Discover Resources During Mental Health Awareness Month
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May, 26, 2021) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and provide education about mental health struggles, as well as strategies for attaining mental health and wellness.
Many University of Kentucky faculty and staff members have recently experienced feelings of change and uncertainty. During stressful times, it is important to find time to prioritize mental health. UK Human Resources' Work+Life Connections therapists are available to help.
Mental health counseling for the entire family is available through Work+Life Connections. Five free counseling sessions with a certified or licensed therapist are currently available via Zoom. Therapists can help with many important mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, isolation, grief, sleep difficulty, trauma, parenting, identity concerns, family or relationship issues, and challenges at work. Appointments can be requested online for your child, partner or yourself on the Work+Life Connections page.
In addition to meeting with a therapist to improve their mental health, UK employees can also attend virtual self-care or well-being events. Upcoming events focus on mindful self-compassion, community connection, support for working parents and elder care support. A full calendar of upcoming events can be viewed here.
UK HR Health & Wellness has certified health coaches who offer consultations to help you improve both physically and emotionally. The health coaches aim to meet you where you are, help you thrive and feel less overwhelmed.
UK employees can also consult with mental health professionals through LiveHealth Online, for a $0 co-pay.
Another mental health resource is the Team Blue Primary Care Clinic, at Kentucky Clinic South, where employees with a UK health insurance plan can make behavioral health appointments with a psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner. Additionally, UK HealthCare is still offering appointments with $0 co-pay through UK TeleCare, which offers convenient virtual consultation with a wide variety of professionals who can help improve your mental and physical well-being.
Supervisors can find suggestions for how to support mental health and respond to concerns by visiting the HR blog.
Mental health resources for undergraduate and graduate students are offered through the UK Counseling Center, which offers a variety of programs and services for students who wish to improve their mental health.
Remember that you are not alone, and you can always reach out when you need guidance. For more information about mental health services and events for UK employees, please contact worklife@uky.edu. For more information for students, please call the UK Counseling Center at 859-257-8701.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.