Category: Wellness

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As discussed in our last Coffee Talk, mental wellness is so important in our lives right now.  Please be intentional about your mental wellness – consider what areas are going well and what needs some attention.  Decide what you can do to build on the things that are working well, and look at options for improving the things that aren’t going well.  Use your resources and ask for help.  We can all improve our lives by focusing on our mental wellness – talk about it, think about it, and then take action.  Don’t worry about doing something big – just start with something small to get things moving in the right direction.

As part of our mental health focus, we challenge you to take two weeks, February 8th to 19th, to complete at least one of the activities listed on the sheet each weekday.  Click here to access this sheet, mark off activities as you complete them, and then email your completed sheet (or just let us know that you did the challenge!) to wellness@uwgb.edu by Friday, February 26th to get an employee incentive!  Questions? Please email wellness@uwgb.edu.

Each episode of Well Wisconsin radio gives you important information and actionable insights provided by a Wisconsin health expert.

Morgan Meinen, dedicated well-being professional for Well Wisconsin, leads the way as host.

January’s episode: Seasonal Affective Disorder

• When: Tuesday, February 2, noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Who: Dr. Jim Sanders, Medical Director, Network Health
• Register here

Listening gets you closer to earning $150*
Check off the “well-being activity” portion of your Well Wisconsin incentive by listening to two episodes of Well Wisconsin Radio.

New for this year: It’s OK if you don’t have a moment to listen live; you can get credit for listening to recordings of 2021 episodes. Listen in for the “code” provided in each episode and report at webmdhealth.com/wellwisconsin that you listened.

Check out all episodes
All 2021 episodes are available online. Click here to access the Well Wisconsin Radio back catalog.

Questions?
Contact Customer Service at 800-821-6591.

*The Well Wisconsin incentive program is a voluntary program available to employees, retirees and spouses enrolled in the State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program, excluding Medicare Advantage participants who have incentives available through their health plan. The Well Wisconsin incentive will automatically be issued to eligible participants upon completing the applicable activities. All wellness incentives paid to participants are considered taxable income to the group health plan subscriber and are reported to their employer, who will issue a W2. In some cases, the Wisconsin Retirement System acts as the employer. Retirees, continuants and their spouses will have some taxes withheld from the incentive amount earned.

It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.

People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
• People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.

Take the following steps to cope with a disaster:

• Take care of your body– Try to eat healthy well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Learn more about wellness strategies for mental health.
• Connect with others– Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships, and build a strong support system.
• Take breaks– Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Try taking in deep breaths. Try to do activities you usually enjoy.
• Stay informed– When you feel that you are missing information, you may become more stressed or nervous. Watch, listen to, or read the news for updates from officials. Be aware that there may be rumors during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities.
• Avoid too much exposure to news– Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do enjoyable activities and return to normal life as much as possible and check for updates between breaks.
• Seek help when needed– If distress impacts activities of your daily life for several days or weeks, talk to a clergy member, counselor, or doctor, or contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

Look out for these common signs of distress:

• Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

If you experience these feelings or behaviors for several days in a row and are unable to carry out normal responsibilities because of them, seek professional help.

Source:   CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (copied from the Keypro website)

Also, please click on this link for UWGB resources: https://blog.uwgb.edu/hr/2021/01/employee-assistance-program-resources/