Strong Minds, Strong Community: Mental Health Awareness and Employee Resources
Prioritizing You: Nurturing Your Well-Being This May
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making it a good time to pause, reflect, and think about the importance of mental health in our daily lives. Our well-being is deeply personal; it shapes how we feel, think, and move through our everyday lives. While it is personal, it is also connected to how we show up for our work, our families, and our community. As employees serving residents every day, taking care of our mental health helps us continue to do meaningful work with clarity, compassion, and resilience.
Why Mental Health Matters at Work
Working with the communities we serve can be deeply rewarding but also demanding. Deadlines, public service responsibilities, the pace of daily operations, and the personal energy we devote to helping others can add both fulfillment and stress over time. Paying attention to our mental health is a proactive step toward maintaining balance and effectiveness. When we feel supported and well, we are better able to collaborate, make thoughtful decisions, and contribute positively to our teams and the people we serve, and, just as importantly, to care for ourselves and our lives outside of work.
Simple Ways to Care for Yourself
Small, consistent actions can make a meaningful difference. Consider stepping away from your workspace for short breaks, getting outside for fresh air, or stretching between tasks. See if you can make some or all of them “no-input breaks,” where you avoid screens, music, and conversation.
It’s also important to make time to stay connected with colleagues and loved ones and to engage in activities that help you recharge. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and movement when you can. Most importantly, give yourself permission to slow down and check in with how you’re feeling.
You Are Not Alone
It’s common to experience stress, anxiety, or overwhelmingness, especially during busy or challenging times. Talking with someone you trust, whether a coworker, friend, family member, or mental health professional can help. Seeking support is a healthy and constructive step. Reaching out early can prevent small challenges from becoming larger ones.
Resources Available to You
Our county offers resources designed to support your well-being. The employee website has a wealth of information on employee benefit plans, wellness programs, and mental health resources available to you and your family, including:
- Wellness Leave– All full-time and permanent part-time employees in authorized positions are credited with 16 hours of wellness leave at the beginning of each fiscal year (pay period B01). This leave may be used for personal needs. Any Wellness Leave hours not used by the last pay period in the fiscal year will be forfeited – although you will get 16 more hours at the beginning of the next pay period. New employees hired (or re-employed) after April 30 of the fiscal year do not earn wellness leave at the time of their employment; they must wait until the beginning of the following fiscal year to be credited with 16 hours of wellness leave.
- Anthem: Our county health care provider has a wide range of accessible, cost-effective support options designed to bolster your overall well-being. Access information on the Anthem website, the Sydney Health app, contact the HR Benefits Office at 804-501-7371 or [email protected] to learn more about available programs.
- Anthem Behavioral Health Programs Interactive Guide– As a helpful reference for behavioral health and available employee resources, review Anthem’s easy-to-navigate guide that highlights options such as mental health services, therapy, and care coordination.
- Anthem EAP– The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides no-cost confidential counseling, referrals, and emotional support for personal and work-related concerns, including legal and financial resources and work-life assistance. Services are available 24/7. Our program comes with 6 free counseling sessions for full-time and permanent part-time employees and their household members.
- Anthem Personal Family Health Advocate– Connect with a dedicated Family Advocate through your online Anthem account, who helps you navigate medical care, mental health services, benefits, and unexpected health needs at no extra cost.
- Aspire365– Offers personalized mental health and substance-use support through telehealth and in-home services, helping individuals build resilience and long-term wellbeing. Aspire365’s Mental Health Check-Up is a quick, confidential, no-cost service available to full-time and permanent part-time county employees who are currently enrolled in the county’s medical plan and their families aged 12+. It is designed to help identify early signs of stress, anxiety, or other mental health concerns and connect individuals with professional support if needed. Schedule your virtual check-up today.
- Wellness Programming: The Fitness and Wellness Division of HR offers a variety of programming focused on wellbeing including weekly yoga and Pilates classes. Currently, Fitness and Wellness hosts a virtual 15-minute guided meditation every other Monday to help employees feel grounded at the start of the week. Alternating between live sessions via Microsoft Teams and pre-recorded videos, this offering provides a simple way to explore mindfulness, release stress from the previous week or weekend, and begin the week with greater clarity and focus. Sessions include calming breathing techniques, visualization exercises, and short reflections.
- HR YouTube Channel: The Wellbeing Playlist features videos on such topics as handling burnout, dealing with stress, developing resilience, and setting boundaries. Employees can access these short videos anytime and anywhere to help them with topics related to self-care.
Pause. Breathe. Reset.
No matter what this season looks like for you, give yourself permission to care for your well-being in ways that feel manageable and meaningful. Small, steady steps can make a lasting difference over time. Taking care of your mental health is an investment in yourself and in the important work you do every day.
Crisis Support Line (988): If you or someone you love is experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for immediate, confidential support available 24/7.
