SupportLinc employee assistance program launches today

Life can be a juggling act. It takes time and energy to balance work, family and personal challenges. To help individuals manage life’s daily challenges, Purdue is announcing the SupportLinc employee assistance program (EAP). Access to these services begins today (July 1) for all benefits-eligible employees on the West Lafayette campus and their dependents covered on a Purdue health plan.

SupportLinc offers confidential and professional support, including the following resources, at no cost to eligible employees and dependents covered on a Purdue health plan:

* Short-term counseling: Through SupportLinc, all employees and benefit-eligible family members may receive up to six in-person counseling sessions with a licensed clinician to address issues such as depression, stress, relationship problems, grief, substance abuse, anxiety or other emotional health concerns. When an employee calls in and speaks with a SupportLinc care advocate, they will be referred to counselors that match both their clinical and cultural needs. Note: The counselors at the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus continue to be available to serve long-term therapy needs.

* Free legal services: The SupportLinc program provides free telephonic or 30-minute face-to-face consultation with a local attorney.

* Expert referrals: SupportLinc’s knowledgeable specialists provide referrals to resources that help address a wide range of issues such as child or elder care, adoption, pet care, home repair, education and housing needs.

* Free financial services: SupportLinc provides expert financial planning and consultation through our network of licensed financial counselors.

* Web portal: The SupportLinc web portal provides access to thousands of articles, tip sheets and videos covering a wide array of health, well-being and work-life integration topics. The site also contains child and elder care search engines, reference libraries, legal and financial resources, self-improvement programs and educational training modules.

* Mobile app: The SupportLinc eConnect® mobile app allows for a talk or chat directly with a SupportLinc counselor or scheduling a time for SupportLinc to call.

* Text therapy: Exchange text messages, voicenotes and resources Monday-Friday with a licensed counselor for up to six weeks, through the Textcoach® mobile and desktop app.

* Animo: Animo is SupportLinc’s personalized digital resource that strengthens mental health and overall well-being through a dynamic series of self-directed modules.

* Navigator: Take the guesswork out of emotional fitness. Click the Navigator icon on the web portal or mobile app, complete a short survey and receive personalized guidance for accessing program support and resources.

All requests for information or assistance through the SupportLinc program are free of charge and completely confidential. Employees can contact SupportLinc around the clock, 365 days a year.

“We are excited to add SupportLinc to the variety of mental health resources already in place for Purdue employees,” says Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “Expanding the reach of our EAP will also expand the services the counselors at the Center for Healthy Living will be able to provide, and we will continue to look for ways to add and enhance programs, tools and resources that cater to mental health and wellness needs of the Purdue community.”

Get started

To get started, call 888-881-5462, or log in to the SupportLinc website or eConnect mobile app, available in the App Store and on Google Play, with username purdue.

EAP resources for Purdue Fort Wayne and Purdue Northwest

EAP for employees on the Purdue Fort Wayne campus is provided by the Bowen Center, and EAP for employees on the Purdue Northwest campuses is available through New Avenues. 

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

To assist faculty and staff

• Review the “Mental Health Resources” webpage for a variety of available resources for faculty and staff.

To assist students

Faculty and staff, who work with students or have a student at home, can direct students to the resources below for behavioral health assistance. LiveHealth Online Psychology and LiveHealth Online Psychiatry services are also available to Purdue students who are covered on a Purdue health plan. Mental health visits through LiveHealth Online are covered at 100 percent on the Purdue student health plan.  

Office of the Dean of Students

• Continuous Network of Support
• Services and information
• Presentations and trainings
• Student of Concern reporting link

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Therapy Services at CAPS
• Self-help resources
• Group therapy
• CAPS YouTube channel
• NAMI On Campus – A free, virtual support group on campus.
• Thriving Campus – Service that provides students a way to search for mental health providers in many areas, locally and across the country
• WellTrack – Interactive, self-help therapy app.

Questions

Contact Human Resources at 765-494-2222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.