Wellness Resources
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine recognize the extraordinary pressure colleagues are feeling as they continue to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, stressful or traumatic life events and the anxiety of a 24-hour news cycle.
Changes in workflow and responsibilities while dealing with personal wellbeing and family needs compounds this stress. Many are experiencing anxiety, fear, exhaustion, sadness, insomnia or are just feeling "off." Nebraska Medicine/UNMC is committed to taking care of its colleagues during this challenging time. The pandemic planning process includes behavioral health resource considerations not just for patients and family members, but also staff, faculty and students.
For more information on programs, talks and activities, visit the UNMC Wellness page.
Stress Management
For workgroups/teams who would like to learn wellness and stress management tips, managers can request a 45-minute interactive workshop with one of the medical center's behavioral health response team members.
Watch the Wellbeing Symposium on "Handling Stress in Uncertain Times."
Peer Support
For colleagues who'd like 1:1 peer support, Nebraska Medicine's confidential PINS (Peers in Need of Support) program is available. All colleagues will be matched with one of our behavioral health responders, made up of Nebraska Medicine and UNMC psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, staff chaplains and other trained staff. This is not formal evaluation or treatment, but a supportive peer to listen, offer suggestions, share resources and make referrals when needed. Physicians seeking support will be matched with a trained physician from another department. Requests for wellness workshops (by managers) and 1:1 support (by colleagues themselves) should be made via email to pins@nebraskamed.com. Requests will be handled confidentially and are separate from HR, One Chart or other record-keeping systems. Please note: requests for 1:1 support should only be made by colleagues themselves, and not by their peers or supervisors.
Counseling
Free counseling and support services also are available through the UNMC Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers counseling resources through Arbor Family Counseling.
Sanvello Health, Inc., a leading provider of digital and telemental health solutions to individuals, businesses and payers, recently announced free premium access to its digital care delivery platform. This offer makes Sanvello’s clinically validated techniques, coping tools and peer support free to anyone impacted by COVID-19.
Virtual Yoga and Meditation Sessions
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) in a partnership with Lotus House of Yoga are offering free online virtual yoga and meditation sessions. Starting on Monday, March 30, 2020, BHECN will post an online session per day on the BHECN Serenity Project webpage and on BHECN's social media accounts.
Outdoor Activities
At a time when we are all indoors practicing social distancing, it's nice to know there are outdoor activities we can still enjoy.
House Officers
UNMC's House Officer Assistance Program (HOAP) offers confidential services for house officers struggling with stress, burnout or other wellness challenges. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no fees, no insurance filing and no electronic health records. House officers can call or text Susan Smith at 402-689-1033 to set up a confidential appointment or to visit on the phone. Smith also is available to go into departments to meet with resident groups to offer educational information on managing stress during difficult times, recognizing a colleague in need and other issues. Program directors and program coordinators can contact Smith directly to set up a time to meet with residents.
Students
The UNMC Counseling and Student Development Center offers comprehensive counseling services available to all UNMC students and residents. This includes academic performance enhancement, communication and behavioral consultations, and a wide range of personal/psychological counseling services. All of these programs are confidential and free-of-charge. Medical referrals are also available.
Counseling services are provided free-of-charge to currently enrolled UNMC students and residents. Appointments may be made by calling 402-559-7276. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Late afternoon appointments (5-6 p.m.) are available with advanced arrangement.