News - Work/Life Connections

For some of us, the reprieve of cooler weather is a welcome change from the summer heat. But for others, there may be a sense of dread. Work/Life Connections-EAP counselor Natalie Dodd, LCSW, shares some ways to combat seasonal depression.

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month was created to educate the public on how to identify those struggling, how to talk about suicide, and provide community resources. Vanderbilt Work/Life Connections-EAP provides steps you can take if you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide.

​The last few years has taken a toll on all of us. We experienced feelings of loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, and grief from lives lost. Unfortunately for too many, these emotions lead to thoughts of suicide. To help individuals receive help faster the National Suicide Lifeline launched a new 3-digit crisis line number.

​We've all been weathering the impact of a two-year pandemic that continues to affect our lives and requires constant adaptations. Childcare, eldercare, social connections, travel, conferences, and our general way of life has changed. Even the most resilient individuals working in healthcare and education are struggling with some level of burnout. The intensity of caring for patients during a pandemic, the demands often exceeding the staffing resources, constant changes, the unexpected deaths related to COVID, and level of emotional exhaustion is real.

Just when we began to take a breath from the Delta surge, the Omicron variant permeates the news. While some seem to go on about their lives without significant worry, others find themselves with renewed anxieties about infections. Jim Kendall, LCSW, Manager of Vanderbilt Work/Life Connections-EAP gives some advice on how to manage the fears that may reappear with this new variant surge.

​Celebrating holidays is a way that we connect with others by sharing memories and traditions. Work/Life Connections-EAP gives advice on how to manage the stressful moments that may be experienced during the holiday season as we continue onward through the pandemic.

October is Depression Awareness Month. Now more than ever, it is important to take stock of your mood and mental health. Learn the signs and symptoms of depression, and the resources available to you.

​The past year has been hard on our mental health. The good news is that there is greater awareness that we all need for regular self-care. Work/Life Connections-EAP shares tips on how to stay resilient as we continue to deal with difficult times.

The Coronavirus pandemic has been traumatizing and 2020 has been an exhausting year. As a result, many have been living much of the time in "survival mode." Anxiety, fear, and trauma interrupt our ability to readily access our frontal cortex. This is the part of our brain that controls our cognitive skills including problem solving, memory, and emotional expression. It serves as the brain's "dispatch center." When functioning in survival mode, it is harder to focus, prioritize, and effectively manage conflict. This can impact an individual's productivity.

​We often find ourselves walking by someone and casually say, "How are you doing?" and we fully expect that they will answer, "Fine," and we will both continue walking. Somehow, these days seem different. Vanderbilt's Work/Life Connections-EAP gives some tips on how to check in on your friends and colleagues in this time of greater stress.