Search Intranet

We are currently experiencing intermittent issues with form submissions. Please email TheHub@uchc.edu for assistance. If you need to report a safety concern, email safetyfirst@uchc.edu. We are actively working with our vendor to address these issues. Thank you for your patience.

Work-Life

See topics forHuman Resources

Work-Life at UConn Health embodies the practice of creating a supportive environment to foster the overall well-being of our employees. Dedicated to serving the needs of the UConn community, especially during this unprecedented time worldwide, UConn Health will continue to maintain our work-life page as a resource for our health professionals battling this pandemic on the frontlines and for all our workforce. We know that the coming months will be difficult, and will continue to challenge us like never before. We hope these resources will help you remain resilient, prepared, and supported. Thank you for your dedicated service in making UConn Health a world-class academic health center.

Wellness Resources

Self-Care

UConn Health Emotional Wellness Support Services

Seek Emotional Support When Needed

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential assessment, brief counseling, and referral service available to all employees and their family members. EAP offers confidential assessments, grief counseling, and referrals to all employees and their family members. It also provides virtual mental health training. To schedule an appointment, email or call  860-679-2877. Requests for appointments are responded to within the hour. For urgent situations after business hours, call 860-679-2877 and follow the instructions to be connected to the on-call EAP counselor.

For frontline employees, free, confidential on-demand counseling support is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Debrief and Re-Set: Become More Centered While Handling the Stress

Don’t take ownership of this pandemic. Stress debriefing is available on a private, individual basis, or for work teams on a private, group basis. You can also choose to debrief in a private space of your choice by contacting the EAP (uchc_eap@uchc.edu) or Dr. Julian Ford in Psychiatry.

Taking Care of Our Own

To all UConn Health employees, the Mood and Anxiety Clinic and Department of Psychiatry are deeply grateful for your tireless efforts on the front-lines of caring for patients affected by this pandemic. Your efforts are keeping us and the communities around us safe by curtailing the spread of the virus and providing the best and most compassionate care for every patient. We understand that all of this comes with a significant physical and emotional toll on you and your loved ones. Many of you work long hours, are also caring for and protecting your loved ones, and grieving the losses that affect all of us so deeply. Your dedication is heroic, and it comes at a price. We know that all of you are concerned about the safety of your family members, friends as and co-workers. Many of you may have experienced stigma for being on the front lines, and felt traumatized as you witness terrible pain and suffering. You have to carry on even when you feel exhausted physically and emotionally, and that is the heavy toll of stress and compassion fatigue that is unavoidable for first responders. At this time, it’s often difficult to think about taking care of yourself, and there’s little time to do so – but finding ways to manage the stress and recharge yourself emotionally as well as physically is every front-line worker’s right and responsibility.

We, providers in the Mood and Anxiety Clinic, want to do our part to support you during these difficult times. Our clinicians can provide short-term psychological (and if necessary pharmacological) care to help you be highly effective in managing unavoidable stress and to address any emotional difficulties you are dealing with, personally and professionally. Comprehensive evaluation and treatment appointments will be scheduled with our providers (psychologists and psychiatrists) within 24-48 hours. We are closely coordinating these efforts with EAP and HR.

To set up an appointment, you can call EAP at 860-679-2877 or the Mood and Anxiety Clinic at 860-679-5414 with a self-referral. All care is confidential.

Take a Pause With Midday Meditation

Thank you to all who have incorporated our live, midday meditations into your day. As we adapt our lives and practices to this disease, it is more important than ever to take time for reprieve and self-care. To aid you in your self-care practices, we share with you recordings of our some of our sessions so you can continue meeting your mindfulness needs. If you are new to this practice, we welcome you. These evidence-based practices of mindful breathing, body and sensory awareness, relaxation, and self-compassion help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, calm the body and the mind, regulate emotions, and increase resilience in these times of vulnerability.

For more information, contact Dr. Jessica Meyer, Department of Psychiatry.

It’s OK Not to Be OK

There are universal values that everyone should embrace — treating one another with respect and kindness while working hard to understand each other's unique experiences. Please safely engage with your colleagues, friends, family, and other supports during this difficult time. Ask them how they are doing today. Give each other grace as we navigate unforeseen circumstances. Have empathy for those who are scared and uncertain.

Also, know that our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a safe place to seek free, confidential support for you and your family members. Acts of violence and the subsequent events we are witnessing in the media have an emotional impact on all of us. EAP provides emotional support and information and crisis resources. If you are concerned bout an employee or colleague, offer EAP as a resource.

Contact EAP at 860-679-2877 or uchc_eap@uchc.edu.

Additional Resources

Frontline Self-Care

Resilience

Healthy Habits

  • Read an excerpt from Atomic Habits on how to build new habits but stacking on old ones.
  • Learn from Nobl How to Keep Your Cool When Work Gets Heated- self-management techniques to regulate your responses.

Connection

Recognition

Recognition you can give and receive.

Deepening Connection 

Self

Children and Family

  • How to Cope With Your HERO, the essential Worker activity book for families to use in recognizing heroic qualities and teach them coping strategies to deal with COVID-19.
  • #WeThriveInside the Child Mind Institute has launched this special campaign - mostly for families and children - but accessible for everyone featuring coping techniques.

Managing Stress

UConn Health Articles and Podcasts

Breathing Techniques

Mindfulness

  • Watch Gayle Van Gils, author of Happier at Work, as she explains mindfulness, gives a short meditation instruction, and talks about Mindfulness practices you can bring with you to work.
  • Listen to the Labyrinth Podcast, mindfulness teachings, talks, and discussions as well as helpful meditations offered by the Copper Beech Institute.

Meditation

Employee Resources

Coronavirus Information

Professional Development

Other Resources

Workplace Violence Prevention

Prevention and Resources

Employee Wellness

Physical

Emotional

  • Employee Assistance Program available to help you manage life-stressors of all kinds. They can help you stay focused at work, keep productivity and performance high, and genuinely improve your well-being in the process.
  • Community UConn Health is committed to providing a place for individuals to share common concerns, emotional support, as well as to exchange information.
  • Spiritual and Emotional Support provided by Chaplaincy Program by calling the operator.
  • LiveLOUD - Life With Opioid Use Disorder Campaign offers support, encourages treatment and education on treatment options, for those who are actively use heroin or misuse prescription opioids, their families and communities.
  • Also take a look at our Self-Care, Connection and Managing Stress Resources.

Nutritional

  • Nutrition Resources can help to ensure you are getting the right balance of nutrients, increase your energy, and handle stress better.
  • The Fogg Method, offers a 3-step process for behavior change because there's no magic diet, it's about behavior.

Family Care

Childcare

Education at Home

Support at Work

Eldercare

Pet Care