is an essential part of our overall wellness and needs attention and care,” says Ashley Weigl, associate director for health risk reduction services for MHealthy. “Our goal is to help individuals learn to thrive and be resilient so they can better cope with life’s diverse range of emotions and experiences.”
“Simply asking yourself, ‘How am I doing today?’ at the start of your day, gives you an opportunity to focus on you and how you feel. If an emotion is preventing you from feeling your best, the university offers resources to help you,” adds Weigl.
Below are mental and emotional health programs and services available year-round:
- IN-PERSON COUNSELING: Confidential short-term counseling is always available to university faculty, staff, retirees and their families at no charge, and can play an important role in routine preventive health care:
- Michigan Medicine employees: Contact the EAP at (734) 763-5409 or eap@med.umich.edu or visit the EAP website
- Ann Arbor and Flint campus employees: Contact FASAP at (734) 936-8660 or fasap@umich.edu or visit the FASAP website
- Dearborn campus employees, call (313) 593-5430.
- ONLINE SCREENINGS: Confidential and anonymous online mental health screenings are available any time for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Participants will receive an immediate result at the end of each screening to print and take to a counselor for further evaluation if necessary.
- MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS CLASSES: A variety of free classes and programs are offered year-round focused on topics like stress management, self-care, anger management, resiliency, divorce and break-up, caregiver support, mindfulness and more.
- HEALTH PLAN BENEFITS: All U-M health plans cover mental and behavioral health services like counseling, therapy and substance abuse treatment. For specific information on benefits, covered employees and spouses/OQAs should review their health plan information or contact their doctor or health plan to get help finding a provider.
“Life has its ups and down – one moment it’s wonderful and then the next it’s hard,” says Kathleen Robertson, director of EAP. “Sitting down with a counselor can be the kindest step you do for yourself.”
