Health and Wellness for You and Your Students
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Colleagues,
Congratulations on the completion of another successful term at Portland State University.
Before the rush of spring term arrives, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on health and wellness — for yourself and for our students.
We know that many of you are facing challenges with finding time to focus on your own health and wellness, whether that's finding time to exercise or to address changes in your health or household. We want you to know that support for your health and wellness is available at PSU. Equally important, there is also help available to our students, and we can direct them toward that help by being aware of all that PSU has to offer them in their time of need. This edition of the newsletter features health and wellness support that is available at PSU for employees and students.
— Susan Jeffords, Provost
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Health and Wellness For You
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How the Employee Assistance Program Can Support You
The Employee Assistance Program assists with various life changes and workplace issues and is available to you, your spouse, and eligible dependents. EAP services are varied and include assistance, for example, in coping with anxiety, racism, depression, and drug and alcohol dependence. You can also find information and get assistance with career development, child and eldercare, home ownership, and legal issues. If you are unsure if EAP can help you, visit the website linked below for a full list of services and/or call 800-433-2320. Licensed professional counselors are available 24/7 to help solve any problems or concerns.
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Fitness Center Discounts and No-Cost Preventive Services
PEBB insurance companies offer discounts to over 9,000 participating fitness centers and programs nationwide. Review these fitness-related discounts offered by your insurance carrier by going to the Wellness Program website and scrolling down to “Fitness Center and Other Related Discounts.” No-cost preventive services are also available under the categories of all adults, women, and children through HeathCare.gov. Click on the link below for more information.
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Wellness Programs
There are a number of wellness programs available to employees enrolled in a medical program through PSU. All are offered at no cost or low cost, and some programs are extended to spouses, partners, dependents, and extended family members. There are programs for weight management, diabetes prevention, tobacco cessation, and apps for mindfulness. For information regarding the services available, visit the website linked below.
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Health and Wellness for Students
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CARE Program
The CARE Program connects students with resources when experiencing distress and/or other issues that impact their ability to function at their best both in and outside of the classroom. The case management component entails meeting with students one-on-one to hear about their academic barriers and to collaborate on a plan to address these barriers in an effort to ease the stress of navigating multiple systems when a student is experiencing challenges. If you are concerned about a student, we encourage you to submit a CARE referral so a CARE Advocate can provide outreach and offer support. Click on the “Read More” button below for more information about the CARE program.
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Basic Needs Hub
The Basic Needs Hub provides students with one place for all their basic needs. Their mission is to connect PSU students to resources in the moment of need so students can focus on academics, career goals, and interpersonal relationships. Visit the Basic Needs Hub website to connect your students with resources and support services, including emergency funds, food assistance, housing services, and education and training. You can learn more about Basic Needs Support at Portland State by watching the video linked below.
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24/7 Mental Health Support via My Student Support Program
Student Health & Counseling (SHAC) is partnered with My Student Support Program (My SSP) to connect students with free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support any time of day, from anywhere in the world. My SSP offers simple access to connect with a mental health counselor about anything via the My SSP app, telephone, and the web. All services are confidential and free of charge for PSU students, and there is no maximum amount that students can access this service. To learn more about My SSP and to download the app, click on the “Read More” link below.
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Student Life Resources Site
Many dilemmas students face are often best resolved by "connecting the dots" — using a systems approach to consider the complex web of interconnected factors that might be negatively impacting a student's experience. In 2019, Student Affairs created a website to assist PSU faculty and staff to more easily access resources, programs, and services designed to aid students toward greater personal and academic success. The website lists resources by topic and by the department that provides the resources. We encourage you to bookmark the website linked below for future reference when offering support to students.
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Campus Recreation Returns to Student Affairs
Campus Rec, a key unit in supporting the health and wellbeing of our university community, has moved from the division of Finance and Administration to Student Affairs under their health and wellbeing alignment (including SHAC and the Healthy Campus Initiative). A result of consultation with staff, stakeholders, and the findings of the Student Services Review, this change will facilitate increased collaboration and synergy among the various Student Affairs efforts to promote student wellbeing. At a time when students continue to report health concerns, including stress, anxiety, and burnout, as leading impediments to their academic success, this move is an important step in elevating health and wellbeing in our campus culture.
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