Moving healthcare forward as a community depends on the health and wellness of each individual member. As an institute dedicated to the health professions, we make it a priority to provide top mental and physical health resources for the benefit of our students, faculty, and staff.
Mental health is a priority not only for patients, but for practictioners as well. The IHP provides mental health and mental illness services for the well-being of our entire community.
Has this happened to you? A fellow student is having trouble in school. Taking lots of unexplained breaks, being absent without a good reason, looking worried or listless. You want to help but you really aren't sure how. You’re afraid to ask. And then the student leaves for good – and you wish there was something you could have done.
Or are you that student? Having difficulty with emotional issues, feel you're letting others down, but are afraid to ask for help or share your problems with someone, hoping no one notices.
One out of four college students has been diagnosed or treated by a professional for a mental health condition. That statistic doesn’t count students who are responsible for a loved one or family member with a mental illness.
Most people who do seek help are able to improve their quality of life and continue working productively, but that takes support! The people who need help too often fear the consequences of disclosure. Science has shown that mental illness, like heart disease or diabetes, is a treatable health condition. Still, the stigma surrounding mental illness often prevents people from seeking the help they need.
That’s where you come in. You can play a vital role in shaping attitudes and creating a stigma-free learning environment here at the Institute. You can promote acceptance just by the way you treat a classmate, including a fellow student in your learning team, and get involved in initiatives that promote positive health and well-being. If you are someone who is struggling yourself, then you know how important these things are.
Here are 5 things we all can do to promote mental health:
If you suspect a classmate is struggling with mental illness, it’s not helpful to pressure them to “just to get over it,” or assume their problem will just go away.
There are many ways to support a fellow student who is living with mental illness or caring for a family member with mental illness. Listening is more important than anything else – listening without making judgments – and encouraging the person to seek help. Being open to learning more about mental illness and encouraging open dialogue in all aspects of campus life can help reduce the stigma that is often attached to mental illness.
*Information by HeadsUp.org/au & Stamp Out Stigma
Faculty and staff are in many ways first responders to mental illness in the campus community. Depending on your training and experience, and your knowledge of mental health and illness, you can make all the difference between early and constructive intervention, leading to recovery and uninterrupted productivity, or a downhill slide.
A sympathetic campus community that reaches out is vital to the recovery of someone facing mental illness. You may be the first point of contact for a student or colleague with mental illness, with an opportunity to provide support and connect the person with needed resources. It takes work to know how to do it right.
Roadblocks to recovery include:
Providing education to all employees about mental health and illness can help raise awareness and encourage individuals to seek help. Because each person’s circumstances are different, a plan to help someone with a mental illness, or someone who is dealing with a loved one with a mental illness, will need to be tailored for the individual. A good question to ask yourself is: “What would we do if it were a physical illness?”
Here are some tools to help:
Ask if there is anything you can do to provide support. The student or colleague may not wish to take up your offer, but it is important to make clear that support is available. Specific support might include referral to resources at work, such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the Office of Student and Alumni Services, and the Academic Support Counselors.
Fear of stigma – real or perceived – can affect a person’s confidence. Speak openly about mental health and mental illness and encourage others to do the same.
If a student or colleague takes time off for recovery, keeping in touch can make the return to work or school easier for everyone involved. Maintaining a connection can help the person feel valued and cared for. However, it is important not to make the person feel pressured to return before being ready. If the person prefers not to be contacted, faculty and staff should respect the person’s wishes.
The details of a student or colleague’s condition and treatment must remain confidential unless the person gives permission to share with selected others.
Faculty and staff may need to make changes to an individual’s course load/workload or schedule. Implementing these adjustments should be a joint effort among the student and course faculty and Student Accessibility Resources, or the employee and the supervisor and Human Resources. Reasonable accommodations might include:
The benefits of a stigma-free campus community are many. They include higher student and employee retention, minimizing or avoiding longer time to degree completion, avoiding costs associated with retraining or hiring new employees, and building an Institute culture that demonstrates a commitment to a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone.
While the topic of mental health can be a sensitive one, faculty and staff can make a world of difference by being supportive, by listening, and by being catalysts for eliminating the stigma associated with mental illness.
Managers and supervisors are in many ways first responders to mental illness in the workplace. Depending on your training and experience, and your knowledge of mental health and illness, you can make all the difference between early and constructive intervention, leading to recovery and uninterrupted productivity, or a downhill slide.
A sympathetic workplace that reaches out is vital to the recovery of someone facing mental illness. Research has proven that in your position as manager or supervisor, you are going to be the key resource and role model. It takes work to know how to do it right. It very seldom comes naturally, and it’s certainly not something that gets taught in school.
In the workplace, roadblocks to recovery include:
Providing education to all employees about mental health and illness can help raise awareness and encourage individuals to seek help. Because each person’s circumstances are different, a plan to help someone with a mental illness, or someone who is dealing with a loved one with a mental illness, will need to be tailored for the individual. A good question to ask yourself is: “What would we do if it were a physical illness?”
Here are some tools to help support an employee:
Ask if there is anything you can do to provide support. The person may not wish to take up your offer, but it is important to make clear support is available. Specific support might include referral to resources at work, such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and/or Human Resources to discuss leave of absence benefits.
An employee experiencing mental illness or caring for a family member with mental illness, may need to take a leave of absence and/or accommodation which may include a temporary adjustment to their schedule or assignment to accommodate their needs for care. It is important for a manager, the employee, and Human Resources to participate in an interactive dialogue around what options may be available for the employee to remain at or return to work. An employee may not want to discuss their mental health issues or a family member's mental health issues with their manager. Employees are not required to do so, and managers should respect this. Employees can come directly to HR and work with the Leave of Absence Office.
Fear of stigma – actual or perceived – can affect a person’s confidence. Speak openly about mental health conditions in the workplace and encourage others to do the same.
If an employee takes a leave of absence for their own mental illness or to help a family member, maintaining a connection can help employees feel valued. However, it is important not to contact the employee about work matters or make the employee feel pressured to return to work before being ready. If the employee prefers not to be contacted, a manager should respect the employee’s wishes.
The details of an employee’s condition and treatment must remain confidential unless the person gives permission to share with selected others.
Managers and supervisors may need to make changes to an individual’s workload or schedule to accommodate their situation. Implementing these adjustments should be a joint effort among the employee, the manager, and Human Resources, and should be documented. Reasonable adjustments might include:
The benefits of a stigma-free workplace for organizations are many. They include retaining worker skills and experience, avoiding costs associated with retraining or hiring new employees, and building a workplace culture that demonstrates a dedication to and welcoming work environment for all employees.
While the topic of mental health can be a sensitive one, the employer and manager can make a world of difference by being supportive and listening, and in doing so, be catalysts for eliminating stigma.
*information adapted from HeadsUp.org/au
The Mass General Brigham Student/Employee Assistance Program (SAP/EAP) offers consultations, short-term counseling (up to six visits), information, and referrals for full and part-time MGH Institute students and staff.
The Student Assistance Program is housed in the Office of Student Affairs and Services. Students can be seen in any of the Mass General Brigham SAP/EAP’s nine offices or speak with a counselor over the phone. For more information on how the SAP can help, or to schedule an appointment, call (866) 724-4327.
Looking for some great ways to stay healthy? This page offers resources for virtual and livestream fitness classes and apps. Also follow us on Instagram for daily health and wellness posts.
Studio-Poise - studio on the North Shore offers virtual real-time classes on Facebook.
Tone it Up - A community of strong women who support and motivate you to lead your healthiest, happiest lives. Daily workouts, an app and nutrition. Live Insta workouts.
Orangetheory - science-backed, technology-tracked, coach-inspired group workout designed to produce results from the inside out. At home workouts.
Barry's - Instagram videos of all lengths.
Fhitting Room - virtual HIIT and Strength workout experience with LIVE two-way communication.
Rumble Boxing - Combines the sweet science of boxing with the transformative power of strength training.
P.volve - Through each step in the program, you’ll complete workouts that activate and engage the body the right way using equipment and movements that tone and elongate the glutes, thighs, arms, and abs.14-day free trial.
305Fitness - Dance as DJs make one-of-a-kind theme mixes. Free at-home classes on YouTube.
Obe - Unlimited access to daily live and 4,000+ on-demand classes for less than the cost of one studio fitness class.
Bandier - At-home workouts streamed live everyday at 4pm ET / 1pm PT. Activated style for elevated well-being.
Dance Body - Dancers-turned-instructors moving your body in new ways, leaving no muscle untouched. Get a workout from anywhere with the online platform, DanceBody LIVE. Free 7-day trial. $35/month.
Physique57 - Over 100 video classes of our premium programming featuring fun, high-energy workouts with exciting new additions every week. Free 7-day trial.
Core Power Yoga - Free videos and a subscription service. See their YouTube channel for a list of free videos.
Lululemon Studio Page - Sweat sessions and mindfulness
Sky Ting - Yoga television on demand - some you can try for free, or subscribe.
Y7 Studio - Normally an in-person studio, offering a 7-day free trial. Some flows posted for free on their Insta.
MGB EAP - Students, faculty, and staff can access our employee assistance provider's on-going series of yoga and meditation webinars on their "Success with Stress" page.
Don Saladino - In 2005, he opened his NYC Gym, Drive 495. He has trained Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Liev Schreiber, Sebastian Stan, Morgan Hoffman, Hugh Jackman, & David Harbour at Drive 495. Heoffers an app which is $1/month or you can see some workouts on Insta.
Anna Victoria - Instagram workouts and offers her subscription-based FitBody App which incorporates nutrition and fitness.
Kira Stokes - A subscription fitness app which has a 7-day free trial.
Centr - Chris Hemsworth's team of world-class experts in fitness, nutrition and wellness is now your team. 7-day free trial and then monthly subscription.
Melissa Wood - Long and lean methodology. Workouts and meditation. 7-day free trial.
Hot Pilates - West Hollywood and LA fitness studio comes to you. On Instagram Live. See free workouts on Shannon Nadj's YouTube channel.
Peloton - 30 days free on their app. Thousands of classes with 10+ workout types streaming on-demand.
Planet Fitness - They have an app and a YouTube channel.
YMCA - A mix of exercise videos.
24-Hour Fitness - Offers an app with workouts.
Crunch Fitness - Offering an app.
LifeTime Gyms - Offers free fitness videos on their site.
150 Second Ave, Charlestown Navy Yard -- Across the pedestrian walk from Building 39. Visit the YMCA website to learn more about current rates, hours of operation, and discount information.
250 First Avenue, Charlestown Navy Yard, in the Harborview Residences. Complete the membership form. Once completed, you will receive confirmation and additional instructions from Harborview Health Club. Walk-ins not permitted. Contact Luella Benn (lbenn [at] mghihp.edu) for questions about registration or Jay Harihar (jharihar [at] harborviewhealthclub.com), general manager with questions specific to facilities, schedule or Harborview Health Club policies.
10 Whittier Place, Boston -- Near Massachusetts General Hospital and the Science Museum Green Line stop. Learn more about current rates, hours of operation, and discount information.
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