Mental Health Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a range of challenges and stressors in our personal and professional lives. Support is available to help you cope and manage your well-being. Mental health resources range from one-on-one counseling, crisis support and support groups to online webinars, tools, app’s and resources.

 

Employee Assistance Program – Work-Life Solutions

Work-Life Solutions, the university’s employee assistance program, offers free, confidential, 24/7 support, resources and information for every aspect of your life.

Call 844-365-4587 to access a Guidance Consultant, who will answer your questions and, if needed, refer you to a counselor or other resources. This valuable benefit for you and your family provides resources and referrals for:

  • Confidential emotional support from highly trained clinicians – employees receive five counseling sessions free of charge
  • Work-life resources from qualified referrals for just about anything on your to-do list
  • Legal guidance – talk to attorneys for practical assistance with your most pressing legal issues
  • Financial resources from financial experts to assist with a wide range of issues.

Learn more about Work-Life Solutions and the counseling and resources available to you and your family.

COVID-19 Tool kit from Guidance Resources

Mindfulness Sessions

Through the employee wellness program, Wellness Connection, WashU’s mindfulness consultant provides a series focused on stress-reduction, group sessions for departments requesting support, as well as ongoing open sessions for the employee community.

Learn more about mindfulness.

Mental health care:

Affordable mental health care for employees and their children

In addition to the physical effects of COVID-19, threats to mental health should not be discounted. To support the university community during these stressful times, the Washington University Psychiatry service offers convenient, affordable mental health care for employees and their children. Learn more about WU Psychiatry services. Call 314-286-1700 to make an appointment.

UnitedHealthcare Behavioral Health Benefit

This employee benefit (view PDF) includes counseling services to help employees effectively deal with stressful and challenging situations. A benefit specialist will help employees identify their concern and the appropriate resource to address it. If desired, the specialist will match the employee with an in-network clinician to help. You can also connect with a mental health provider from the comfort of home using a virtual visit. Copays or co-insurance apply. Call 800-382-2599 or visit myuhc.com – click “Find a Doctor”.

UnitedHealthcare Nurse Advocate – Teresa Fisher, RN, BSN
Teresa is a registered nurse with a broad range of experience in healthcare. She is dedicated to Washington University and available to help employees find a mental health provider or navigate UHC tools and resources. Contact Teresa directly at 314-440-3882 or teresa.fisher@uhc.com.

More Mental Health Resources

There are many app’s, online support groups, mindfulness resources and other helpful links to help you cope through challenges. Find what works for you to help you find the peace, joy, hope and support you need.

Employee Wellness program

Practicing mindfulness-based stress reduction and becoming aware of habitual reactions to tough situations can help in preventing distress that could lead to serious health conditions, including depression, anxiety and other mental disorders. Developing a daily stress-reducing practice can help you experience better emotional control, improved concentration, and a greater sense of ease throughout the day. Learn about more employee programming available through Wellness Connection, the employee wellness program.

Care and Connection Toolkit

Send gratitude, hope, care and messages of support to colleagues. Find sample messages, templates and ways to spread hope in our community – to those on the front lines and across the university.

View the toolkit.

App's for Self-Care

  • Calm is a great app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation. It has simple meditation tools that can make you feel relaxed, calm and peaceful. Download it at Google Play or Apple’s App Store. Calm is also available in a web version at calm.com.

  • Headspace is great app that makes meditation simple. It teaches people the life changing skills of meditation and mindfulness in just a few minutes to help people stress less and focus more and even sleep better. Headspace now offers free premium access through 2020 for healthcare providers, sign up with your individual NPI at https://www.headspace.com/health-covid-19. If you don’t have an NPI, you can request free access using the Form

  • Simple Habit is offering a new, free medication collections designed specifically for stress and anxiety related to COVID-19. Topics include self-care, easing fear, mindful communication with family, and guided yoga. Listen for free here. It is also offering free premium memberships to all individuals until the end of April 2020. Download it at Google Play or Apple’s App Store.

  • Muse is offering a ‘Stress Less” collection of 20 guided meditations by world-renowned practitioners for free within the app. Download it at Google Play or Apple’s App Store

Helping Our Own – #WashUTogether

Faculty and staff from Psychiatry, the Department of Medicine, Human Resources, the Brown School of Social Work and School of Medicine students have worked together to stand up important mental well-being resources and support aimed at helping the community cope with COVID-19.