Purdue University awarded Mental Health America’s Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health

Purdue University has announced that it has been awarded a 2024 Silver Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America (MHA). The Bell Seal is a first-of-its-kind workplace mental health certification recognizing employers striving to create mentally healthy workplaces for their employees.

MHA is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being and illness prevention for all. MHA has spent decades researching mental health in the workplace and in 2019 introduced the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health to recognize companies and organizations that understand the value of addressing mental health at work and implement policies and practices that support employee well-being. 

The Bell Seal recognizes employer advances in workplace mental health by awarding bronze, silver, gold and platinum recognition levels. Only one in four employers meets the standards for Bell Seal certification. Purdue University underwent a rigorous evaluation of its policies and practices in four areas: workplace culture, benefits, compliance and wellness programs.

Gaining status as a Bell Seal-certified organization demonstrates Purdue’s ongoing commitment to employee mental health and well-being. 

To help faculty and staff (and dependents covered on a Purdue or Purdue Global health plan), resources are available to help manage life’s daily challenges. 

Purdue resources

Benefits-eligible employees (including dependents covered on a Purdue health plan) on the West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest (Hammond and Westville) campuses all have behavioral health services providers specifically available to them at no cost.

• SupportLinc provides behavioral health services to benefits-eligible employees and dependents covered on a Purdue health plan on the West Lafayette campus. To get started utilizing 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. SupportLinc offers access to care advocates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at no cost.
• Bowen Center is the provider of behavioral health services for benefits-eligible employees and their families on the Fort Wayne campus. Call 800-342-5653 for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• New Avenues provides behavioral health services to benefits-eligible employees and their families on the Northwest campuses (Hammond and Westville). A New Avenues care manager is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 800-731-6501 or 574-232-2131 for assistance.
• Health Advocate provides behavioral health services to Purdue Global employees 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 877-240-6863, email answers@HealthAdvocate.com or visit the website to get started.

Purdue’s health plan coverage for mental health conditions includes medication, office visits, testing, and in-patient and outpatient treatment. In addition, Purdue’s prescription coverage does not specifically exclude any drug categories for mental health. See behavioral health referrals for a Tier 1 (HealthSync) or Tier 2 (in-network) provider. Additionally, all Purdue health plans have parity (Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity).

Additionally, the university’s Beyond the Surface mental health series, which is a call to action to normalize mental health struggles and prioritize mental wellness, shares videos and resources to help.

Anthem services  

Courtesy of Anthem, Purdue’s medical plan administrator, benefits-eligible faculty and staff (West Lafayette, Fort Wayne and Northwest employees) — as well as dependents covered on a Purdue health plan — have access to certain behavioral health resources, which support the behavioral health pillar of Purdue’s Healthy Boiler Program. They are:

• LiveHealth Online Psychology
• LiveHealth Online Psychiatry
• Learn2Live

LiveHealth Online Psychology and LiveHealth Online Psychiatry provide online access to psychologists and medication management support for common behavioral conditions such as major depressive disorder, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Learn more here.

Another component of Anthem’s behavioral health services is LearntoLive, formerly known as myStrength. LearntoLive offers a variety of digital, behavioral health services based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles. Via LearntoLive, which is accessible through the Anthem portal, employees who are covered on a Purdue health plan have access to:

• Personalized, one-on-one coaching
• Support team, built by each individual of family and friends
• Mindfulness tools on the go
• Live and on-demand webinars

Available anywhere, anytime, LearntoLive tools can help individuals identify thoughts and behaviors that affect emotional well-being — and work through them. Via LearntoLive, individuals can learn effective ways to manage stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and sleep issues. To access LearntoLive, log in to anthem.com, go to My Health Dashboard, choose Programs and select Emotional Well-being Resources. 

“Behavioral health is one of the five main areas of overall wellness that we focus on as part of the Healthy Boiler Program, which continues to be a priority,” said Candace Shaffer, associate vice president of benefits and payroll in Human Resources. “Our leadership team recognizes that an investment in employee mental health is not only an investment in the overall health of the employees but the organization as well. We want the Purdue family to know there are resources available to assist with any mental health issues or concerns they might face. Mental illnesses are real, and recovery is possible. We hope the tools and resources we continue to share with the Purdue community help individuals navigate any challenges or concerns related to their mental health and well-being.”

Purdue is committed to providing the best for its employees and looks forward to continuing work to ensure it upholds the standards the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health set forth.

Learn more about MHA and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at mhanational.org/bestemployers. 

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

To assist faculty and staff

Faculty and staff can review the Mental Health Resources webpage for a variety of available resources, which also support the behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program, and 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 mental health providers serving at various locations that are in-network with UHCSR 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 and trainings
• Student of Concern reporting link

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Therapy services at CAPS
• 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