Don’t Walk Alone
The longer I work as an advocate, the more I am convinced that the mental health of the Letter Carrier Craft has seriously been impacted. Numerous studies have shown that having a positive outlook on life correlates with better psychological and physical wellbeing and can even increase your lifespan. When it comes to the workplace, your mental attitude plays a role not just in how others perceive you, but your job satisfaction and performance. Considering many of us spend around forty hours a week at work, you can see the value of fostering a positive mindset in your job. The language that you use to communicate with others as well as the way you treat those around you can get you on the right track so to speak.
I remember as a young man, my Uncle Pete gave me advice about a long road trip to Florida that I had planned. He stated “Joseph a trip like that can be very enjoyable, as long as you can do it with a fresh head.” At the time I just nodded my head, even though I had no idea what a “Fresh Head” meant. 33 years later those words speak volumes. What he was trying to tell me was to try to clear my mind of distractions and negative thoughts. Since then I have really enjoyed many long road trips. However, just like yoga or working out, getting to that place mentally won’t happen without working on it.
The USPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has counseling tools and resources designed to help you overcome life’s challenges. The tools offered by EAP can help you and your loved ones begin to address those challenges. I understand that some of you may not like the idea of receiving help from an entity that is ultimately contracted out by Management. I would say that nothing can replace one-on-one counseling with a licensed counselor. However I would tell those people that I have used the program in the past and it was a good first step.
What I would like to highlight in this article is some of the new technological upgrades to EAP that were made to deal with the difficulties that the pandemic has presented. I feel that some of these advancements may be helpful to the membership going forward. Current EAP services will remain available and new services will be added. Most of the Postal Service’s EAP consultants and clinicians will continue in their current roles. EAP remains voluntary and free, and appropriate referrals to resources that would best fit an employee’s needs, will continue to be given.
The updated EAP4YOU.com website will offer more counseling options as well as a live chat feature. There will also be an EAP mobile app for smart phones and tablets. Here are the types of counseling USPS employees can access through the site, the mobile app or by calling in:
• Face-to-face counseling. Employees can make an appointment with their district clinician to talk about any current concerns.
• Telephone counseling. Employees can speak with a counselor by calling 800-EAP-4YOU (800-327-4968). The TTY number is 877-492-7341.
• Video therapy. Employees can speak to a clinician or consultant through a video link.
• Text therapy. Using Talkspace, employees can contact a clinician from anywhere at any time. The clinician will respond within a certain amount of time.
• Online therapy through myStrength. Therapy modules are available for depression, stress, chronic pain, anxiety, substance use and insomnia.
As a student of the human condition I would love to hear feedback from our members on some of these new programs, especially the text support and the myStrenth platform. Here are some blurbs the NALC website:
Text Message Support. Everyone has times when life is overwhelming. Transitions, parenting, work, marriage, health and finances can be a lot to bear from day-to-day. This constant stress can affect your physical and mental health, making it hard to operate at your best. That’s where the advice, support and resources from an expert can help. Around-the-clock support through text makes anytime the perfect time to reach out. Therapists respond at least daily, 5 times a week.
myStrength is a digital behavioral health platform that payers and providers can use to target the most prevalent and costly behavioral health conditions — empowering consumers with innovative self-care resources to manage and overcome challenges with depression, anxiety, stress, substance use disorder, chronic pain, and sleep. myStrength enhances traditional care models, while addressing issues of cost, lack of access, and stigma, to deliver mental health and well-being resources at scale. MyStrength Inc. collaborates with more than 150 health plans, integrated health systems, employee assistance programs, disease management providers, managed and community behavioral health providers, strategic alliances, accountable care organizations, and federally qualified health centers.
I am intrigued about some of these new additions and I hope that I hear some constructive input about EAP going forward.
I have had my own personal dealings with Mental Healthcare issues and before sign off I must offer my unapologetic support for the Mental Health benefit within the NALC Health Benefit Plan; OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions.
The network has over 7,400 facilities and 246,000 professionals—specialists recognized for their clinical specialty and quality rating to ensure that each patient receives the most skilled clinician possible.
OptumHealth provides support programs for family management; Healthy Family information about children – from before birth through adolescence as well as Solutions for Caregivers that can Counsel you on your loved one's individual, medical, financial, safety, emotional and social needs. Connect you with professionals, including home health aides, nurses, lawyers and financial advisors. The Real Appeal is an online weight loss program on Rally Coach that delivers real results and may be available to you for free. The Ready set quit program to stop smoking. It offers substance abuse and suicide prevention support as well as a network of counselors, psychiatrists and psychologists. They offer assistance in crisis situations when you don't know where else to turn.
I used OptumHealth in the NALC Heath Benefit Program is something that I used when I was in dire need. They treated me and my family with dignity and respect and helped me when I needed it most.
Addressing mental health more proactively within our organization is long overdue for an overhaul. I hope that at some point I can use my position to effect some positive changes to Letter Carriers support system
800-327-4968
800-EAP-4YOU
TTY: 877-492-7341
WWW.EAP4YOU.COM
