On Mark Wallace’s blog, he invites Dr. Kirti Saxena, Chief of Psychiatry, and Dr. Karin Price, Chief of Psychology, to discuss Mental Health Awareness Month and the importance of taking care of our mental health and well-being. Read more
Grief and loss are two unfortunate inevitabilities of life. In an organization of thousands of employees, it is easy to think no one will understand our feelings and experiences, often leading to further isolation. The truth is, many of us are walking the same path and want nothing more than to connect.
While rounding during the holiday season, Workforce Chaplain Tuba Alpat saw this need firsthand and decided to put together a support group for employees experiencing grief and loss. In just one week, all available spots were filled. The people who signed up were dealing with situations ranging from divorce, to the loss of a child, to the death of a parent, but they were unified in their need for a safe space to process and speak without judgement.
Tabatha Gabriel, a Medical Staff Coordinator, had lost her mother 18 years before but realized after all this time, she needed to grieve the things she was not able to experience with her and the milestones they would not share together. “When someone leaves a mark on your life like that, how could they be replaced? How could you find a band aid for that?” she said. The grief support group helped her talk about her experience freely and to realize that grief is not just death, grief is losing, period. Tabatha says the group created a pathway for people to be comfortable with themselves and “speak to the questionable areas of their lives they thought were healed.” More than anything, she was grateful to know she was not alone.
Having lost her father over the Christmas holiday, Ambulatory Staff Nurse, Laura Johnson’s wounds were far from healed. However, she described a similar sense of surprising camaraderie. “Listening to people who were basically going through the exact same thing was comforting and helped me realize even though we are all super different, we are all the same when it comes to certain things in our lives,” Laura explained. The grief support group was there to help her work through the sadness, anger and feelings of abandonment, showing her there is no shame in how you feel about anything. She described how the group helped her not to bottle her emotions. When something triggers a wave of sadness, she lets it come and then lets it pass.
Sensitive subjects like grief and loss can be difficult to talk about, but they don’t need to be. “We know everyone grieves differently and that grief is a natural way of living your emotions. However, sometimes grief can feel too heavy and make you feel stuck,” explained Tuba. The grief support group filled a need for these team members, and it is just one of many resources available if you or someone you know is struggling. Call EAP or reach out to a Workforce Spiritual Chaplain at 832-824-3327 if you need support. You can also call EAP Plus for assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 833-327-7587. For Baylor employees, call 800-622-7276. Please find additional resources on the Spiritual Well-Being SharePoint page.
Additionally, May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Workforce Well-Being team has many resources, events and activities available to nurture your mental well-being. Click here for the full schedule and list of resources.
“Take yourself seriously, take your mental health seriously,” advises Laura. “Listen to that inner voice and take the time. You are not alone.”
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Our new annual survey measures five areas of your well-being – Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment. Take the survey today. Read More
As a reminder, the deadline to be compliant with the flu vaccination requirement is Thursday, November 17 to maintain employment at Texas Children’s. This deadline also applies to all volunteers, contractors and Baylor team members.
Baylor team members must complete the attestation process by November 17 if they received the vaccine outside of Baylor, including at a Texas Children’s flu event. The attestation process will be completed through the BCM Flu Vaccine app.
Please note, if a Baylor team member cannot access the app from their Texas Children’s location they can send their vaccine record to vaccinecompliance@bcm.edu and the attestation information will be entered on their behalf.
Every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion. On Wednesday, November 2, everyone on our One Amazing Team will have an opportunity to be a hero by helping to support the need for blood in health care operations across our community. Wednesday’s Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (GCRBC) drive will be in the Feigin Tower, first-floor conference center. Donors should make an appointment by registering here. Walk-ins are accepted based on availability in the schedule, although appointments are preferred.
Each day the Blood Center must collect 1,000 units to meet the needs of patients in 170 hospitals in their service area. As one of the Blood Center’s largest hospital clients, our team’s Commit for Life donations will make a difference for our patient’s lives. As a “thank you” for helping to save lives, donors will receive a Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center themed blanket (while supplies last).
Based on CDC guidance, the Blood Center has several safety measures in place to protect donors from COVID, including increased sanitization and placing donor beds six feet apart to maintain social distancing.
For questions or assistance, contact Christina Gligorova with GCRBC at 832-602-9350.
Finding the right words just got easier. Language matters in compassionate care, especially in behavioral health care, and can be an important factor in helping someone seek care. Read more