Wellness Resources for Commonwealth Employees

Articles/Guides/Announcements:

• COVID-19 Over-The-Counter (OTC) Testing Kits The Federal Government issued guidance that health insurance carriers (such as the Group Insurance Commission) are required to cover the cost of up to eight at-home tests (four 2-pack testing kits) per individual for COVID-19 every 30 days. 

• Avoiding Burnout Article: Courtesy of Optum 

• Stress and Resilience Article: Courtesy of Optum 

• Resilience in the Workplace: Courtesy of Optum 

• COVID-19 Resource and Information Guide A comprehensive guide courtesy of (NAMI) National Alliance for Mental Illness 

• ComPysch Toolkit – Resources to offer guidance on how to remain healthy and deal with the emotional impacts of COVID-19 

• Handhold’s Toolkit and Resources -  Tools and resources for getting the word out about Handhold, a family friendly website designed for parents and families. 

• COVID-19 Resources for Well-Being  Facts, resources and tips for keeping employees educated, healthy, and engaged during COVID-19. Courtesy of Optum. 

• Mental Health and COVID-19, Information and Resources  Courtesy of Mental Health America 

• Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During the COVID-19 Outbreak  Information and resources developed by the World Health Organization and US Department of Mental Health and Substance Use 

Podcasts/Talks: 

• TED Talk: The Routines, rituals and boundaries we need in stressful times. 

• TED Talk: Four lessons the pandemic taught us about work, life, and balance 

Webinars: 

• Trauma-Informed Care Webinar: Current events have led to an increase in long-lasting physical and emotional stress in people. Check out this webinar to learn how to prevent burnout. 

Websites: 

• More To The Story - Learn more about having conversations about mental health with someone you care about here.

• Handhold - a new, family friendly website designed for parents of school-aged children in Massachusetts who are worried about their child’s mental health.  Courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health  

• Maintaining Emotional Health & Well-Being During the COVID-19 Outbreak   Courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health 

• Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Resources  The landing page for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health website 

• Mass4You EAP Benefits  Mass4You is the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) available for all active Commonwealth employees and their families. Learn more in this Mass4You video. 

• Do you or someone you know need help with an alcohol or drug problem? Learn more on recovery support services, courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health 

• State Employees Responding As Volunteers Program. Get involved with the SERV program and volunteer at a Massachusetts non-profit organization. 
• Ready to explore the great outdoors? Check out Massachusetts state parks here.
• Explore your sense of wonder: The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism curated a list of kid-friendly activities, attractions, and places to visit.

• More To The Story - Learn more about having conversations about mental health with someone you care about here.

• Supporting a Friend or Co-worker Suffering From Stress. Lending a helping hand when things get tough. 

• Healthy relationships are built on respect, honesty, and open communication. Learn more on what makes relationships healthy or unhealthy and explore additional resources. Courtesy of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence 

• Promoting healthy relationships for youth. Resources for parents, teachers, coaches, and anyone interested in promoting healthy friendships or relationships among youth. Courtesy of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence 

• Economic Empowerment for All. Discover and learn more about financial wellness resources that are available.  Courtesy of the Office of Economic Empowerment 

• Start your financial education journey. Financial Education for Massachusetts Employees and Retirees. Courtesy of the Office of Economic Empowerment 

• MA Financial Resources. Here are timely resources for you to get public health updates, protect your identity, and learn about employment rights and unemployment benefits. 

• My Financial Life MA – Providing tools and knowledge you need to achieve economic security now and in the future. 

• Ten Percent Podcasts The meditations, podcasts, blog posts, and talks on this page will help you build resilience and find some calm amidst the chaos. 

• Live and On-Demand Meditation Programs Discover the wide range of sessions taught by mindfulness experts. 

• Coronavirus Sanity Guide from tenpercenthappier.com  Includes meditations, podcasts, blog posts, and talks to help build resilience and find calm amidst the chaos. Join daily live guided meditations and take a virtual break from social distancing! 

• Mindful - Healthy Mind, Healthy Life  Mindfulness resources including live guided meditations, quick practices and free courses on how to meditate 

• Nine Mindfulness Tips from Jon-Kabat-Zinn  A video series on mindfulness from one of the world's leading Mind-Body experts 

• Mindfulness Exercises for Health Care Workers  Exercises for coping with COVID-19 stress and anxiety 

• Calm Together  A collection of meditations, sleep stories, movement exercises, journals, and music free to use and to share 

• COVID-19 Mental Health Tips During a Quarantine  Courtesy of Mass4You 

• Virtual 30 minutes sessions (via Zoom) from Space2Meditate in Manhattan 
  Monday – Saturday, at 8 am EST 

• Best Meditation Applications of 2022 - a variety of apps to suit your meditation and mindfulness needs. 

• TED Talks to help you manage stress - Sometimes life can feel like a bit of a mess, but these talks are here to help you de-stress.