EAP NEWS

UAlbany Employees’ Link to Resources for Health & Well-Being

What is mental health

wellness? Within the work-

place, mental health well-

ness is the practice of per-

sonal awareness that helps

you stay in control of what

you think, what you feel,

and how you react to every-

thing going on around you.

Two examples of practicing mental

health wellness are:

Reaching out to patch up a relationship with a

coworker with whom you had a conflict earlier so

the negative exchange doesn’t fester and harm your

relationship and thereby create unnecessary stress.

Saying “no” to avoid feeling overwhelmed and

delivering less than your best work.

If you are conscious of your thoughts and feelings and

practice this self-awareness regularly, you will make

decisions more in-line with what you truly want as you

interact and respond to the environment. Without prac-

ticing mental health wellness, you are more likely to

respond to the world on “autopilot,” reacting emotional-

ly rather than in a rational manner conducive to reduc-

ing stress and producing a positive impact on your men-

tal health.

Mental health awareness is about intrapersonal skills,

Should You Get Up Earlier?

M A Y 2 0 1 8

Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.

(con’t) meaning what’s going on inside of you, thinking

upstream, counting to ten, taking a deep breath, and

weighing the external and internal realities of a decision

or a response. When you practice mental health well-

ness, you make better decisions while you increase the

likelihood of being happy, healthy, and more productive,

and discovering more meaning in your job.

You may hear time man-

agement gurus insist that

getting up at 5 a.m. amounts

to secret sauce for increasing

personal productivity. Propo-

nents of morning solitude

argue that this time of day

allows you to focus better on

key issues, take advantage of

your best mental state, and achieve more as you make

key decisions before the distractions of the day begin.

Author Robin Sharma, a productivity coach, calls this

“the 5 a.m. club.” Launching yourself before the rest of

world awakens may have advantages, but here’s a tip—

experiment first with getting up 15 minutes earlier than

usual. You may discover magic in that small amount of

time and get all the benefits of an early riser. If desired,

add more time. Decide what you will do with these gold-

en minutes or hours; otherwise, you may find yourself

staying in bed!

Page 2 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.

The Art of Asking for Feedback Don’t wait for feedback from your supervisor. Instead, ask for an “assessment” re-

garding projects and assignments. Preface the request with your goal. For example, “I

want my monthly presentations to department heads to be engaging and effective.

Can you assess this morning’s presentation?” This approach is more likely to produce

the feedback you want. A less specific request such as “Can you give me feedback?”

risks a more general response like, “You’re doing fine. If there is a problem, I will let

you know.”

Communicating with Millennials for Peak Productivity A lot of business literature focuses on how to communicate with millennials. Did you know that 70% of millennials

prefer digital communication to any other type? Workplace tips: When giving assignments, include “the why.” Millen-

nials are less motivated by simply being told, “do it.” Team skills, challenges, less fear of change, applying technology

to problems, high energy, finding the answer, and pushing the limits of discovery—these are strengths and values of

millennials. Consider these attributes when needing to boost productivity. Don’t pit older workers against millennials,

and avoid an “us vs. them” work climate. To learn more, search “millennials in the workplace” online.

PTSD and the Workplace Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental condition resulting

from experiencing war, crime, sexual assault, accidents, or another threat

to one’s life or from witnessing a threat to or victimization of another per-

son. Flashbacks, hypervigilance, and frightening thoughts are some of

many possible symptoms. Seven to eight percent of people will experience

PTSD in their lives, so it’s likely you know a coworker with PTSD. As with a

person with any other disability, you can support workplace inclusion by being compassionate and patient. Employees

with PTSD may experience difficulties with concentration, memory, interpersonal interactions, or anxiety during stress-

ful moments. Here are some tips:

Do not perpetuate the stigma of mental health issues with humor or labels.

Be a willing listener.

Be honest in your observations—for instance, “Jim, I see you are a little preoccupied today. How are you doing?”

Be nonjudgmental. Don’t minimize or make light of fears or concerns expressed by your coworker—instead, be

reassuring.

Encourage your coworker to get support from UAlbany EAP or a medical provider when sadness, depression, or

stress appears severe.

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Update on E-Cigarettes: Time to Escape the Vape?

Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.

More teens now use e-cigarettes than smoke tobacco. Use of and sales to minors of

either type is illegal. E-cigarettes are not as toxic as tobacco, but researchers are discov-

ering unintended consequences of these devices. For example, e-cigarettes can be

abused to get a stronger hit by manipulating the device, and this practice is growing.

Another unintended consequence is younger children using e-cigarettes and turning to

real tobacco later because these devices are only about 50% as satisfying as real tobac-

co. If teens start using e-cigarettes, they are seven times more likely six months later to

be smoking tobacco than teens who have not tried either. Nicotine in any form is a high-

ly addictive drug. A new study of some e-cigarette products found the vapor contains

known carcinogens and toxic chemicals. Myth debunked: There are seven FDA-approved

aids to quit tobacco—substituting e-cigarettes is not one of them.

The rate of teen suicide has increased over 70 percent in the past ten years. White

males 14 to 21 years old are at highest risk for taking their own life, although African

American teen suicide has also surged by the same amount. Knowing the warning signs

can potentially help anyone play an intervening role in preventing a tragedy. Be aware,

and never dismiss a teen who expresses hopelessness about the future, appears to be

coping with overwhelming distress, withdraws from friends and social activities, suffers a

great loss, faces personal humiliation, or is in severe legal trouble. These are known trig-

gers for suicide. Anyone talking about or writing about suicide requires an immediate

show of concern and support. Never hesitate to ask about suicidal thoughts if you are

concerned.

One-Question Quiz for Alcoholism Try this one-question quiz: “Have you ever seriously wondered whether you

could be an alcoholic or have an alcohol problem?” The emphasis is on the word

“seriously.” Whether your answer is yes or no, make an appointment for a profes-

sional assessment. Why? Those without any symptoms of alcoholism never

seriously consider this question. Millions of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts have gathered their wisdom over the

years in books, resources, self-help groups, and even short quizzes to help those with alcoholism or other drug addic-

tions diagnose themselves. This is one of those quizzes. To view another more in-depth self assessment quiz (CAGE),

visit: https://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/addiction-self-test.htm

Source: Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide http://www.sptsusa.org/

Slowing the Rate of Teen Suicide

Source: drugabuse.gov [Search “e-cigarettes].

Page 4 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

Are you finding yourself struggling with any of

the following?

Family, parenting, and relationship issues

Work stress and conflict

Substance abuse or dependency

Elder care

Mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety)

Legal and/or financial concerns

Grief and loss

Or anything else related to work or home that is

causing you undo stress and affecting your ability to be as productive as you once were?

You don’t have to deal with it alone. Support is available through UAlbany’s Employee Assistance

Program (EAP). The mission of UAlbany EAP is to provide services to support a healthy, productive work-

force. Available to all employees is the voluntary, confidential Information, Assessment, and

Referral Service provided by UAlbany EAP Coordinator, Brenda Seckerson. Take advantage of this

confidential assistance available to you as an employee benefit.

Confidential support, information, and

referrals are available through EAP to assist

you in finding a way to address your concerns.

To schedule an appointment for a confidential Information, Assessment & Referral session,

contact:

Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator

518-442-5483

bseckerson@albany.edu

EAP Website: http://www.albany.edu/eap

Early intervention is the key! Contact EAP.

Employee Assistance Program-sponsored events and

services are open to UAlbany and Research Foundation

faculty, staff, family members, UAS employees, GSEU

members, and retirees.

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in

which you stop to look fear in the face.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Page 5 M A Y 2 0 1 8

Consider these factors:

Diet is linked to the hippocampus, a key area of the brain involved in learning, memory, and mental health. People with healthy diets have more hippocampal volume than those with unhealthy diets. 1

Eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, olive oil, and other healthy foods while eating less unhealthy junk and processed foods can be an effective treatment strategy for depression.

Exercise doesn’t have to be done for hours on end. Ten minutes of moderate or vigorous activity at a time, fifteen times a week will get you to the recommended amount.

Just one hour of exercise a week is related to lower levels of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. 2

There is a strong relationship between having mental health problems and having gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux, bloating, pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. 3

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is the most important thing a person can do to keep their gut healthy.

Sleep plays a role in our moods, ability to learn and make memories, the health of our organs, how well our immune system works, and other bodily functions like appetite, metabolism, and hormone release.

Sleep also increases the amount of space between brain cells to allow fluid to flow and clear away toxins. 4

Stress is a normal part of life. When stress comes and goes relatively quickly the body can return to functioning in a normal, healthy way. 5 When you are constantly reacting to stressful (chronic stress), cells in your immune system can cause inflammation that doesn’t go away. Take steps to find ways for you to cope with stress through such things as exercise, meditation, hobbies, nature, therapy, and learning to set aside perfectionism. Source: Mental Health America http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may See page XX for the full reference list.

May is Mental Health Month

#4Mind4Body Campaign The “May is Mental Health Month” campaign was launched in 1949 by Mental

Health America and is the most highly recognized mental health awareness event in

the nation. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being. And remember, mental illnesses are

common and treatable.

So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally. It’s important to pay attention to both your physical health

and your mental health because it can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery. Mental

Health America’s theme this year is Fitness #4Mind4Body. The campaign is meant to educate and inform individuals

about how eating healthy foods, gut health, managing stress, exercising, and getting enough sleep can go a long way in

making you healthy all around. A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health condi-

tions like depression and anxiety, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems. It can

also play a big role in helping people recover from these conditions. Taking good care of your body is part of the ap-

proach to support mental health. It’s all connected!

Living a healthy lifestyle may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on

those successes. By looking at your overall health every day – both physically and mentally – you can go a long way in

ensuring that you focus on your Fitness #4Mind4Body.

Mental Health America Screening Tools: http://screening.mentalhealthamerica.net/screening-tools

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/

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Looking for Reading Ideas?

Check the EAP Office Lending Library. Compiled by Oscar Nunez, EAP Office Work Study Student

In keeping with this month’s theme of focusing on our mental health, we are highlighting three of the books in the EAP Lending Library on the topic. In addition to those listed below, employees can find books on other subjects related to mental health such as anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and addiction. Take advantage of the EAP Lending Library’s resources to promote you and your family’s mental health.

Compulsive hoarding disorder is very real and relevant in our society today. This mental

health issue arises when someone feels the need to buy and keep everything they own,

reaching a maximum capacity in their homes. Scientists David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost,

and Gail Steketee study mental illnesses like compulsive hoarding and authored the book

Buried in Treasures. For someone with compulsive hoarding disorder, this easy-to-read

book can provide a path to understanding about what is necessary to keep and what

isn’t. The book is also helpful for family members of a loved one experiencing this condi-

tion.

Are you letting depression get in between your relationship with your partner? In her

book When Depression Hurts Your Relationship, author Shannon Kolakowski, PsyD

talks about all the ways you might be affecting your partner when you are depressed

and the ways to prevent and address this. Kolakowski gives a clear understanding about

how to regain intimacy and reconnect with your partner as well as with yourself.

Family members play a crucial role in recognizing mental illnesses, but confronting the

family member who might have a mental illness can be the hardest part. In their book

Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness, authors Bodie Morey and Kim T. Mueser,

PhD outline the many ways you can identify certain symptoms and the approaches to

take with the symptomatic family member without scaring the individual. The book

offers a clear guide on how to address these situations, how to get treatment and

maintain wellness.

Visit the Library page on the EAP website for a full list of topics, books, and DVDs/CDs that the EAP Lending

Library has available. Contact EAP if you would like to borrow any materials. bseckerson@albany.edu

Page 7 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

Page 5—May is Mental Health Month Article References

Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse

May is Stroke Awareness Month Did you know that strokes kill more than 133,000 Americans annually? According to the American Stroke Association

and American Heart Association, each year about as many Americans have a stroke as a heart attack with stroke being

the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. And don’t think strokes only happen to people later in life.

Having high blood pressure is a risk factor but can be controlled. So, know your number and seek treatment to take

preventative measures.

Be aware of the signs of stroke. Use the F.A.S.T. method to help you determine if someone is having a stroke.

As the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) states, “Addiction can happen to

anyone, any family, at any time.” The OASAS website has important information regarding prevention as well as how

to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid drug abuse.

To access the OASAS resources, click here.

Call the OASAS helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (I-877-846-7369).

Contact UAlbany EAP for a confidential conversation if you have concerns about

heroin or prescription drug abuse. Support and help is available!

bseckerson@albany.edu 518-442-5483

1 Jacka FN, et al. Western diet is associated with a smaller hippocampus: a longitudinal investigation. (2015). BMC Med. 13:215.

2 Ten Have M, de Graaf R, Monshouwer K. Physical exercise in adults and mental health status findings from the Netherlands mental health sur-

vey and incidence study (NEMESIS). (2011). Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 71(5):342–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.04.001

3 Mussell, M, et al. Gastrointestinal symptoms in primary care: prevalence and association with depression and anxiety. (2008). Journal of Psy-

chosomatic Research. 64(6): 605-612.

4 Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. Science. 2013 Oct 18;342(6156):373-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1241224. PMID: 24136970.

5 Powell ND, Sloan EK, Bailey MT, et. al. Social stress and myelopoiesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Oct 2013, 110 (41)

16574-16579; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1310655110

F—FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

T—TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Time is of the essence!

Page 8 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

EAP Lunchtime Wellness Program

Low Maintenance Gardening

We love the look of a lush flower-filled yard and vegetable-filled garden, but it is a lot of work. We don’t want a concrete slab either. We want something in between these extremes, something that meets our needs as our lives get busier and our bodies get older. Join us for this talk by Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Martie Teumim who will cover editing and simplifying our plantings, the importance of soil and mulch, the benefits of less lawn, including drought and disease resistant plants and shrubs, and placing the right plant in the right place.

Presenter: Martha (Martie) Teumim has been an Albany

County Master Gardener off and on since 1982. During the

past several years she has been part of a Cornell-based

team which studied the topic of climate change and created

educational products on the subject.

To Register Contact:

Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator

bseckerson@albany.edu

call 442-5483 or register online

http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm

Noon - 1:00 pm

UPTOWN CAMPUS

Friday, May 4

Assembly Hall, Campus Center 4 TOWER PLACE

Tuesday, May 22

Room 608

Page 9 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

EAP LUNCHTIME WELLNESS PROGRAM

*HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS*

What’s Bugging You? Garden Pests in 2018

Who is destroying my garden? Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener David Chinery will offer advice about the “new pests on the block” this gardening season including oak wilt, emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, and lily leaf beetles. He’ll discuss the basics of identification and steps to take to protect your plants. Bring your questions. If you have a sample of a bug you would like identified, bring it!

To Register Contact:

Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator

bseckerson@albany.edu

CALL 442-5483 OR REGISTER ONLINE

http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm

Tuesday, May 8

Noon—1:00 pm

Room 110 A

School of Public Health

Registration deadline:

Monday, May 7

Page 10 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

EAP Lunchtime Wellness Program

The EAP summer tradition continues!

This fitness class fuses Latin dance rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a

dynamic fitness program that provides body sculpting and toning, while giving an effective

and FUN cardio workout. The music alone will get your heart pumping! Zumba’s goal is sim-

ple: “To want you to want to work out, to love to work out, and to get hooked!”

Instructor: Paula Harrington, certified Zumba

instructor. Paula also teaches Zumba for NYS

employees at the Corning Tower.

TWO Summer Classes

Tuesdays (8 weeks), June 5 – July 31* Class fee $48.00

and

Thursdays (8 weeks), June 7 – August 2* Class fee $48.00

Noon – 12:45 pm Location: Dance Studio, Campus Center West Extension You must register online for each class separately. Make check payable to:

Paula Harrington Registration deadline: Friday, June 1. Submit payment to EAP

Office, MSC Room 200.

NOTE: If you are registering for both classes, you only need to write one check.

To Register Contact: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator

bseckerson@albany.edu 442-5483

Or, register online: http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm

*No classes week of July 4.

Page 11 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

To our UAlbany Community:

We are pleased to share that the University at Albany will participate in this year’s CDPHP Workforce Challenge on Thursday, May 17, 2018, and we invite you to join us as a member of our team.

The Capital District’s second largest road race, the CDPHP Workforce Challenge unites thousands of participants from organizations throughout our area. And as one of the largest employers in our region committed to the health and well-being of our campus community, we believe this event also supports our mission of public engagement.

The event begins at 6:25pm at the Empire State Plaza. Participants can either run or walk the 3.5-mile race. Team UAlbany will be provided T-shirts to wear during the race, and we’ll cap off the event with a fun, post-race social.

Register here (look for “University at Albany”). The registration fee is $25. Additional race questions can be directed to Sam Axley, director of Campus Recreation at saxley@albany.edu.

We hope you’ll join UAlbany at this year’s CDPHP Workforce Challenge. Let’s flood downtown with a sea of purple!

Sincerely,

Michael Christakis Sheila Seery

Vice President, Student Affairs Associate Vice President, Government & Community Relations

Co-Chair, Team UAlbany Co-Chair, Team UAlbany

CDPHP Workforce Challenge

Run or Walk!

Page 12 M A Y 2 0 1 8

Free Tai-Chi Class on Campus There’s still time to experience Tai-Chi class this semester! Have you been interested

in trying Tai-Chi? Or, maybe you’ve taken Tai-Chi in the past and would like the oppor-

tunity to enjoy the experience again? The UAlbany Confucius Institute is still offering

FREE Tai-Chi classes.

UPTOWN CAMPUS: Mondays, January 29 to June 25 from Noon—1:00 pm

Campus Center Studio West, 1st Floor

DOWNTOWN CAMPUS: Fridays, March 16—May 11 from Noon—1:00 pm

Richardson Room 002

Instructor: Vera Childers - A Master of Tai-chi who has been teaching Tai-chi for 27 years in the Capital District.

If you have any questions about the Tai-chi class, contact Ling Li. confucius@albany.edu

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain

an artist once we grow up.”

~ Pablo Picasso

EAP-sponsored events and services are

open to UAlbany & Research Foundation

faculty, staff, family members, UAS

employees, retirees and GSEU members.

UAlbany EAP E-News

May 2018

Publisher/Contributor

Brenda Seckerson

Contributor

Confucius Institute

Michael Christakis

Oscar Nunez

Sheila Seery

Copy Editors

Joanne Bocchino

Kathy Gurney

Merissa Mabee

Clipart/Photos

Marcia Catrambone

Frontline Newsletter

Openclipart.org

Publicdomainpictures.net

EAP website:

http://www.albany.edu/eap

Page 13 E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

Disclaimer: Material presented

in this newsletter is intended for

educational or informational

purposes only. It is not intended

to replace the advice of a quali-

fied health professional.

EAP is a joint labor/management program and is part of the NYS Employee Assistance Program - Contact Info: 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235 ~ 518.486.9769

Photo: Marcia Catrambone, EAP Committee Member, UUP Representative

Stop

and

smell

the

flowers.