Tips for Healthcare Professionals
COPING WITH STRESS & COMPASSION FATIGUE
As a healthcare professional, you may face stress on the job under usual conditions due to long shifts, competing responsibilities, and witnessing or hearing about difficult patient experiences. As a responder on the front lines of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, you are likely working longer hours, seeing loved ones less, and working in a more stressful environment. At the same time, you may be coping with the mental health effects that all types of disasters, including public health
emergencies, often have. As such, you may be noticing signs of stress and distress in yourself and your coworkers.
This tip sheet explores stress and compassion fatigue, as well as signs of distress after a disaster. It identifies ways to cope and enhance resilience, along with resources for more information and support.
10 Money-Saving Lessons
Are you overwhelmed with financial stress? Access KOFE webinars instantly for valuable information on money saving lessons. Here you can expand your knowledge of debt management, credit consolidation, student loan repayment, first time home buying, and increase overall financial wellness.
Access webinars and PowerPoint presentations instantly to improve financial literacy skills. Register and instantly access webinars.
GoToWebinar: Student Loans- Part 1
To access slides to presentation: Click Here
GoToWebinar: Student Loans- Part 2
To access slides to presentation: Click Here
Check out more information located under “Financial Counseling”
Mental Health Month 2019
2019 marks the 70th year Mental Health Month has been observed. Educate yourself and others while raising awareness for mental health. Check out Mental Health America’s Mental Health Month Toolkit for more information on work life balance, animal companionship, spirituality, humor and social connection.
For a list of seminars that we provide, please visit the Supervisors page.
National Public Health Week
National Public Health Week 2019 kicks off 4/1/19!
Attend events and join in on conversations about focused on the 2019 theme:“Creating the Healthiest Nation: For Science. For Action. For Health.”
The Wellness Hub at UMB will be hosting events throughout the week designed to engage and inform on key public health issues in your local community, nationally and world wide. Check out events listed here.
During the week, we will celebrate the power of prevention, advocate for healthy and fair policies, share strategies for successful partnerships and champion the role of a strong public health system. For more information
Spring Cleaning for the Mind
Spring is a time for regrowth and renewal. Have you considered spring cleaning for the mind? It’s a great time to declutter negativity, drama and unnecessary stress from our lives. This rejuvenation period allows us to declutter our thoughts and feelings to help boost sense of self, recognize accomplishments, engage in new endeavors and start off the spring season feeling refreshed. What a great gift to give ourselves!
Declutter
Toxic Relationships
Bad Habits
Negative Talk
Negative Thoughts
Release Anger and Resentments
Rejuvenate
Gratitude
Creative Projects
Positive Friendships
Mindfulness
Check out this SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST for tips on how to remove negative mental clutter and create welcoming space for positive changes
Beating the Holiday Blues
Additional tips to to avoid holiday stressors!
Celebrate Heart Health for Women!
February is Heart Healthy Month for Women
https://www.goredforwomen.org/fight-heart-disease-women-go-red-women-official-site/know-your-risk/know-your-numbers/
Can’t Sleep?
If you are having trouble sleeping, please join us to hear an important presentation on December 8, Tuesday at noon.
Emerson M. Wickwire, PhD, ABPP, CBSM, FAASM who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Medicine will be speaking. He is the Director of the Insomnia Program here at the hospital.
The workshop will take place in the Patient Resource Center Assembly room, #S1D03.
For further information, please call Maureen McCarren at 667.214.1560, or email Maureen at mmccarre@som.umaryland.edu
New Year’s Resolution-Better Self-Care
Trouble Sleeping?
More and more research is coming out that the use of electronics near bedtime can interfere with sleep. Light is considered one of the strongest factors affecting the body’s circadian clock, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin is suppose to be highest at night to help induce sleep. However, light can suppress melatonin and thus, disrupt the body’s circadian cycle.
So, if you are having trouble sleeping, monitor your use of anything with a light emitting screen: TV, lap top, cell phone, electronic reading device, etc. The brighter the light and the closer you hold it to your eyes (as we are apt to do with cell phones) the more potentially disruptive the light can be to your whole system.
A poor night’s sleep can affect everything the next day: your mood, your focus, your energy. Do yourself a favor and leave at least 1-2 hours before bedtime free from electronics. Give yourself a few days to see if your melatonin begins to kick back into gear and you have better sleep.
For other self-care tips, please visit the EAP and let a counselor assist you in some new ideas that are customized for YOU. Make 2015 the year you finally achieve this New Year’s Resolution!
Sleep Apps for Your Phone
If you have trouble turning off your brain when you try to go to sleep at night, perhaps an app on your phone could help you. Helpline.com lists a number of different apps for iPhone and Android phones. Some apps have soothing sounds. Others guide you through a short meditation. Another one can track your sleep cycles and adjust your alarm time so you are awakened during a light phase of your sleep, rather than when you are in a deep sleep. Helpline does not endorse any of the apps, but there are ratings on the website for each app. Prices range from free to $4.99. For some people it helps to talk with a counselor, who is an objective person with, perhaps, a different perspective to help you sort out all those thoughts in your head. The EAP offers short term, free counseling to employees and their family members. For more information call 410.328.5860 to set up an appointment, or email us through this website.