Healthy Boiler workshop to address grief, stress during holidays — additional resources available

Many things can impact mental health, including grief, and it can become even more difficult and stressful during the holiday season. On Dec. 14 Melissa Covarrubias, behavioral health counselor at the Center for Healthy Living on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, will present a Healthy Boiler workshop titled “Grief and Stress During the Holidays.”   

Mental Health America’s webpage Bereavement and Grief states, “The loss of a loved one is life’s most stressful event and can cause a major emotional crisis. After the death of someone you love, you experience bereavement, which literally means ‘to be deprived by death.’”

The virtual workshop will take place from noon to 1 p.m. ET Dec. 14.

“During the workshop, attendees will learn how to process their grief and manage their stress during the holidays as we explore appropriate relaxation techniques, setting boundaries and education on the grief cycle,” Covarrubias says.

Those interested in attending should register by Dec. 13 via the Healthy Boiler Portal. The registration link can be found under the “Healthy Boiler Workshops” section on the portal’s homepage. Hover over “Grief and Stress During the Holidays” and click “Submit” to register. The workshop supports the behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program.

Healthy Boiler workshops are free to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff and dependents covered on a Purdue medical plan.

Everyone experiences grief and bereavement during a lifetime, so resources, tools and additional assistance in managing and coping with grief and its effects on mental well-being are available.

Behavioral health services for Purdue campuses

SupportLinc — provider of behavioral health services for the West Lafayette campus — provides information and tools via its web portal:

• Grief and Stress
• Grief and Loss
• Grief, Bereavement and Coping With Loss
• Coping With Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event
• Coping With Grief — flash course

Additionally, SupportLinc counselors are available to meet with individuals via phone, email, text, group support and more. 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. Call 888-881-5462 or log in to the SupportLinc website to utilize SupportLinc’s resources.

Behavioral health services are available to the Fort Wayne campus via the Bowen Center and the Northwest campus via New Avenues.

Purdue Global employees can access behavioral health services from Health Advocates via phone at 877-240-6863, email at answers@HealthAdvocate.com and web at HealthAdvocate.com/members.

More resources to help individuals with grief

• Headspace provides an “Understanding grief and loss” fact sheet among other resources.
• HealthHub by Valley Oaks shares a self-care article on coping with grief and loss.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) shares personal stories on grief and surviving a loss as well as opportunities for individuals to share their stories along with other mental health resources.
• ReachOut’s Grief and Loss page offers a variety of articles on death and grief as well as a ReachOut Online Community, which individuals are welcome to join.
• What’s Your Grief is a website about grief which aims to promote grief education, exploration and expression in both practical and creative ways. The site includes a grief podcast, blog, online courses, resources, guidance and more.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

As a reminder, anyone facing a mental health crisis can call 988 and get connected to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (also called the Lifeline).

To assist faculty and staff

Faculty and staff can review the Mental Health Resources webpage for a variety of available resources that also support the behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program, as well as for information on Purdue’s health plan coverage for mental health and substance abuse.

To assist students

Faculty and staff who work with students or have a student at home can direct them to the resources below for behavioral health assistance. Note: United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) — medical plan provider for students and graduate students — offers 292 unique in-network mental health providers serving at various locations within Tippecanoe County. The list is available here. Additionally, students have access to HealthiestYou, which provides virtual access to mental health care as part of UHCSR’s plan. All services are free for students covered under the UHCSR insurance plan.

Office of the Dean of Students

• Continuous Network of Support
• Services and Information
• Presentations & Trainings
• Student of Concern Reporting Link

Counseling & 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
• TAO — web and app-based mental health resource for students