CommonHealth Weekly Wellnote

May 15, 2024 / Get Well

How can your Virginia State Employee Wellness Program help? The CommonHealth programs and campaigns cover a variety of health topics and are available in a range of formats to meet the needs of different workplaces. Highly skilled wellness consultants provide the latest on stress, sleep, nutrition, exercise and more for faculty/staff meetings, special events, conferences, benefit fairs, safety meetings, lunch and learns, etc. They provide traditional, in-person presentations and displays as well as virtual presentations, on-demand videos and seasonal health-related challenges that are fun and engaging. Visit the website to see how CommonHealth can help you. If you’re looking to book an event in July/August, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you.

Check out this week’s updates from CommonHealth.

  • May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s essential to recognize that mental health affects us all. As we continue to focus on mental health, it’s important to highlight and destigmatize suicide prevention.
    • Know the signs: Be aware of warning signs that someone may be struggling with suicidal thoughts. Signs can include withdrawal from social activities, changes in mood or behavior, giving away possessions or expressing feelings of hopelessness.
    • Listen actively to those around you. Sometimes, people drop subtle hints about their emotional state. Show empathy and encourage open communication.
    • Seek help: Benefitted employees, check with your health plan for free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources to support your mental health. In addition, all employees have access to TimelyCare, which offers FREE mental health services that are available 24/7.
    • Resources: If you or someone you know needs support, dial 988 to access the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
    • Support systems: You are not alone. Lean on friends, family and community networks during difficult times.
    • Self-care: Taking care of our mental wellbeing is essential. Access TimelyCare’s self-care journey and/or click here for a few tips from our health insurance providers.
  • Just in time! All employees are encouraged to attend the FREE WeightWatchers webinar tomorrow, Thursday, May 16, at 1 p.m. WW experts will share strategies for staying healthy and balanced all season, even when summer fun upends your routine. Register here.  
    • Already a WeightWatchers member? Call 866-204-2885 for questions or to sync your current account.
  • Take a deep breath. Deep breathing is simple yet effective. It establishes a connection between your brain and body, signaling that everything is okay. Breathing in light while breathing out darkness can be useful during challenging times. This Monday Campaign has a helpful visual and detailed instructions to help you enhance your deep breathing practice.

Common Health Weekly Wellnote Masthead with rainbow swish on black background. Below header: commonhealth dot virginia dot gov Top panel: Mental Health Moves (with stock photo of a group of friends walking on the beach) May is Mental Health Awareness Month — the perfect time to make moves toward better mental health! Healthy lifestyle changes that can help improve both mental and physical health include getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, sleeping 7–9 hours per night, eating healthy meals, staying hydrated, practicing gratitude, and staying connected to friends and family. While there’s a lot we can do to help improve mental health, we may benefit from seeking professional help at times. Ask your primary care doctor (PCP) or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to refer you to a qualified mental health professional if you experience symptoms such as significant changes in eating or sleeping patterns; withdrawal from daily activities; substance misuse; prolonged sadness; or excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior. If you or someone you love has thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or call 911 if it is a life-threatening situation. Please see the attachment from Anthem for more info about suicide prevention in teens and note that much of the information can apply to people of all ages. Three shorter columns below: CommonHealth Educational Event Scheduling (with cartoon drawing of a woman with her hands out, surrounded by multiple thought bubbles) Get a CommonHealth wellness consultant to come to your future event to speak on anything from nutrition to activity to stress management. We have all of your wellness topic needs covered with the most up-to-date information about how to stay well at work and at home! Contact your CommonHealth agency coordinator (or HR benefits administrator) to schedule. WeightWatchers’ Summer Solutions Webinar Thursday, May 16 | 1 p.m. (with cartoon drawing of a picnic basket overflowing with fruits, including watermelon, banana, grapes and papaya) Register for WeightWatchers’ transformative webinar focused on maintaining weight loss and wellness goals during the summer months, a time when routines are often disrupted by holidays and vacations. A Little Bit Healthier This Week (with stock photo of a young woman exhaling) Feeling stress? Need an easy way to decompress? 4-7-8 breathing is a simple calming technique that you can use anywhere. Research shows that it can slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Basically, it tells your body it’s time to relax. Here’s how: - Inhale through your nose for a count of 4. - Hold your breath for a count of 7. - Exhale through your mouth for a count of 8. - Repeat this cycle three times. Start slowly, as controlling your breathing for extended periods of time can make you feel lightheaded. In footer: Contact CommonHealth: wellness at dhrm dot virginia dot gov

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below:

Submitted by: 
Faith Redd-Walker, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu