EAP is short-term, solution-based, confidential counseling available through the WorkLife & EAP Support program. This service is offered at no cost to you and is available 24/7/365 through Magellan Health. Call 800-888-6332 whenever you need support - no issue is too big or too small.
Working with a licensed therapist can help many common concerns including; stress, anxiety, grief, sadness, depression, marital/family relationship concerns, parenting, alcohol and substance addictions and more. Counseling sessions are solution-focused; the therapist will help you better understand challenges and determine helpful next steps to move forward.
How many sessions are available?
You and your dependents and household members EACH have up to 6 counseling sessions per issue, per concern, per year. For instance, if you call in for support for managing your anxiety, you are covered for up to 6 sessions with a therapist. At another time during the year you may want discuss challenges you are having with your teenage child and you would have up to another 6 sessions for that concern and so on. Each of your dependents or household members would also have up to 6 sessions each year to address a particular concern.
What happens when I call?
Every call is answered by a master's level licensed clinician who listens to your concerns and connects you with the resources to best meet your needs. If you are in crisis, clinicians are available at the time of the first call to address your immediate concerns.
For non-immediate needs, counseling is available in person and virtually:
1. Local Counselors in the Community – These are typically in-person, although most counselors now support appointments via phone/video. Your intake clinician will perform the search to locate a provider that aligns with your scheduling needs. We highly recommend going that route as trying to establish that first appointment via a provided list of therapists can be a time-consuming process.
You can expect your first appointment to take place:
Urgent and Emergent Needs: First appointment with a local provider will be scheduled within 6 hours to 48 hours of your intake call.
Routine Clinical Support: First appointment with a local provider will be scheduled within 10 business days.
2. Virtual Therapists through BetterHelp - Individuals age 18 years and above have access to the BetterHelp nationwide network of tele-health therapists. Access to this network of providers typically occurs within 24 hours of completing the BetterHelp “matching questionnaire”. When you speak with the intake clinician at Magellan, they will email you a unique link that will take you to the questionnaire.
Read the BetterHelp program FAQs.
What if more than 6 sessions are needed?
If you seek to continue your counseling, after the 6 sessions, behavioral health visits are covered through your BH-HNE medical plan- both through the local provider network and through the Teladoc behavioral health network. With the exception of the HSA Medical Plan for behavioral health visits, there is no deductible and no co-pay associated with the use of services---which means there is no cost to you. If you are covered by another health insurance carrier, contact them directly to ask about your behavioral health coverage.
Additionally, it is not a requirement to use the EAP counseling services prior to using the medical plan behavioral health services. Both are options for accessing the care you need. It's your choice. See below for information on the HNE medical plan and the counseling benefit.
GET STARTED
Call Magellan Health at 1-800-888-6332 Calls are answered 24/7/365.
Access Resources Online- Visit Member.MagellanHealthcare.com and create an account.
Teletherapy for Healthcare Workers through Marvin
Key Features:
- Marvin therapists are specialty-trained to work with healthcare workers (clinical and non-clinical)
- Flexible hours, including nights & weekend appointment availability.
- Longer-term counseling (average is 12 sessions) for a wide array of emotional health concerns.
- Billed through any insurance (BH-HNE plan members can access Marvin teletherapy at no cost.)
Upon registering, most employees are matched with a therapist within 4 hours (with a max of 24 hours). Therapy options include individual sessions with a therapist, group therapy sessions, and 1:1 peer meditation exercises. Learn more
Get Started at meetmarvin.com/baystate
Lifestyle coaching to help you grow and achieve your goals. You define the changes you want to make, whether personal or professional. Lifestyle coaches are certified to provide confidential and unbiased support, resources and accountability to help you achieve your goals.
Coaches can assist with a variety of topics including:
- Handling stress
- Mild mood issues
- Mild substance abuse
- Career or work performance
- Relationship concerns
- Not getting enough sleep
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Personal improvement
How does coaching work?
Your coach helps you clarify your goals, identify obstacles that hold you back, and develop action-based solutions to achieve your goals.
- Lifestyle coaching is short-term (6 sessions( and the duration varies by individual
- Meet regularly with the same coach by phone or video
- Coaching sessions last up to 45 minutes in length
- Your coach serves as a guide, support and even cheerleader as you set goals during the first session and make further progress in subsequent sessions
Ready to schedule your first appointment?
Call Magellan Health at 1-800-888-6332. Coaching is unlimited and not a part of the EAP Counseling 6-session limit per issue, per year.
We often think of grief only as it relates to death but we forget that grief is really the natural response to any loss or change. Whether it’s the loss of normal routines, trips, or events that we planned, separation from friends and family or our sense of safety, the emotion that we experience is also a form of grief. These feelings may be more intense for those with memories of past losses or traumas.
Whether you are experiencing the loss of a loved one or the loss of life normalcy in any form, know this:
- It is normal to feel sad and overwhelmed when your life and routine is disrupted.
- It is normal to be worried, lonely or frightened during times of uncertainty.
- It is normal to worry about the safety of your loved ones or yourself.
Things you can do to heal:
- Allow yourself time to grieve- Take time to cry or process your grief through another outlet such as art, music, or journal how you feel.
- Share how you are feeling with others- Many people will be sharing similar feelings of disappointment, isolation, or sadness. You are not in this alone.
- Stay connected to your social circles- Use technology such as video chats to “visit” with loved ones. Plan phone calls to keep in touch with family and friends while isolated
- Keep a routine- Have a schedule 7 days a week. Don’t over schedule but give yourself consistency in your days.
Practice self-care- Take time to do something you love, read a book, make time for exercise, shower daily. Eating and sleeping are also important in self-care.
- Seek out the help from professional experts like your PCP and a therapist.
Personal Loss- Step by Step Guidance When a Loved One Passes
This comprehensive booklet, the Guide to Letting Go of Loss, provides support to you and your family when a loved one passes. The guide includes checklists, tips, to-do's and more.
Grief Counseling
Licensed therapists are available to help you process grief. Many people who receive grief counseling report reduced mental health symptoms like long-term depression. Grief therapy can put you more in touch with your emotions, thoughts, and feelings which will transfer into many other parts in your life. Therapy is available through both the EAP (call 800-888-6332) and through the Baystate HNE Medical Plan.
GriefShare Support Groups
The pain of losing someone can stay with us for a long time. GriefShare was created to offer a friendly, caring group of people to walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You do not have to go through the grieving process alone, GriefShare provides seminars and (virtual) support groups led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life.
There are thousands of GriefShare recovery support group meetings throughout the country. Click here to find a meeting in your local area.
meQuilibrium (meQ) -Stress Management & Resiliency App
The meQ program begins with a clinically validated assessment to learn your meQ personality, sources of stress and top lifts and drags. The assessment helps you uncover your natural thinking and response style to unlock your personal journey to finding peace from within. Using your personalized journeys you can create new habits and ways of thinking through the interactive lessons, guided video experiences, and readings. Learn more
meQ Program Validation Studies:
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Neuroflow - Digital Emotional Well-being App
Take control of your whole health—life, mind and body—through relaxation and mindfulness techniques, strength-building activities, behavior tracking and wellbeing assessments. This program is available to you and your household members at no cost, through the Worklife and EAP Support program. WIth this app, you will complete activities such as breathing exericse, meditation, yoga, and journaling. You can also use the tools to track your mood, sleep patterns, and pain symptoms. Learn more
How to get started
Login to www.magellanascend.com (to register, select Find My Company|Log In> Select the Log In tab> Select Sign Up. Once logged in, select the tile on the homepage labeled Digital Emotional Wellbeing
Self- Guided Practice
- Present Moment Meditation - This 7-minute meditation is recorded by Feline O'Gorman, Baystate Health employee and certified yoga instructor.
- Audio Files - Access a variety of audio-guided practices for meditation, body scan and yoga, through Dropbox. Simply create and account on your mobile device and you can make the experience mobile via the Dropbox app and loading these files to your device.
Offered through BMC Spiritual Services
Chapel Services
Monday-Friday at noon a brief prayer service is held in the Chapel on Wesson 3 at BMC. The nature of the service varies each day, but the intention is always to pray for needs of the patients, families and hospital staff. It is also an opportunity to meet with a Chaplain.
Compassionate Caring
In-the-moment care provides a short period of rest or relief and can support needs around; loss of a patient or challenges with patient care, loss of a co-worker or personal loss and bereavement, prayer and blessing, moral distress, workplace violence, struggle with purpose, staff memorial services, spiritual resources in the community, and more. Chaplains round the BMC nursing units regularly and during this time they are available for this in-the-moment support. They are also available by phone (413-794-2899) or pager (42899) for 24/7, confidential spiritual support for team members across the organization during the pandemic.
Walking the Labyrinth
Discover ways this ancient tool can help you find peace of mind and feel more relaxed. The labyrinth is chaplain-guided every Thursday at noon and self-guided for the remainder the afternoon. For a guided walk, meet at the BMC Chapel, Wesson 3. No registration required.
Through a partnership with LifeCare, Magellan will connect you with worklife specialists that will research support information and service providers in many areas of daily life, saving you time and money. Including childcare, schooling and parenting needs, eldercare, academics, home improvement, travel planning and more.
Under this worklife umbrella of benefits you have access to free consultations and resources with financial coaches for things like; budget planning, debt and credit management, college and retirement planning, taxes, loan and mortgage assistance. In addition to all of this, you have ID Theft services and access to attorneys for Legal Services consultations and resources.
To learn more visit the Daily Life page.
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE FOR TEAMS
When a traumatic event occurs CIR services can help minimize the long-term effects on staff and the organization. A CIR counselor helps staff process and cope with the emotional and physical impacts of a traumatic event by fostering their natural resilience, coping skills and strategies. A broad range of services are available, and they are deployed according to your department’s individual circumstance and department needs.
Services include Psychological First Aid (PFA), Management Consultations, group and individual support to affected staff members and telephonic crisis support. Services are confidential and provide staff members with the resources and support they need to manage potential stress and return to their regular lives. To access this service, contact Magellan Health at 1-800-888-6332 and Magellan will coordinate with Baystate’s Sr. EAP Consultant who will outreach to you to bring this service to your department. Management can also opt to a counselor in the community to perform this service.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT RESPONSE FOR TEAMS
This is a form of CIR for intact work teams that will provide opportunities to learn coping skills as well as discuss challenges that are impacting team function. An overview of resources can be provided, along with skills for relaxation, meditation, coping, and team-based emotional support will be used. The Sr. Consultant will work with the Manager/HRBP to develop an agenda that will work best for the team.
Requests for this level of support would come through the manager/leader of the department, or in partnership with the HRBP. All teams are eligible for this service, whether frontline staff or non-clinical. The service would be delivered to the department via in person or virtual group meeting format. Managers/HRBPs should reference that they are interested in emotional support for their team when contacting Annabel Hallgren, Sr. Consultant Employee Assistance Program (413) 209-7468 or Annabel.Hallgren@baystatehealth.org
COMPASSIONATE CARING
In-the-moment care provides a short period of rest or relief and can support needs around; loss of a patient or challenges with patient care, loss of a co-worker or personal loss and bereavement, prayer and blessing, moral distress, workplace violence, struggle with purpose, staff memorial services, spiritual resources in the community, and more. Chaplains round the BMC nursing units regularly and during this time they are available for this in-the-moment support. They are also available by phone 24/7 to provide confidential support all other team members across the organization during the pandemic at 413-794-2899 or pager 42899.
Have you noticed that you’ve been drinking more alcohol lately, or turning to substances to feel better, alleviate stress, or cope with difficult change? A new job, a death in the family, relationship changes, and increased demands at work—all are situations that can result in psychological and physical symptoms collectively known as “stress.”
One way that people may choose to cope with stress is by turning to alcohol or increasing their substance use. Drinking/using substances may provide positive feelings and relaxation in the moment, but can quickly become problems with steady, increased use. When stress is ongoing and people continue to try and deal with its effects by drinking alcohol/misusing substances, instead of “calming your nerves,” long-term, heavy substance use can actually work against you, leading to a host of medical and psychological problems and increasing the risk for alcohol/substance dependence.
Many people use alcohol without becoming dependent on it. It is not uncommon to have a glass of wine with dinner or a couple of drinks on the weekend with friends. Persons who have an occasional drink are not dependent. However, many people are not able to stop at just one drink. Instead, they become more and more preoccupied with having a drink. As a result, their lives begin to suffer. They may begin to have problems at work, get into arguments with friends and family, or experience physical problems. Even after experiencing such problems, the person continues to use alcohol. This can cause even more problems, which can result in the loss of their jobs, families, friends, and health.
What are the signs of alcohol and drug dependence?
Family and friends can help identify alcohol and drug dependence in others. The following list provides some common warning signs of alcohol and drug dependence:
• Problems at work including absenteeism, tardiness, and poor work performance.
• An increase in the amount and frequency the alcohol and drug is used.
• Annoyance when others comment on their alcohol and drug use.
• Ignoring responsibilities such as caring for children/pets, and not paying household bills.
• Poor physical appearance or hygiene.
• Forgetting things and misplacing items.
• Legal problems related to alcohol and drug use, such as driving while intoxicated.
• Inability to sleep or being sleepy all the time.
In addition, children and teenagers who become dependent on drugs or alcohol may show other signs such as:
• A change in friends or hanging out with a new group.
• Spending a great deal of time alone.
• School problems.
• Long, unexplained periods away from home.
• Getting in trouble with the law.
• Increased arguments with parents and siblings.
What are the types of treatment for drug and alcohol dependence?
• Start with your primary care physician, therapist, or psychiatrist to explain your use, symptoms, and needs
• A detoxification admission might be needed based on your daily usage
• Intensive Outpatient Programs allow you to attend group based treatment during the weekdays and go home at night
• Outpatient Substance Abuse treatment would pair you with a local therapist who specializes in substance use disorders
• Medication Assisted Therapy would provide medications to help with cravings, pain, and decrease or stop use
• Dual Diagnosis Programs help those who are worried about both a mental health concern as well as a substance use disorder
• Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings can help sustain recovery with social support and a 12 step program
If you’d like to address your increased substance use/drinking, or are concerned about your overall use, there is support for you:
How Can I Get Help?
EAP Confidential Counseling
Your Worklife and EAP Support programs provides you with no-cost access to licensed therapists in the local community to discuss your alcohol/substance use, symptoms and needs with you. When you call the Worklife and EAP Support program, your call is answered by a Magellan Health master's level licensed clinician who listens to your concerns and connects you with the resources to best meet your needs. If you are in crisis, clinicians are available at the time of the first call to address your immediate concerns. Your intake clinician will offer to schedule your first appointment for you, otherwise they will provide you will a list of available providers that you can choose to contact. For more information about this benefit, go to the EAP Confidential Counseling section above. To speak confidentially with a therapist now call 800-888-6332 (available 24/7).
HNE Health Plan Member Resources
If you are a BH-HNE medical plan member, you can contact Health New England and speak with a case manager about available Substance Abuse Programs & Resources. Your case manager with review approaches to care and resource navigation. Call: 413-787-4004 or 800-310-2835 or TTY: 711
Self-Assessment Tools
National Resources
Webinars on Mental Well-being
Visit the Webinar page for live and recorded educational webinars.
National Resources