Dear CC Employees,
Mental Health and Wellness is one of the lenses that we bring to our work at CC. In honor of today, October 10, being
World Mental Health Day, I invite you to pause and reflect on how we can support each other’s mental health.
In the context of difficult world events, excitement about the upcoming Homecoming weekend, and the fact that Block 2 is in full swing, you and your colleagues may be experiencing stressors that can be challenging for your mental health.
We have
listed some of the resources available to support your mental health on our website. I also want to highlight a couple of resources that are critical, new, or that people might not be aware of.
First, if you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call the 988 national suicide hotline for immediate support or call 911 for emergency care.
For non-emergent needs, our
Employee Assistance Program,
Guidance Resources, is a great first step. Guidance Resources provides access to professional counseling, legal services, financial advice, and more. It's available 24/7, and you can reach them at (800) 272-7255.
Benefits-eligible employees can also work with a counselor on a longer-term basis through Cigna’s mental health benefits. There are a couple of new benefits we can announce:
- Bend Family Support - Available through Cigna, this program helps provide online and in person support for children, teens and families.
- Happify - An app with games, guided mediations, and a "happiness score" to help you increase your overall level of happiness.
- iPrevail - Get online mental health support 24/7 with iPrevail. iPrevail offers various programs, including on-demand peer support chats with a trained coach, mental health assessments, lessons to learn more about your mental health, and more.
Mutual Support: We are part of a team helping to create mutual support. Remember that you are not alone. As we learned in our
QPR training, just asking about how a person is doing can be a significant intervention. Reach out to your colleagues, supervisors, or HR if you need someone to talk to. We are here to support one another.
Don’t forget to move: Physical health supports mental health. Take advantage of our beautiful outdoor spaces or
the fitness center. Ask a coworker to do a walk-and-talk for your next meeting.
Thank you all for supporting our community’s mental health, not only on World Mental Health Day, but every day. If you have any questions or need assistance accessing these resources, please don't hesitate to contact our HR team at
HR@ColoradoCollege.edu or (719) 389-6421.
Thank you for being a valuable part of our Colorado College community and creating a supportive and caring environment for us all.
Sincerely,
Ryan Simmons
Vice President for People & Workplace Culture
