Nurture Your Well-Being This Mental Health Awareness Month

Each May, National Mental Health Awareness Month encourages us to take time to care for our mental well-being. It's also a valuable reminder to explore tools, resources, and support to help you find balance and move toward a greater sense of wholeness.

Support through the Mental Well-Being and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

If you are eligible for the Mental Well-Being and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)* provided through Spring Health, you and any covered family members can access confidential support at no cost to you, including:

• up to six therapy sessions per year from a Spring Health provider
• unlimited virtual well-being coaching sessions with certified coaches
• digital tools to help with stress, depression, sleep, and other well-being concerns

Not sure where to begin? Spring Health can help guide you to the support that best fits your needs. You can complete a digital self‑assessment on the Spring Health website to receive a personalized care plan or connect with a licensed mental health care navigator who can recommend care options and help you find providers who align with your needs.

Mental health care through the Medical Plan

If you're enrolled in the Medical Plan, your benefits include coverage for behavioral health services such as therapy, in- and outpatient treatment, and counseling for mental health and substance use disorders.

Your benefits include six therapy visits at no cost to you annually through Spring Health.** You're not required to start counseling through the Mental Well-Being and EAP for the Medical Plan to cover it. But if you do, Spring Health is fully integrated with the Medical Plan — so you can remain in treatment with your Spring Health provider without interruption to care.

You can also participate in Call to Health,* an annual well-being program for Medical Plan members that encourages you to focus on all areas of wholeness. When you complete activities, including ones that help keep stress in check and support a balanced lifestyle, you can enhance your mental well-being and work toward reducing your medical deductible(s) for the following year. Covered spouses may also participate in Call to Health.

FSA/HSA-eligible mental health care expenses

If you are enrolled in a healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) through HealthEquity, you can use the pretax dollars in your account to support your mental health. Eligible expenses include costs for counseling services (copays, deductibles, and/or coinsurance) and products for conditions such as chronic pain and sleep deprivation that can lead to mental health issues. These products include CPAP devices, mouth guards, over-the-counter medication, cold and heat therapy, and acupressure.

Learning opportunities to explore mental health support

This month offers two engaging webinars designed to help you better understand the types of mental health support available and identify what may work best for you:

• Part of Lifelong Learning's virtual Well-Being Wednesdays series, Mind Matters: Choosing the Support that Fits You, Wednesday, May 20, 1–3:30 p.m. ET, will delve into the differences between coaching and therapy, how to choose the right support for your needs, and ways to overcome stigma around seeking help.
• Join Spring Health providers for the Choosing Your Path: Understanding, Shaping, and Authoring Your Mental Health Journey webinar, Wednesday, May 28, 3 p.m. ET, to explore how reflection, connection, and personalized support can help you navigate your unique wellness path.

The Lifelong Learning e-learning site also has a variety of recordings related to mental well-being, such as Riding Out the Storms of Life and the Restorative Conversations series, that you can access at your convenience. Lifelong Learning offerings are available to all members enrolled in benefits through the Board of Pensions.

Your well‑being matters — this month and every month

Whether you're exploring therapy for the first time, curious about coaching, or looking for tools to enhance your well-being, resources are available through the Benefits Plan to support your wholeness and help you take the next step.

*Call to Health and the Mental Well-Being and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) are not available to employees or family members enrolled in Triple-S, Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions (formerly GeoBlue), or the post-retirement medical plan. Those enrolled in Triple-S or Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions have EAP benefits under their plans, but coverage details may differ.

**Regular plan copays, deductibles, and/or coinsurance apply after the sixth Spring Health provider visit or if you do not start counseling through Spring Health.