May 18, 2022

As part of the many activities and initiatives recognizing May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, all Texas Children’s team members will receive a mental health wellness kit delivered directly to their homes. The kit includes multiple items to thank our One Amazing Team and to remind them on the importance of self-care.

“Recognizing that strong mental health and well-being encompasses self-care and a supportive environment, these kits are a small, fun way to celebrate your mental health and care for yourself as you care for others,” said Suzy Harrington, our new assistant vice president of workforce well-being, Human Resources. “Please don’t forget to complete the quick mental health survey so we can assess how to best meet the mental health needs of our One Amazing Team.”

The kit offers information on resources available to team members for care and support. The products are intended to remind us of a few ways to improve our mental health.

  • Eye mask: Getting a good night’s rest is one of the most important things we can do for our mind and body. Click here to read the benefits for catching more zzzz’s.
  • Rescue Butter: Don’t underestimate a good skin-care routine. Using lotions does a lot more than just clearing up dry skin. Click here to learn more.
  • Yes Bar: Don’t skip your healthy snacks. They can boost your energy and your mind. Click here to learn more about your nutrition and mental health benefits.
  • Essential Oils: There are multiple benefits of aromatherapy, including reducing stress and anxiety. Click here to learn more about the oils that will best suit your needs.
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We’d love to hear how you plan to use your wellness items or share your tips and ideas on how to Be Kind to Your Mind during the month of May and beyond. CLICK HERE to post photos, videos, support and advice to your colleagues.

Please click here for more information about the events and initiatives for May Mental Health Awareness Month.

EAP is available to provide psychoeducation and emotional support for anyone in need. If you have questions or need assistance, please call 832-824-3327.

In recognition of National Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting how Member Services Manager Veronica Parsons put this year’s focus ‘Be Kind to Your Mind’ into practice in her own life by partnering with her Cigna Health & Wellness Coach, Ashley Miller. Parsons was able to create lasting changes in her mental as well as physical health with Miller’s help.

Parsons began her journey to better her health by sharing her experiences with multiple surgeries between 2016 and 2019 including a gastric sleeve, hysterectomy, and a partial thyroidectomy, and the effects they had on her body. While recovering from these procedures, she regained over half of the weight she had previously lost, placing her at around 280 pounds in the beginning of 2020.

Parsons was tired and knew she wanted to make changes, but found it difficult to do so on her own – she knew she needed guidance along her journey.

Parsons took her first step by meeting with Miller, then the two began meeting regularly over the phone. Miller partnered with Parsons and guided her on creating a healthy eating plan, lifestyle and fitness routine, and provided education about stress-relieving practices.

“Ashley guided me during each call by finding out where I was and where I wanted to go,” said Parsons. “My primary goal was to discontinue my medication and increase my health – both physically and mentally. One of the very first things we addressed was the severe stress I was experiencing with work, family and personal life. After three sessions, I could really start to see change and improvement with my mental health.”

An initial assessment of Parsons’ stress level indicated she was at 4 on a scale from 0-4, but after working with Miller for one year, her stress level decreased between 0-1. “So much of my mental health is tied into my physical health; I like to think of it as completing an overall health puzzle of myself,” said Parsons. “By working with Ashley on my mental health first, I was able to be very successful with getting my health back on track.”

After Parsons learned important tools for managing her stress, she worked with Miller to establish a consistent workout routine and develop healthy eating strategies. Parsons committed to working out at least three times per week and starting the “One meal a day” (OMAD) diet. Miller also shared her own experiences with the diet as well as helpful books and other resources to help keep Parsons accountable and motivated during their calls.

“When I finish a challenging workout or incorporate a new routine, I have a sense of pride and accomplishment,” said Parsons. “There really is a chemical release of all those feel-good hormones post-workout. I am filled with more energy than I was when I walked into the gym and my mood is better, just ask my family!”

With Miller’s support and guidance, Parsons was able to lose 86 pounds over the course of one year, and remove a lot of the anxiety she faced living as a diabetic with chronic health issues. “Having my yearly blood work is no longer a sense of dread and stress,” said Parsons. “I am excited to have that reminder that I am on the right path for continued physical and mental health.”

Miller also helped Parsons identify financial stress as an area of immediate concern and put her in touch with a Cigna caseworker who helped discover a solution for lowering her husband’s high Medicare premium and the stress that was causing. The caseworker helped Parsons through the process of getting the Medicare premium covered under the National Kidney Fund, lowering the premium from $500 to less than $80 for Parsons and her family.

“I could not have been this successful without Ashley’s guidance, education, and compassion,” shared Parsons. “I knew I needed a village and she became a part of that. I cannot say enough about my satisfaction with this program and specifically, Ashley.”

Thank you to Parsons for sharing her story, and to Miller and all of our Cigna Health & Wellness Coaches for the work they do to better the physical and mental well-being of our team members.

If you are interested in working with a Cigna Health & Wellness Coach, click here to learn more about available programs.

Additional resources for putting your mental health and well-being first

Weekly digital sessions – Take advantage of any of the tools and resources offered in May including Mental Health Fairs and Wellness Wednesday Webinars, or the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Wellness Support Group in June – all located on the Mental Health Awareness website.

EAP Wellness classes – Throughout the year, EAP offers various classes to assist employees with improving overall wellness. Go to HealthStream to learn more about dates and times and register.

Questions? For questions or further assistance, please contact our EAP and Well-Being team at 832-824-3327. You can also visit our EAP website where you can find information on additional confidential programs, virtual care options and resources to support your mental health and well-being.

Have you taken the Mental Health Well-Being survey?

During the month of May, Texas Children’s employees are invited to complete the World Health Organization WHO-5 survey. For those working in remote locations or those who would like to take the survey at any time during May, you can access it here.

May 12, 2022

In honor of Nurse’s Week May 6-12 and Mental Health Awareness Month, we are highlighting the role of the nurse in mental health care. Nurses have always been on the frontlines of caring for patients with behavioral health needs and will continue to be essential as the demand for mental health services increases. We are spotlighting two types of nurses: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.

Behavioral health nursing can be one of the most challenging, but also rewarding career paths for a nurse to choose. Nurses work in a variety of roles and mental health settings and have different certifications. Like other specialties, mental health nurses can obtain certification in their specialty as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse (PMH-BC). The PMH-BC is awarded once a nurse has worked for two or more hears and has completed at least 2000 hours of direct psychiatric patient care.

“Obtaining certification as a PMH-BC along with three of our other psychiatry registered nurses (RNs) is one of the things I am proudest of as a nurse leader,” said Tiffany Bittner, Patient Care Management (PCM) nurse for Psychiatry and Developmental Pediatrics and Autism. “We have a passion for the behavioral health population and are dedicated to serving them with the most up-to-date care processes and information.”

A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a licensed, nationally board certified provider specializing in the care of psychiatric patients. Working alongside the psychiatrist, they often provide some of the same services as medical doctors as part of the holistic team. They are trained to care for patients with mental health issues across the lifespan and in various stages of care and recovery. Nurse practitioners are qualified in assessment, diagnosis, planning and evaluation, and medication management.

One of the unique things about nurses is the wealth of knowledge they bring with them and their desire to share knowledge. PMHNPs are able to assist families through the challenges of navigating the vast, often confusing world of mental health diagnosis, resources and in-depth education.

Do you know excellent psychiatric providers? Texas Children’s is recruiting!

Did you know that Texas Children’s is actively hiring and recruiting for psychiatric advanced practice providers and has already hired its first nurse practitioner dedicated to our behavioral health population? These psychiatric nurse practitioners and other advance practice providers will be seen all over the organization within all campuses and within inpatient and outpatient settings.

“This could not have come at a more appropriate time for our organization,” said Bittner. “With the behavioral health population increasing daily, these nurse practitioners and other physician extenders allow us to increase the number of patients who we are able to provide excellent and thorough care for in their most critical time of need.”

Are you or a family member on Cigna’s medical plan?

Cigna also has a list of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (NPs) available on their provider network. “Psychiatric NPs are helping expand the options for clients in getting immediate care when they need mental health assistance,” said Allison Bell, EAP Manager.

To see the Cigna Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner resources close to you go to: mycigna .com – Fina Care – Behavioral Health Counselor – Local Provider – Psychiatrists and Nurse Practitioners.

Mental Health Well-Being Survey

During the month of May, Texas Children’s employees are invited to complete the World Health Organization WHO-5 survey. For those working in remote locations or those who would like to take the survey at any time during May, you can access the survey here.

May 4, 2022

Mental Health in May is the perfect opportunity to remind us to: Be Kind to Your Mind as part of our overall well-being. When we focus on good mental health, its benefits can ripple into every aspect of our lives.

To support the mental health and well-being of our strong and resilient team, during Mental Health Awareness Month the Texas Children’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Well-Being team has organized a variety of programs and resources to help each of us purposefully commit to our own health and happiness.

Be Kind to Your Mind and put your mental health first by taking advantage of any of the tools and resources to follow and also located on the Mental Health Awareness website.

Well-Being and Mental Health Surveys

Texas Children’s employees are invited to complete the World Health Organization WHO-5 survey. Your participation in this short, five-item survey is voluntary and can:

  • Help you to measure your own personal well-being, an important dimension of being a positive, healthy individual.
  • Help us better understand the current organizational trends facing our Texas Children’s team members.

Click here any time during May to participate in the survey, or look for the QR code, which will be available at various Mental Health Awareness Month campus events throughout the month.

For those working in remote locations or anyone who would like to take the survey at any time during May, you can access the survey here.

Baylor partners and staff members interested in taking a well-being survey, please click here to access the Well-Being Index (WBI).

Any team member interested in taking additional confidential and free mental health surveys offered through Mental Health America, can access them here.

Premiere Mental Health Fairs

The EAP and Well-Being team has invited all of our mental health vendors for our first Mental Health Fair virtually and on-site at several locations. Join us to identify all the mental health resources available to you and your family:

Monday, May 16 – Noon to 12:30 p.m.

  • Medical Center – on The Auxiliary Bridge

Tuesday, May 17 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • West Campus – in front of DOTS Kitchen in the corridor

Wednesday, May 18 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Health Plan – Basement Conference Room

Thursday, May 19 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • The Woodlands – Lobby

Friday, May 20 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On-site massages will be available on a first come, first served basis at all Mental Health Fairs at all locations.

Wellness Wednesday Webinars

Consider setting aside 30 minutes every Wednesday throughout May for a variety of webinars hosted by EAP and Well-Being featuring additional resources to support your mental well-being. Click here to register.

  • Spirituality and Mental Health – Join Chaplain Kirstin Springmeyer for an expressive art writing exercise using various nature path images to help understand and reflect on the world around us.

Wednesday, May 4 – Noon to 12:30 p.m.

  • Laughter Yoga – This single exercise routine reduces physical, mental and emotional stress simultaneously. It combines laughter with yoga breathing to quickly stop cortisol and release happiness hormones into the body, opening the door for functioning in the parasympathetic nervous system. All of this happens within the first three to five minutes of laughter!

Wednesday, May 11 – Noon to 12:30 p.m.

  • EAP+ Resource Overview – Join our EAP+ team as they provide all of the mental health resources available to our One Amazing team.

Wednesday, May 18 – Noon to 12:30 p.m.

  • Cigna Behavioral Health Resource Overview – Learn about all of the Cigna behavioral health resources available and how to find them on the Cigna website.

Wednesday, May 25 – Noon to 12:30 p.m.

Upcoming EAP Wellness Support Group

Coming in June, the Burnout Prevention & Resiliency Support Group might be for you if you feel perpetual exhaustion, like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated. Or, if you are feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands and prefer isolating from others.

Within an interactive, safe, and supportive virtual Teams environment, you can come together with others in your shoes to process your feelings, share similar experiences and learn ways to cope and reduce symptoms of burnout. You are welcome to join any or all sessions.

Wednesdays in June – Noon to 12:30 p.m. Register here

EAP Wellness Classes

Throughout the year, EAP offers various classes to assist employees with improving overall wellness. Go to HealthStream to learn more about dates and times and register.

Questions?

For questions or further assistance, please contact our EAP and Well-Being team at 832-824-3327. You can also visit our EAP website where you can find information on additional confidential programs, virtual care options and resources to support your mental health and well-being.

April 22, 2022

It’s time to get your kids off their screens and on their feet! Registration is now open for the seventh annual Houston Texans Kids Triathlon, presented by Texas Children’s Hospital and coming to Typhoon Texas Waterpark on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24.

Follow this link to sign up for the race. You can even receive a discount on each registration as a Texas Children’s employee!

As the largest kids triathlon in the world, the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon is a sell-out each year with races for children of all ages and skill levels. Each morning will include friendly competition and appearances from the Texans’ special guests, followed by an afternoon of fun with a free waterpark pass for every participating child.

Kids aged 6-10 years old can participate in the Short Course that includes a 125-meter swim, 2-mile bike ride and 1-mile run. Kids aged 11-17 years old can take part in the Long Course, which includes a 225-meter swim, 4-mile bike ride and 2-mile run.

As the official children’s hospital of the Houston Texans, Texas Children’s is partnering with the Texans to build a community of healthy children. Together, our organizations are inspiring kids to be active and healthy while having fun and learning life skills like teamwork and discipline.

To learn more about the Houston Texans Kids Triathlon and our partnership with the team, click here.

February 22, 2022

Adjusting to the ever-changing challenges of COVID-19 has left many of us with feelings of emotional fatigue, distress, sadness, anger and anxiety. If you are feeling overwhelmed or distressed, you are not alone!

“While the topic of self-care for health care workers has grown in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care workers find themselves with barely enough time to breathe, much less breathe deeply,” said Dr. Karin Price, Chief of Psychology. “Investing in your own physical and mental well-being is one of the greatest contributions that caregivers can make for themselves and their patients right now.”

If you are feeling overwhelmed or experiencing emotional distress, the EAP and Well-Being team encourages you to talk through your concerns with your health care provider during your annual physical.

Take advantage of the 12-week community physical with a health coach

In the spirit of keeping you Healthy + Strong, Texas Children’s Employee Medical Clinic is pleased to offer its Community Physical, a comprehensive and personalized 12-week program with one of our Health Coaches to support our employees in moving from “knowing” to “doing” when it comes to achieving your health and wellness goals. You can also participate in the program if you have received you physical with your local health care provider.

“Your emotional well-being is just as important as your physical well-being,” said Dr. Irene Lomeda, Employee Medical Clinic Physician. “Annual wellness exams provide a great opportunity to discuss stress, anxiety, or other mental health concerns with primary care providers who are trained to be the initial listening ear and to offer resources for additional assistance when needed.”

Upcoming webinar offers mental health topic

Come and learn about the practice of mindfulness. Employee Well-Being’s next webinar, Mindfulness at Work, will offer some easy mindfulness tools that can help focus your mind, relax your body and reduce your stress, on Wednesday, Feb 23 from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Click here to register.

Take advantage of our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) anytime

In addition to your annual physical and mental health exam, anytime you feel your emotions are getting in the way of your everyday activities, it may be time to seek professional help for guidance on how to achieve mental health. The EAP and Well-Being team encourages you to take advantage of EAP Plus, which has increased from three to five free sessions for counseling per person, per issue.

You may reach EAP Plus 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 833.EAP.PLUS to connect with a certified counselor, or visit the program online and enter EAPPLUS as the Organization ID.

For Cigna Mental Health Services

Cigna has both a network of in-person and telehealth providers along with several mental health platforms to assist you with your mental health needs. Telehealth options with Cigna are: Ginger, Cigna Behavioral Benefits, MDLive, Talk Space, Meru Health NOCD, MapHealth, Sondermind Brightside, and EQUIP.

  • If using MyCigna.com: Click on “Find Care & Costs” > “doctor by type” > then click on “Behavioral Health Counselor.”
  • If using the MyCigna App: Click on “Find Care” > Below “Talk to a doctor or nurse 24/7” click on “View More Options” > then select “Counseling.”

For more information about physical and mental health, visit our Health & Well-Being page on Connect.

February 16, 2022

NOW is a good time to schedule an annual physical check up with your health care provider. There are several ways to accomplish scheduling your physical:

  • Employee Medical Clinic. The clinic offers a comprehensive Well-Being Physical that incorporates a mental health assessment, body composition and health coaching.
  • Primary Care Provider. Schedule an appointment with your PCP or if you are covered by Cigna, utilize MyCigna to help find one.
  • Telehealth/Virtual Provider. Not enough time to see your physician in person? You may schedule a virtual physical exam by connecting with an MDLIVE virtual provider on MycCigna.com or the MyCigna app.
    • If using MyCigna.com: Click on “Find Care & Costs” > “Doctor by Type” > “Primary Care Physician (PCP)”, then click on the option to Go Virtual.
    • If using the MyCigna App: Click on “Find Care” then look for the “Talk to a doctor or nurse 24/7” option to be connected with a virtual care provider.
  • Community Well-Being Physical. This is a complimentary add onto your basic annual physical exam for employees who work at Texas Children’s Community Locations. Click here for more information.

The Active and Fit Direct program offers free digital classes. Register to access:

  • 200 on-demand workouts across several fitness categories including cardio, strength, cycling, martial arts, and more.
  • Customized options based on your current level: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Active and Fit Direct also offers fee-based and on-site options:

  • Standard Network – Fitness Center Access & Digital Classes – $25 per month plus $25 enrollment fee (waived when choosing a gym in the standard network).
  • Premium Network – Boutique Studios & Digital Classes – New memberships start at $30 per month.

To start working out, visit the Health & Well-Being page on Connect and go to “Learn More” under Active and Fit Direct.

Engage with one of Texas Children’s Health Coaches to help you build healthy habits

The best way to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle is by incorporating healthy habits each day. Small changes add up to you feeling better and more energetic throughout your day, ultimately helping you live a healthier life. Our health coaches encourage you to try making small changes each month, such as eating more fruits and veggies or getting up 10 minutes earlier to do some easy walking around the house.

Some other simple ways to incorporate small healthy changes into your everyday schedule include: drinking water instead of soda, moving during TV commercial breaks instead of sitting still, taking walks throughout the day, cooking healthy meals together as a family and going to bed just 30 minutes earlier.

Contact one of our health coaches to start creating healthy habits today!

Our health coaches can keep you accountable for any well-being goal as well as provide nutritional advice and guidance to keep you Healthy + Strong in 2022!