[Academic-Affairs] EAP and Faculty and Staff Mental Health

Wed Oct 5 13:06:17 UTC 2022

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, I’ve been working closely with academic affairs, Christy
Minck, and others who are committed to helping our campus community as we
all work together to support student mental health and wellbeing. Although
student mental health is of the utmost concern, I also recognize that
faculty and staff mental health and wellbeing requires support, especially
coming out of this very challenging COVID period.

Student mental health and well being is closely dependent on the mental
health and wellbeing of all campus employees.  I am aware from my own
conversations with faculty and staff that supporting student mental health,
alone, can add a great deal to our stress levels.

Given all of the above, I want to make sure that faculty and staff are
reminded that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers resources to
support employee mental health and wellbeing. Our EAP Program Coordinator
is Kim McCoy Coleman, faculty member in our Social Work program. (Her
contact information is included below.)

Kim has shared with me a variety of campus resources, new initiatives, and
upcoming events that EAP has developed.  I hope this information will be
useful for outreach when you or others need some additional support.  Kim
plans to share more resources and workshops to strengthen our campus
culture of wellbeing moving forward.

Lastly, please consider submitting suggestions or ideas, in confidence, to
Kim.

Faculty & Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The New York State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a worksite-based
program designed to help state employees deal with the everyday issues
involved in balancing work and life, as well as more serious problems that
may impact work performance. This benefit is available to SUNY Plattsburgh
employees, retirees, and their families and is sponsored jointly by labor
and management.

Kim McCoy Coleman

Employee Assistance Program Coordinator

401A Beaumont Hall

eap at plattsburgh.edu

(518) 564-EAPP (3277)

EAP Upcoming Events and Initiatives:

·       Campus Wellbeing Committee: We are in the process of forming a
campus wellbeing committee to generate innovative ideas or programs
designed to promote personal and collective wellbeing. Meetings will be
held quarterly, with the first one scheduled next month. If interested or
if you know someone who might be, please contact Kim McCoy Coleman, your
EAP coordinator (eap at plattsburgh.edu or 518-564-EAPP (3277)

·       EAP Open House: October 19th 12-2 pm   Beaumont 410

If you are unsure of what EAP is, or how it may help, please drop by to
learn about the free and confidential services available.

·       The Elephant in the (Class)room: A Talk on Faculty and Staff Mental
Health Friday, October 28th, 12-12:45 pm, in person (location TBA) and via
zoom.

Wellness NYS: New York State’s Office of Employee Relations makes a variety
of resources available on their website. This includes statewide
initiatives and resources. One such resource is the Wellness Everyday
initiative.

Wellness Everyday: This is a monthly challenge with a daily “to-do”
suggestion list of little steps to improve overall wellness at work and in
life.

Webpage: https://wellnys.oer.ny.gov/

Healthcare and Mental Health Resources:

Most of our employees at SUNY Plattsburgh have the Empire Plan, which
provides both in-person and Virtual Care options. Virtual Care offers
convenient, private, and cost-effective online visits with eligible
providers, including online mental health providers. Online teletherapy can
be cost effective, time efficient, and may reduce wait times that can occur
in the North Country when seeking in-person psychotherapy.

Empire Plan:

   -

   Empire BlueCross BlueShield: Hospitalization
   -

   United HealthCare: Major Medical
   -

   Beacon Health Options Inc.: Mental Health/Substance Abuse
   -

   CVS/Caremark, Inc.: Prescriptions

Employees can search the provider directory
<http://www.empireplanproviders.com/provider.htm> to find providers in the
area, as well as providers that offer the telehealth option.

Telehealth Under the Empire Plan: If you are enrolled in the Empire Plan,
this telemedicine program is provided by LiveHealth Online.  Claims for the
telemedicine visits will be processed by Empire BlueCross, the Empire
Plan’s hospital carrier. Empire Plan enrollees/dependents who require
immediate access to medical or mental health telemedicine services can
visit Empire Blue Cross’s <https://www.empireblue.com/nys> website and
register through the LiveHealth Online link. To receive paid-in-full
benefits, the Empire Plan specific coupon code (listed on the Blue Cross
Empire Plan website) must be added when registering for medical
telemedicine services or when receiving mental health telemedicine
services. Currently, Empire Plan enrollees registering for LiveHealth
Online would use “Empire Blue Cross'' as the health plan and enter their
Empire Plan identification number. The Empire Plan specific coupon code
should be added on the screen which discusses payment (result will show a
$0 visit fee). After successfully registering and logging in, medical
services with a live physician can be requested.

Empire Plan enrollees are encouraged to call the Empire Plan with any
questions at 1-877-769-7447 (1-877-769-7447).

988 Lifeline

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route
callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.

Website: https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/

Adirondack 211

2-1-1 is the one number to call to find or give help in Clinton, Essex, and
Franklin counties.

2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number to call for free and
confidential community referral that connects callers with resources
providing food, shelter, rent assistance, clothing, child care options and
other types of community assistance. Trained referral specialists are
multi-lingual and available to help individuals find the help they need.

Website: https://211ny4regions.communityos.org/adirondack
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