May is Mental Health Month. This year, it's more important than ever to find ways to nurture and sustain meaningful connections. So reach out to friends or family. Or looks for new ways to connect with colleagues in safe and appropriate ways. Because, just like your physical health, your mental and emotional health is an essential part of your overall wellness, deserving of your ongoing attention and care.
The university is committed to promoting and supporting the health and well-being of its community by offering faculty, staff, and dependents high-quality accessible mental and emotional health resources and fostering a healthy workplace culture.
Looking for support for students? Check out the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offices for students: CAPS Ann Arbor, CAPS Dearborn, CAPS Flint.
Mental Health Month Events
Here are some special opportunities planned in May to help support connection, reduce stress, honor the impact of COVID, and more. Want to help spread the word? Use this Zoom background.
- Fostering Social Connections Discussion Group – A 3-session counselor-led group exploring communication, social norms, and active listening. Starts Wednesday, May 5; Call 734-936-8660 or email fascco@umich.edu to sign up.
- Building Social Connection for Virtual Teams – Join MHealthy at 2 p.m. every Wednesday in May for ideas on building connection, increasing engagement, and simply having fun. No registration needed, simply join this Zoom. Learn more about each session.
- Mindfulness in the Museum - A 1-hour docent-led experience using guided meditation to experience a specific work of art from the UMMA collection. Two events, May 21 & 24, 10:00 a.m. Space is limited.
- Leaders Creating a Culture of Connection Sample Workshop – A 90-minute interactive session for leaders at all levels (including informal leaders and influencers). Learn strategies for supporting overall well-being and how to arrange a custom workshop for your whole team. May 25, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.; register via Eventbright.
- Meditation for Wellness, an ITS-sponsored event presented by the Teaching and Technology Collaborative, hour-long sessions are every Friday at noon.
- Free support groups and family education workshops available to everyone through the Eisenberg Family Depression Center and Department of Psychiatry. Visit this page for topics and registration.
Events at Michigan Medicine
- A Space for Healing: Honoring our Experiences with COVID, a 1-hour Grief Awareness event for Michigan Medicine faculty and staff. Four sessions: May 5 at 5 p.m., May 13 at 10 a.m., May 17 at noon, and May 25 at 3 p.m. Register via Eventbrite.
- Wellness Wednesday articles each week in Michigan Medicine Headlines. Upcoming topics:
- May 5 – With changing times, Wellness Check-ins are needed
- May 12 – Ways people can take care of themselves and rediscover their purpose
- May 19 – The importance of normalizing mental health and encouraging compassion and connection (this will have a video)
- Honest Conversations - The Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI) invites Michigan Medicine faculty to safely move out of their comfort zone to create opportunities for change, dialog, and growth. May 13, noon - 1:00p.m.
- Well Aware Webinar: "Children’s Mental Health and the Pandemic," Open to anyone, May 13,1:00 p.m.
How are you feeling today? Check-in with an Online Screening
As you navigate life's ups and downs, pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, your energy level, and your overall mood each day. Just starting your day by asking yourself, “How am I doing today?” gives you a moment to focus on yourself. If you'd like to dig a little deeper, you could try an online mental and emotional health screening.
How can you feel better?
If you're having a tough time or just have some questions, talking to someone like a professional counselor, friend, or loved one can make a big difference. A wealth of services and resources are also available through the MHealthy Thrive! program, Mental Health Counseling and Consultation Services (Michigan Medicine Office of Counseling & Workplace Resilience and Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office), and your U-M health plan.
