EAP NEWS - University at Albany, SUNY · Stalking Awareness Month Studies show that a woman over...
Transcript of EAP NEWS - University at Albany, SUNY · Stalking Awareness Month Studies show that a woman over...
EAP NEWS
UAlbany Employees’ Link to Resources for Health & Well-Being
One important stress
management technique
is detachment which
helps build resilience. An
example is taking a vaca-
tion. One powerful and
healthy way to detach
that you may not have
heard of is “flow activi-
ty.” A flow activity is any
activity such as garden-
ing, painting, reading for pleasure, needlework, or
dancing that can absorb your complete attention in a
meaningful, goal-directed, pleasurable, and completely
distracting way. When you are busy and under stress,
it’s easy to fall into an “eat-sleep-work-repeat” cycle.
Interrupting this course of stress with two to three hours
a week of flow activities that help you completely detach
will significantly elevate your happiness. You will experi-
ence more balance and engagement with your job.
To learn more about flow, check out the TED Talk by
Mihaly Csikszentmihaly titled “Flow, the secret to happi-
ness.”
Stress Management: Discover Your “Flow”
Article Source: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline
newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s
those little bits of good put together that
overwhelm the world.” ~Desmund Tutu
They’re back for another
year! The annual EAP
wellness calendars are in
stock. Unbelievably, 2019
is just around the corner.
This popular, colorful cal-
endar offers an array of
tips for your health and
well-being that will help
you throughout 2019 and beyond. To request a copy be
sent to you via campus mail, call the EAP Office at
518.442.5483 or click on the “Special Promotions” icon
on the EAP website’s home page. www.albany.edu/eap
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Wellness Calendars Available
One per employee while the supply lasts.
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Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
Stalking Awareness Month Studies show that a woman over the course of her life will have about an 8 percent
chance of being stalked. For men, it’s about 2 percent. Stalking is unwanted or repeated
shadowing, observation, and scrutinizing of another person. It may involve following a
person, showing up where and when they do not expect it, and ignoring boundaries of
privacy. Stalking is a crime. Many incidents of workplace violence have been linked to
stalking, although later may be labeled as domestic violence-related. If you’re stalked at
work, don’t keep it a secret. Contact Human Resources, or discuss it confidentially with
the UAlbany EAP and get the support you deserve. Don’t be reluctant to let your employer know about the victimiza-
tion. Your safety and that of coworkers is your employer’s most important concern.
You’ve heard the expression “thinking outside of the box.” It’s thinking creatively
and solving problems in ways that defy convention. Outside-the-box thinkers see the
same information differently from the way their coworkers do. When others “zig,”
they “zag.”
You can learn how to think outside of the box. The payoff can be huge for both
you and your employer. Learning this skill starts with experiencing failure caused by
conditioned linear thinking. Try a few exercises by searching creative thinking exer-
cises online. Once you have an “aha!” experience with the exercises, then you’ve got
the idea.
Respecting Personal Boundaries at Work Respect in the workplace brings to mind things like tolerance, awareness of
diversity, and bias. But disrespect has its own issues that can impact produc-
tivity. One of them is not respecting the personal boundaries of a co-worker.
Do you walk through a co-worker’s door unannounced, call after hours
when he or she is at home, or sit in a chair close by while the coworker is on
the phone, waiting your turn to speak with him or her? Employees who
appreciate the importance of honoring personal boundaries will get along
better, and here’s why. When you disregard personal boundaries, you send
this nonverbal message: “I’m more important than you, so I don’t need to
respect your space.”
All of us teach each other what our personal boundaries are and how we want to be treated. Making them known is
a combination of assertiveness, diplomacy, and immediacy. “I would love to speak with you right now, but I need to
take this phone call in private” combines all three elements of how to establish a personal boundary. The most
important rule in maintaining personal boundaries is to practice what you preach. In other words, if you don’t want
people phoning after 8 p.m. to discuss a work issue, don’t phone them after 8 p.m.
Think Outside of the Box
Source: http://victimsofcrime.org [search: “stalking”].
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For the fourth year in a row EAP has declared November as Stress Less
Month. As we know from experience, November is a particularly busy
time on campus and in our personal lives as we head towards the end of
the fall semester and get ready for the holiday season. It’s a perfect time
to remind ourselves of the importance of pausing during your day to take
a break to relax, rejuvenate, and replenish in order to alleviate some stress.
EAP encourages all employees to take self-care seriously and to support coworkers in doing the same. One way to
keep on track with this effort is to find a “stress-less friend” at work. You can make a commitment to help each other
be proactive when it comes to relieving stress, find creative ways to incorporate stress less activities into the day, and
attend one of the EAP Stress Less events together!
Stress Less event details are outlined in this edition of the EAP ENewsletter. Register for an event and get it on your
calendar. By doing so, you’ll be saying to yourself that you are worth taking the time to use your EAP benefit
to support your health and well-being both in and out of the workplace.
Relax, Rejuvenate, Replenish,
Regroup, Refresh...
Adopt a Smoker Who is Trying to Quit If you don’t smoke, adopt a smoker who is trying to quit for a day to show your support! Here are some suggestions
to assist your co-worker (or a loved one or friend) to help meet their goal:
Offer to take your co-worker who smokes to lunch.
Provide goody bags filled with sugar-free gum, straws, and other items to hold or chew.
Offer to take a walk during breaks when your co-worker would be smoking.
Agree to give up a favorite snack or something near and dear to your heart to show support.
The American Cancer Society highlights some dos and don’ts to support a person to quit smoking. Here are a few:
Do respect that the quitter is in charge. This is their lifestyle change and their challenge, not yours.
Do ask the person whether they want you to ask regularly how they’re doing. Ask how they’re feeling – not just
whether they’ve stay away from smoking.
Do let the person know that it’s OK to talk to you whenever they need to hear encouraging words.
Do try to see it from the smoker’s point of view – a smoker’s habit may feel like an old friend that’s always been
there when times were tough. It’s hard to give that up.
Don’t take the quitter’s grumpiness personally during their nicotine withdrawal. Tell them that you understand the
symptoms are real and remind them that they won’t last forever. The symptoms usually get better in about 2
weeks.
Don’t offer unsolicited advice; just ask how you can help with the plan or program they are using.
For the full list, go to: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/helping-a-smoker-quit.html
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Caregiver and Depression
Source for Articles: Frontline—Employee Wellness, Productivity & You! Frontline newsletter is courtesy of the New York State Employee Assistance Program.
Do you care for a chronically ill person who also suffers with depression? If so, guard
and protect your mental health. Research has shown that caregivers are more at risk
for depression themselves if they care for a person with depression. Have social
and psychological support systems and practice basic stress management skills. October
11, 2018, is National Depression Screening Day. It’s dedicated to education, reducing
the stigma of depression, and encouraging people to get screened. Most
professional counselors can screen for depression in minutes. Contact UAlbany EAP for
a referral.
Many articles, books, and speeches have discussed the secret to find-
ing happiness, but there is only one 75-year study that has attempted to
pin down the answer. It’s the Grant and Gluek Study which began in
1934 and continues today. The project focuses on the lives of two
completely different groups of people—a large group of low-income
people from Boston, Massachusetts and a similarly large group of
Harvard graduates. The only finding common to both groups of what
ultimately brings joy is quality relationships. Recent studies on the
negative effects of loneliness lend support to these findings. Developing
strong and positive relationships is a social skill that also has some
important ingredients and can be learned. If you’re past your teens and younger years and you find your health and
relationships are lacking, it can be a bit more of a challenge to fire up an active friends network. For advice on reestab-
lishing a social life after lots of time away from the practice of doing so, start with a visit to UAlbany EAP.
Synthetic Marijuana (K2)
Relationships—The Secret to Happiness
Spice (or K2) is a dangerous psycho-active drug that is smoked, vaped, or drunk as
a tea. It recently made national news when over 70 people using it overdosed within
hours of each other in New Haven, CT. Spice is a mixture of plant materials like herbs
and a lab-produced chemical that acts on the brain in a manner similar to THC. THC
is the psychoactive substance in cannabis. These chemicals are far stronger than
THC. Withdrawal from them is difficult, and addiction is more likely. Spice is danger-
ous and unpredictable, and no users can be sure of what they are consuming. Many
drug screens still don’t detect Spice which makes it attractive to users. (That’s chang-
ing fast.) Spice is found nationwide, and much of it has been laced with fentanyl which can cause death. If you are
concerned about a family member, a friend, or yourself, contact UAlbany EAP.
Source: www.caregiver.org/depression-and-caregiving
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Are you finding yourself struggling with any of
the following?
Family, parenting, and relationship issues
Work stress and conflict
Substance abuse or dependency
Elder care
Mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety)
Legal and/or financial concerns
Grief and loss
Or anything else related to work or home that is
causing you undue stress and affecting your ability to be as productive as you once were?
You don’t have to deal with it alone. Support is available through UAlbany’s Employee Assistance
Program (EAP). The mission of UAlbany EAP is to provide services to support a healthy, productive work-
force. Available to all employees is the voluntary, confidential Information, Assessment, and
Referral Service provided by UAlbany EAP Coordinator, Brenda Seckerson. Take advantage of this
confidential assistance available to you as an employee benefit.
Confidential support, information, and
referrals are available through EAP to assist
you in finding a way to address your concerns.
Early intervention is the key! Contact EAP.
Employee Assistance Program-sponsored events and
services are open to UAlbany and Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS employees, GSEU
members and retirees.
To schedule an appointment for a
confidential Information, Assessment &
Referral session, contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
518-442-5483
EAP Website: http://www.albany.edu/eap
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist and poet (1803-1882)
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EAP Wellness Program
Noon—1:00 pm
UPTOWN CAMPUS Tuesday, October 16 Room 375, Campus Center
HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS Tuesday, October 23 Café Conference Room, A Wing
To register, contact: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator 442-5483 OR register online
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
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Understanding Your NYS Retirement Pension Benefits
Presented by an Information Representative from the
NYS Employee Retirement System (ERS), this
interactive session will offer participants who are
enrolled in ERS the opportunity to experience the
following:
learn the critical elements involved in the calcula-
tion of their pension benefits,
know what they can do to ensure they receive all
of the benefits they are entitled to, and
obtain information on how and when to contact NYS Local Retirement System to obtain their
specific information.
Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions related to pension benefits
during and after the presentation as well as receive a guide that covers pension information.
No matter what your age or how many years you have in the retirement
system, this presentation will help you better plan for your financial future!
Tuesday, October 30
Noon–1:00 pm
Assembly Hall
Campus Center
E A P F I N A N C I A L W E L L N E S S
P R O G R A M
To register, contact:
Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
518.442.5483 or Online
HTTP://WWW.ALBANY.EDU/EAP/EVENT_SIGN-UP.HTM
E A P F I N A N C I A L W E L L N E S S P R O G R A M
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Health Sciences
Campus
Hope and Resilience How to make friends with the life you have now
The stresses of life face us all. Over time, the damaging effects can create poor health and take joy from our lives. Research shows that even if you’re not born with a sunny disposition, you can learn ways to face life’s challenges with greater resilience. In this program we will discuss the qualities of a “hopeful person,” and practice techniques to build hope in day-to-day life.
Presenter: Judi England, RN, licensed massage therapist, and professionally
certified Kripalu yoga instructor.
Friday, November 2 Noon—1:00 pm
Café Conference Room A Wing
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
To Register: Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator
Call 442-5483 or register online
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Wednesday - November 7th - 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
4 Tower Place, Room 407
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
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Take Advantage of the EAP Office Lending Library Compiled by Oscar Nunez, EAP Office Work Study Student
Lesbian Couples by D. Merilee Clunis, PhD and G. Dorsey Green, PhD is a practical guide
aimed to help women and their relationships. The authors present on a wide range of
topics like ceremonies, marriage, living arrangements, work, money, and coming out
to friends and families. As described, “The book gives a variety of examples and prob-
lem-solving techniques drawn from extensive research, and emphasizes the issues
that arise with couples of different races, classes, ages, and physical abilities.”
The Relationship Cure by John M. Gottman, PhD and Joan DeClaire is a book about
creating, strengthening, and maintaining the relationships we have with our spouses/
partners, family members, friends and co-workers. The authors outline a five step
guide that provides empowering tools designed to help create emotional relation-
ships with the people around you. If you are one that seeks to maintain, regain or
strengthen a relationship, this book is for you.
What does one do after an affair? Do you stop being intimate with your partner? Do
you forgive, or do you breakup? Often times after an affair, you may feel confused and
may not know what to do. Janis Abrahms Spring, PhD, is a nationally acclaimed
expert on issues of trust, intimacy and forgiveness, and is the author of After the
Affair. The book offers ideas on how to heal and grow in the aftermath of this type of
experience. Dr. Spring addresses questions that will help you understand why an affair
happened, how to get through it, and ways to rebuild your relationship. The book is a
must read for any couples who have experienced the violation of trust through an
affair.
Visit the Library page on the EAP website for a full list of topics, books, and DVDs/CDs that the EAP Lending
Library has available. Contact EAP if you would like to borrow any materials. [email protected]
As social beings, our relationships are important to us. But to keep them healthy, sometimes it’s helpful to get out-
side support and tips which can enhance the connections we have with our loved ones. Here are three books in the
EAP Lending Library that might provide valuable information to help you address issues which are having an impact on
your relationships.
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As the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) states, “Addiction can happen to
anyone, any family, at any time.” The OASAS website has important information regarding prevention as well as how
to recognize the signs and symptoms of opioid drug abuse.
To access the OASAS resources, click here.
Call the OASAS helpline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (I-877-846-7369).
Contact UAlbany EAP for a confidential conversation if you have concerns about
heroin or prescription drug abuse. Support and help is available!
[email protected] 518-442-5483
“Got5” is a
new text service
available through
the New York
State Office of
Mental Health.
DEA National Drug Take-Back Day
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is designed to
provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of
prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about
the potential for abuse of medications. To find a local drop-off
site, go to: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
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Electronic Recycling Day
UAlbany’s Office of Sustainability and Facilities Management are
co-sponsoring an Electronic Recycling Day on Wednesday, November 1st.
Personal items will be accepted for FREE. No state-owned equipment will
be accepted. Properly recycling our electronics is an important way to pro-
tect our environment which ultimately affects our personal health and well-being.
For all of the details, go to: https://www.albany.edu/gogreen/files/flyers/erd20183.pdf
The University Health Center has invited a pharmacy to come to campus to provide student, faculty, and staff with flu vaccinations. Most insurance is accepted! For questions, contact the Health Center. (518) 442-5454
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 – 12:00 to 3:00 pm
Downtown Campus at Rudolf Room (Husted 110)
Thursday, October 11, 2018 – 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Health Sciences Campus at George Education Auditorium
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 – 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Uptown Campus at Campus Center The “BEAN” (outside Starbucks)
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Facilities are free to use for faculty and staff. Simply show your UAlbany ID to access. Passes for the group exercise class can be purchased at the Recreational Sales Office (PE Building).
Fall Semester Sales Office Hours Monday- Thursday : 9am-9pm
Friday: 9am-8pm Sat. & Sun. 10am-8pm
UAlbany Campus Recreation Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Spin, and Barre. These are just a few types of group exercise classes available to students, faculty, and staff by Campus Recreation. A group exercise class pass for faculty/staff is only $50 for the fall semester. Such a deal!
Information regarding how to purchase a pass or other services available at Campus Recreation can be found at: https://www.albany.edu/campusrecreation/membership.php
For class descriptions and further information: https://www.albany.edu/campusrecreation/group_exercise.php
Questions can be directed to: [email protected]
Confucius Institute Offering Classes
Tai-chi Class
Friday 12-1, starting from Sept. 14th (12 classes in total)
Campus Center West Studio
Instructor: Rengang Wang, the Grandmaster
Martial Arts Class
Friday 1:30-2:30, starting from Sept. 14th (12 classes in total)
Campus Center West Studio
Instructor: Rengang Wang, the Grandmaster
Instructor: The Grandmaster Rengang Wang is from NY and has exceptional background and achievement in Tai-chi and Martial Arts.
Class fee: $60 (check only)
For all details, go to: https://www.albany.edu/confucius/classes/marts18fall.html
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EAP-sponsored events and services are
open to UAlbany & Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS
employees, retirees and GSEU members.
UAlbany EAP E-News
October/Fall 2018
Publisher/Contributor
Brenda Seckerson
Contributor
Confucius Institute
Cassidy Drasser
Oscar Nunez
Copy Editors
Joanne Bocchino
Kathy Gurney
Merissa Mabee
Clipart/Photos
Frontline Newsletter
Openclipart.org
Publicdomainpictures.net
Brenda Seckerson
EAP website:
http://www.albany.edu/eap
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Disclaimer: Material presented
in this newsletter is intended for
educational or informational
purposes only. It is not intended
to replace the advice of a quali-
fied health professional.
EAP is a joint labor/management program and is part of the NYS Employee Assistance Program. Contact Info: 10B Airline Drive, Albany, NY 12235 ~ 518.486.9769
“Many people spend too
much time trying to be the
captain of someone else’s
boat. Learn to be a lighthouse
and the boats will find their
way.”
~Anonymous Photo: Brenda Seckerson