The conversation around mental health has become more prominent in recent years, but stigma and lack of access to care are still a concern.
Discussing mental health and raising awareness on critical issues is one of the best ways to combat mental
health stigma and unequal access to treatment. Here are a few ways to promote the importance of
taking care of your mental health.
- Seek treatment and encourage others to do the same. Bringing awareness to mental health encourages those around you to seek help when necessary. Don’t be afraid to do the same for yourself. This practice breaks down stigma and helps the people around you see that treatment for mental health is no different from any other medical treatment.
- Reframe your thinking. Destigmatize mental illness by reevaluating your concepts. For example, instead of focusing on what is wrong with a person, try to ask yourself what may have happened to cause them to react in a certain way. Remembering this will help you practice compassion and see the person underneath.
- Respect others’ experiences. Not everyone experiences mental health concerns in the same way–even if you share a diagnosis or similar symptoms. Respecting other people’s personal experiences regarding their mental health is essential.
- Choose to overcome shame. Mental health stigma plays directly into shame by confirming negative beliefs about yourself. Making a conscious decision to believe no longer false narratives (such as feeling “crazy”) will help you to move past the stigma and feel confident in seeking care.
Knowing when to pursue help can be difficult. Still, there are a few crucial symptoms to look out for in
yourself and others. If you notice any of these warning signs, it may be time to enlist the help
of a professional.
- Feeling sad, tired, anxious or depressed for an extended period
- Difficulty focusing
- Sleep issues
- Excessive drinking or substance use
- Harming yourself or thoughts of ending your life
- Engaging in risky behaviors or disregarding your own life
- Feeling angry
- Mood swings
- Feeling guilt or shame without an apparent reason
- Experiencing a traumatic event such as a car crash, abuse, etc.
This is not an exhaustive list but simply some of the most common signs to look out for. Having the courage to seek
treatment is one of the most important ways to break down mental health stigma and move towards a healthier world.
Your SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers in-the-moment support, guidance and expert referrals by calling 888-881-5462. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Remember, the SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is provided at no cost and confidentially to all PSH employees and household members, and you do not need to be enrolled in a PSH health plan in order to use the EAP!
Save the Date: Live Lunch and Learn with SupportLinc EAP
Date/Time: 1/14/2024 at 12pm ET
- About the session: Life can be a juggling act. It takes time and energy to balance your work, family and personal wellbeing. The SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to all employees and household members around-the-clock, 365 days a year, to help manage life’s challenges, at no cost. This seminar will capture the recent program enhancements and walk you through an overview of SupportLinc features, expert guidance and valuable resources – all 100% confidential – for a wide array of personal and work-related concerns, including stress, anxiety, grief, mindfulness, relationship issues, dependent care and much, much more.
- About the presenter: Kayla Isaacs is Penn State Health’s dedicated Director of Client Relationships at CuraLinc Healthcare. She is a Certified Mental Health First Aider who is dedicated to breaking down barriers to mental health care and is committed to ensuring that everyone has the resources they need to thrive, making a meaningful impact on the wellbeing of employees and their families. Kayla’s EAP Lunch & Learn will capture an array of emotional wellbeing and work-life balance resources to keep everyone at their best throughout the year whenever, wherever needed.
If interested in registering for January’s Lunch and Learn, please click the link here: https://redcap.link/Jan2025LunchandLearn
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) enhancement effective 01/01/2025:
SupportLinc offers expert guidance to help you and your family address and resolve everyday issues. To further support you and your household members in 2025, Penn State Health has enhanced our short-term counseling benefit where now everyone will have access up to ten (10) no -cost in-person or virtual short-term counseling sessions to support emotional concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and more (was six (6) sessions per concern).
Source: SupportLinc