CommonHealth Wellnote

September 10, 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 October, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you. Click here to view this week’s CommonHealth Wellnote. Check out this week’s highlights below.

Register Today!
NOVA Walk Week is next week (September 16-20). Share the dates with a friend or two and prepare to get out and explore our campuses that week. WalkWeek is all about engaging with your NOVA community while being active. Registration is open!! Sign up and share with a colleague.

Spotlight on Mental Health: September is Suicide Prevention Month
The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.

The 988 Lifeline can help if someone you know is struggling emotionally or having a hard time. If you are worried about a friend or a loved one, reach out to get support. Never keep it a secret if a friend tells you about a plan to hurt themselves. Call 988 so that you can find out what resources are available in your area, or encourage your loved one to call. Calls are routed to the Lifeline center closest to your area code that can provide you with local resources.

Suicide is not inevitable for anyone. By starting the conversation, providing support, and directing help to those who need it, we can prevent suicides and save lives. Evidence shows that providing support services, talking about suicide, reducing access to means of self-harm, and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others.

Text or call 988 for help

  • Try It This Week: Check in with a Friend
    A related study suggests proactively contacting a friend and engaging in a quality social interaction is associated with a meaningful boost in mood. Strong social connections help create a sense of meaning in your life, and they also reduce the risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Brief catch ups not only boost mood but serve to strengthen and nourish relationships over time, providing long-term benefits. So, reach out this week—it’ll benefit both of you!
  • Benefits Buzz:  Employee Assistance Programs
    All health plans offered to state employees and their dependents have employee assistance programs (EAPs). Included, are up to four free sessions for such services as mental health, grief counseling, child or elder care, alcohol or drug abuse assessment and legal or financial services. The EAP is available to assist employees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Contact your plan’s Member Services department for more information.

Please keep these additional resources for mental health in mind:

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

Image. White background with a yellow awareness ribbon. Black text: CommonHealth Wellnote

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