February’s Healthy Boiler challenge putting spotlight on daily planning for stress relief, more

There’s an easy and convenient way to take steps to help with an individual’s mental health, courtesy of the Healthy Boiler Portal. The “Healthy Boiler Monthly Challenges” section of the portal provides monthly challenges focused on behavioral health, along with challenges on each of the other Healthy Boiler pillars – financial wellness, physical health, social wellness and work-life integration.

The “Daily Plan Challenge” – February’s behavioral health challenge – invites individuals to plan each day throughout the month in order to get more done and feel accomplished.

“As humans, we are creatures of habit,” says Lindsay Bloom, health coach at Purdue Fort Wayne. “Planning your day helps you set boundaries around your time, create healthy habits and keep you focused. Knowing what to expect helps to decrease anxiety and lower stress levels.”

According to Mental Health America (MHA), individuals with more daily routines have lower levels of distress when facing problems with their health or negative life events.

 A Headspace article – “The secret benefit of routines. It won’t surprise you.” – states that researchers have found that routines can have far-reaching psychological benefits and provides information on how they might benefit individuals. Additionally, Northwestern Medicine’s “Health Benefits of Having a Routine” shares that those who do not have any type of routine suffer from stress, ineffective use of time and more.

“This challenge is a great way for those who are interested in doing better at planning their days to start with,” Bloom says. “Purdue’s health coaches also can work with individuals to help encourage and motivate them to make daily planning (and the benefits of doing so) part of their lifestyle.”   

More information

• Purdue health coaches – Schedule with a health coach by calling 765-494-0111 to schedule with health coaches Cheryl A. Laszynski or Whitney Soto at the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) in West Lafayette or 260-481-6651 to schedule with Bloom at Purdue Fort Wayne.
• SupportLinc Flash Course: Time Management – Watch this short video, courtesy of SupportLinc, employee assistance provider for Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, for information on time planning and time management.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

The behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program advocates for integrated care programs that focus on behavioral health and community support. The resources above and below align with that mission. 

To assist faculty and staff

Review the “Mental Health Resources” webpage for a variety of available resources for faculty and staff, including EAP resources for all Purdue campuses, information on Purdue’s health plan coverage for mental health and substance abuse as well as behavioral health referral locations for the West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest campuses. 

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. Note: 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

Questions can be directed to Human Resources at 765-494-2222, toll-free at 877-725-0222 or via email at hr@purdue.edu.