SupportLinc, LiveHealth Online provide mental health assistance

As the University celebrates its third annual Mental Health Action Week (MHAW), it’s important to remind the Purdue community that Human Resources – Benefits continues to place behavioral health needs as a top priority. To help faculty and staff on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus (and dependents covered on a Purdue health plan), there are resources available to help manage life’s daily challenges.

“Because our behavioral health is just as important as our physical health, Purdue has a variety of mental health resources, tools and options available to the Purdue community,” says Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources. “And just like with physical health providers and care, there needs to be a variety of mental health options to choose from in order to select the type of care that best meets each individual’s specific needs. The complete virtual approach of SupportLinc, LiveHealth Online Psychology and LiveHealth Online Psychiatry are among options Purdue has available for quick and convenient help.”     

SupportLinc

SupportLinc offers confidential and professional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at no cost and serves as the first point of contact for behavioral health needs.

The variety of resources and tools available via SupportLinc align the program with both the behavioral health pillar and the work-life integration pillar of Purdue’s Healthy Boiler Program.

To get started using SupportLinc, 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.

Through SupportLinc, all employees and benefits-eligible family members may receive 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 matched with counselors that meet both their clinical and cultural needs. If the need for long-term counseling arises, SupportLinc will refer individuals to community resources, such as the behavioral health counselors at the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, for ongoing care.

To meet the needs of the busy, diverse population at Purdue, SupportLinc provides multiple, convenient ways to receive care via phone, computer, tablet, etc. Icons across the top navigation of the SupportLinc web portal offer quick and easy access to nine points of contact.

They are:

• Phone – Reach a licensed counselor by phone 24/7/365 at 888-881-5462.
• Video counseling – eConnect allows individuals to schedule a 30-minute video, telephonic or web chat session with a licensed and experienced clinician.
• Text – Exchange text messages, voicenotes and resources Monday through Friday with a licensed counselor through the mobile and desktop app via Textcoach.
• Animo – Personalized digital resource that strengthens mental health and overall well-being through a dynamic series of self-directed modules.
• Email – Contact support@curalinc.com for assistance via email.
• Ask the Expert: Fill out a short form and a SupportLinc team member will reply within one business day.
• Mobile app: SupportLinc eConnect mobile app allows individuals to talk or chat directly with a SupportLinc counselor or schedule a time for SupportLinc to call them.
• Navigator: A short survey takes the guesswork out of emotional fitness as individuals receive personalized guidance for accessing program support and resources based on their survey.
• Digital Group Support: Anonymous group sessions offered on a variety of topics. Individuals are identified only by their avatar and avatar name. Once an avatar is created, individuals can select from a variety of session topics, which currently include:
  • Avoiding addiction.
  • Caregiver support.
  • Coping with stress.
  • Grief.
  • Mindfulness.
  • Preventing burnout.
  • Self-care.
  • Sleep fitness.

Session topics are rotated on occasion so be sure to check back often for updates.

Additionally, 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 care and elder care search engines, reference libraries, legal and financial resources, self-improvement programs and educational training modules.

All requests for information or assistance through the SupportLinc program are free of charge and completely confidential.

LiveHealth Online Psychology and Psychiatry

Another digital resource available to benefits-eligible Purdue employees is LiveHealth Online. Courtesy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Purdue’s medical plan administrator, LiveHealth Online Psychology and LiveHealth Online Psychiatry provide online access to psychiatrists and psychologists for medication management support for common behavioral conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety and bipolar disorder.

• LiveHealth Online Psychology – LiveHealth Online psychologists and therapists provide talk therapy and do not diagnose patients or write prescriptions. Dependents age 10 to 17 who are covered on a Purdue health plan also can use LiveHealth Online Psychology for therapy visits. For more information, view these short videos:
  • “What are the benefits of seeing a therapist or psychologist online?”
  • “When are some good situations to consider seeing a psychologist or therapist?”
  • “What happens during a typical visit?”
    
• LiveHealth Online Psychiatry – LiveHealth Online psychiatrists can prescribe medication or help manage any medication individuals (18 years or older) might be taking for a behavioral health condition. For more information, see the LiveHealth Online Psychiatry pdf or view these short videos:
  • “What are the benefits of seeing a psychiatrist online?”
  • “What happens during an initial evaluation?”
  • “Can I get a prescription as a result of my visit? How does that work?”

LiveHealth Online visits are a covered benefit under all of Purdue’s health plans, and the therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists are in-network providers.

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, 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 for students.