EAP Wellness Wednesday(ish): Transitioning To Spring

Wed Mar 22 13:38:24 UTC 2023

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”

- Doug Larson

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope you all feel like singing these days with the long-awaited arrival
of Spring <https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-spring-vernal-equinox>.

However, if not, don't worry. You're not alone.

The transition out of Winter into *Spring can also be difficult and
disorienting
<https://www.insider.com/why-spring-is-worst-season-of-the-year>*.  For
example, there are the rapid unpredictable changes in temperatures, the
un-slumbering of Winter hibernation, daylight-savings-time-related loss of
sleep, seasonal allergies, the sudden urge to clean your house (and not
enough time or energy to do it), the pressure to get in shape for Summer,
and the looming tax deadline  -  just to name a few of Spring's challenges.
Sometimes, there are very serious levels of distress just beneath the
surface. This is truly a time to be gentle with ourselves, to connect with
others, and to help those who may *really* need it.

Below are resources to help you navigate the Winter to Spring transition
<https://www.sonderwellness.com/blog/2022/03/14/5-tips-to-navigating-the-winter-spring-transition/>,
but often the best thing we can do is connect with others. Make time for
friends or reconnect with those we may have fallen out of touch with. Tend
to the garden of relationships in your life (and, perhaps, start an actual
garden <https://simplysmartgardening.com/what-to-plant-in-march/>).

Helping others can be a powerful way to feel connection and to help
ourselves in the process. As someone once said, *when you dig another out
of their troubles, you find a place to bury your own (*as a former
therapist, I struggle with the “burying your troubles” metaphor, but you
catch my drift). Why not check out *United Way’s Annual Day of Caring
<https://files.constantcontact.com/9497b2d9001/f67b48ea-be04-47f0-8808-f3c0c2afd60e.pdf?rdr=true>
*or
volunteer on campus with something fabulous, like the revival of the *Summer
Safari and Scholars program* (anyone who knows this program LOVES it and
efforts are underway to bring it back and expand it - what a great way to
help and have fun!).

Another way to feel better is to invite more “awe” into your life. How
about going for an awe walk around campus and see if you can spot signs of
Spring? Check out this *awe*some podcast on Everyday awe: Science's answer
to your search for happiness
<https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/02/03/everyday-awe-sciences-answer-your-search-happiness-dacher-keltner>.
While you’re at it, keep an eye on *PLATTSBURGH ECLIPSE 2024
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/eclipse-2024.html>, *an upcoming
awe-inspiring event and campus and community celebration.

Although Spring can be difficult, it can also seem unbearable for many and
can be incredibly difficult on our mental health. You may have heard of the
line, “April is the cruelest month…” from T.S. Eliot’s *The Wasteland.
<https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/the-waste-land/the-waste-land/> *Although
many assume suicide rates are the highest around the winter holidays, the
fact is that *suicide rates peak in Spring.
<https://www.mghclaycenter.org/parenting-concerns/teenagers/spring-suicide-an-unlikely-combination/#:~:text=People%20attempt%20suicide%20and%20die,the%20cruelest%20month%2C%E2%80%9D%20Mr.>*

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. *The
National Suicide Lifeline is 988
<https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/>* and mental
health services, such as therapy (face to face or teletherapy), are
available to provide support to you through difficult times.

Please know that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can assist with
resources to support your mental health and wellbeing.

*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.

Thank you for your continued work in supporting our students, each other,
and in promoting a healthy campus culture.

Kim McCoy Coleman

Employee Assistance Program Coordinator

401A Beaumont Hall

eap at plattsburgh.edu

(518) 564-EAPP (3277) – or- (518) 569-4230

*RESOURCES:*

*A winter of the mind: how to escape survival mode
<https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/mar/20/a-winter-of-the-mind-how-to-escape-survival-mode>*

*How to Show up for Someone in a Crisis: 10 Recommendations
<https://tim.blog/2023/03/16/how-to-show-up-for-someone-in-a-crisis/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=convertkit&utm_campaign=weekly-roundup-peter-attia-outlive>*

*The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
<https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos>*

*Global Happiness Index
<https://www.visualcapitalist.com/worlds-happiest-countries-2023/> *

*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

Most of our Employees here 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.

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

*Kim McCoy Coleman, LMSW-ATR*

Assistant Professor of Social Work

Preferred Pronouns: she/her (why
<https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/GLSEN%20Pronouns%20Resource.pdf>)

SUNY Plattsburgh

Department of Social Work

112-A Ward Hall

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-2163

(c) 518-569-4230

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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