employee assistane program eap news · ness efforts as well as to provide information on how to...
TRANSCRIPT
It’s springtime, which means the annual UAlbany Earth and Wellness Day is upon us. This year’s theme is Nurture Nature and Yourself. An array of exhibitors will be in attendance highlighting the numerous ways that we can connect with nature like spending time outdoors and sharing our lives with birds, animals, and pets. Join us for this festive day designed to offer community resources to support your personal well-ness efforts as well as to provide information on how to lead a more sustainable life. Stop by the Campus Center Ballroom on your lunch break to discover ways you can connect or re-connect with nature to enhance your well-being!
EAP NEWS S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 V O L U M E 7 I S S U E 1
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
UAlbany Employees’ Link to Resources for Health & Well-Being
In the “Health Zone”
8:30 am - 1:30 pm
Fireside Lounge, Campus Center
Provided by St. Peter’s Health Care Services
FREE Cholesterol Lipid &
Glucose Screenings* (12-hour fasting optional)
FREE blood pressure checks FREE pulmonary screenings
PLUS... Chiropractic Assessment
Variety of Health Information
Nurture Nature & Yourself Co-Sponsored by EAP and the Office of Environmental Sustainability
Thursday, April 18
Campus Center
Exhibitor Fair
Campus Center Fountain & Ballroom
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Approximately 50 Exhibitors Farmer’s Market
Free Soil Analysis* Nature Photo Contest Voting
Door Prizes Free Refreshments
Clothing Exchange
Assembly Hall, Campus Center
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
EAP website: http://www.albany.edu/eap
Free hearing screenings!
*St. Peter’s Cardiac & Vascular screenings provided free
of charge thanks to financial support from SEFCU. Take
advantage of this great benefit this year!
*See page ?? for soil
analysis instructions.
Here’s a sneak
peek at who’s
attending …
Audubon Society
Five Rivers Environ-
mental Center
NYS Parks Dept.
Therapy Dogs
International
Acupuncture Society
of New York
Affordable Housing
Partnership
Wildlife Rehabilitators
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...IS ONLY
A PHONE
CALL
AWAY!
If you would like to schedule an appointment for an
Assessment & Referral session with EAP Coordinator
Brenda Seckerson, CALL
442-5483 or EMAIL
[email protected] www.albany.edu/eap
If you are finding it difficult to be as
productive as you used to be, per-
haps a stressor in your life is im-
pacting your ability to feel your
best at work and/or at home. The
Employee Assistance Program’s
Assessment & Referral Service
might be the answer. Take ad-
vantage of this free voluntary confi-
dential employee benefit. Support,
information, and referrals are avail-
able to assist you in finding a way
to address your concerns.
Seek Out Your Natural Environment and Feel Better!
Sometimes we take nature for granted simply because we don’t take the time to appreciate its value in our lives. Excerpted from an online article entitled, How Do I Eliminate Stress with Nature and Sun?, here are some common facts and tips on how to take advantage of these two very valuable resources when dealing with stress management. Natural stress relief is great and can be experienced even if you are just sitting outdoors. The wind through the branches of majestic trees, the blossoms of flowering plants, the blue jays flying, and the frogs leaping all play a soothing symphony. All you have to do is step out into it. And, if you are near flowing water, then you are really fortunate! The sun is a powerful weapon in our arsenal against stress. It has powers that we can wield just by being in its light. Just as sunlight is needed for plants, it's needed for humans, too. It's exhilarating to be out in the sunlight, and excitement is an obstacle to stress. Benefits to being outdoors include:
Nature and sunlight can greatly improve your mood.
Being close to nature lets you feel removed from the things that cause you stress.
Being in the sun is a natural source of vitamin D.
How to Eliminate Stress with Nature and Sun
Nature and sunlight provide us with beauty, energy, vitamin synthesis, and clean, fresh air. In nature we have a chance to relax and release our stress to the open air. Below are a few ideas to get you into the natural flow of things.
Put a birdfeeder in your backyard as a way of inviting birds to come and be present with you. Bird watching can be relaxing and quite humorous!
Take up gardening or landscaping. Organic fruit and vegetables are the healthiest produce to eat, and what better way to interact with nature!
If you find that you spend much of your time indoors, bring nature in with you. Place a water fountain inside your office or home. The natural sound of moving water can relieve stress easily.
Indoor plants are beneficial to relieving stress. There are kinds that can cleanse the air you're breathing. Caring for plants, like gardening, is a therapeutic, soothing activity.
What does your desktop and screensaver look like? Try putting up pictures of nature and in your times between activities you can vicariously experi-ence the great outdoors.
With spring and warmer weather to motivate us to get outside more in the coming months, let’s remind ourselves of how lucky we are to have the change of seasons here in the northeast. We have the opportunity to allow Mother Nature to remind us of her ever-changing and inspirational beauty. Take full advantage of it as a means of de-stressing!
Article Resource: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/stress-management/stress-nature-and-sun
Article submitted by Kathy Gurney,
EAP Committee, CESA Representative
April is stress
awareness month.
Page 3 S P R I N G 2 0 1 3
Free Up Your Space and Your Mind, Too!
Disclaimer: Material presented in this
newsletter is intended for educational
or informational purposes only. It is
not intended to replace the advice of
your qualified health professional.
Keeping the lines of communication open and maintaining working relationships
can be a challenge at times. Conflict, misunderstandings, and personality clashes can occur, which if left unaddressed, can take a toll. This can cause a great deal of stress, hard feelings, and sometimes a feeling of dread about coming to work. Before label-ing someone as “difficult”, it’s important that we look within ourselves to see what we might be contributing to the relationship. Ask these three questions:
1. Could I be overacting?
2. Do I have negative or challenging interactions with people more often than not?
3. Could people think that I am being difficult?
The Office of Environmental
Sustainability is now the sole
sponsor of the annual
U A l b a n y D o c u me n t
Shredding Day. This year’s
event is scheduled for Friday,
May 3rd. For more infor-
mation, contact the Mary Ellen
Mallia, UAlbany Green Scene.
956-8120
w w w . a l b a n y . e d u /
gogreen/
Spring is a great time to clear the clutter in your home and workplace which will help to clear your mind. Cleaning up and clearing out our physical space helps us to feel lighter and feel better overall. Being surrounded by clutter can be stressful. Here are some simple tips to try:
Start small and focus. Get 3 boxes or bags and mark them as follows: keep, give away, and throw away.
Set a timer for five minutes and focus on one area to clear. When the five minutes is up, reset it for another five. Work up to
15 minutes a day, and mark it on your calendar to organize from 5 to 15 minutes a day. Focus on only one area at a time.
Donate what you no longer use. You will be helping other people by your donations.
If someone gave you a gift that it is something that you no longer use, but you feel a
personal connection, take a picture of the item as a reminder. Then, let it go.
Moving forward to reduce clutter:
Put things away as soon as you are done with them.
Make a decision. Sometimes clutter happens because we do not make a decision.
Take a few minutes at the end of the day to clear your desk and prepare for the next
day. Starting out the day in a neat, organized way helps to create peacefulness, and it
is likely you will accomplish more as a result.
Sort and organize mail as soon as it comes in.
Develop a system to maintain an organized lifestyle. Simply focusing on organizing 5 to 15 minutes a day is a great start.
Set a reward for yourself for your efforts to de-clutter your environment. Pick something that is meaningful, fun, and/or relaxing to you like a warm bath, reading a book or magazine, or going to the movies. It has been said that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. So, try your de-cluttering system for 21 days, and you will find a more peaceful environment!
Article submitted by Linda Gallagher, EAP Committee, UUP Representative
Stop and Reflect First
When faced with challenging interactions with co-workers, stop and reflect on your reactions to these types of situations in general. “Do I get defensive if I’m criti-cized...shut down when someone confronts me...feel uncomfortable when I’m not in control?” Take time to pause and examine your behavior, feelings, and communica-tion skills before reacting. Remember, WE are the common denominator in all of our relationships! We play a role in the dynamics of them. If you would like more tips on workplace communication skills, contact Brenda Seckerson, EAP Coordinator. [email protected] 442-5483
Article Resource: Don’t Take It Personally. (2008) Personal Best Publications. Oakstone Publishing
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EARTH AND WELLNESS DAY
NATURE PHOTO CONTEST NURTURE NATURE AND YOURSELF
Here’s a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. Capture your experiences by
taking some photos and enter them in this contest. We’ll also be using some of
the photos to enhance our Earth and Wellness Day event in the Campus Center
Ballroom. Help us to bring the outdoors indoor with some great nature photos!
OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES:
1. This contest is free and open to all University at Albany students, staff and faculty.
2. Only photos taken within the eligible categories* outlined in the Submission Guidelines will
be considered. There is no limit as to when the photos were taken.
3. Up to three photos may be submitted per person (total, not per category).
4. Photographers will retain original copyrights to their photos.
5. Entrants grant the Earth and Wellness Day Committee permission to use photo(s) for dis-
play during and in conjunction with media and marketing related to the event.
6. Only submissions that adhere to the contest rules and submission guidelines are eligible to
compete.
7. All decisions by the judges are final.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
*TWO Eligible Categories: Nature photos taken on the UAlbany Campus and
those photos taken anywhere else.
All submissions should be e-mailed to [email protected] .
All entrants must include the following in the body of the e-mail PER ENTRY
(if submitting more than one photo, please send in separate e-mails):
ENTRY FROM A STUDENT:
First and Last Name; Status (freshman/sophomore/junior/senior/graduate); E-mail address;
Phone number; Category for entry (On Campus or Off Campus); Brief description of photo(s) sub-
mitted (Example: Squirrel in tree by State Quad)
ENTRY FROM FACULTY/STAFF:
First and Last Name; Department; E-mail address; Phone number; Category for entry (On Cam-
pus or Off Campus); Brief description of photo(s) submitted
(Example: “Squirrel in tree by State Quad”)
WINNERS:
CRITERIA: Images will be judged on their
effectiveness to convey the natural beauty
of the outdoors, both on campus and off
campus.
JUDGES: The Earth and Wellness Day
Committee will select three photographs in
each category to be displayed at the Earth
and Wellness Fair on Thursday, April 18th in
the Campus Center Ballroom from 11am-
2pm. All attendees at the Fair will be
eligible to cast one vote per category. One
winner per category will be selected based
upon the highest number of votes at the
close of the fair and announced on Friday,
April 19th.
CONTEST DEADLINE:
April 3, 2013 - midnight
*ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES:
NATURE- ON CAMPUS:
Capture nature on any of the
University at Albany campuses!
NATURE- OFF CAMPUS: Capture
nature anywhere that is NOT on a
University at Albany campus!
PHOTOS: Photos taken with a digital camera must be submitted at a minimum resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels and in jpeg, bmp, png or t if
format. Minor digital enhancement for cropping, red-eye removal, filters, and corrective functions are permitted, but images that have been
judged to be significantly altered will be disqualified. Photographers are not permitted to place borders or frames around their images or to
place watermarks, signatures, dates, or copyright notices on their images. Images MUST maintain the integrity of the subject as it was photo-
graphed.
Please re-name images to include the photographer’s first and last name and a one word description of the photo separated by a period
(Example: “JohnDoe.stream.jpg)
There’s still
time to enter!
Page 5 S P R I N G 2 0 1 3
The Capital Region Caregiver Coalition and Albany Guardian Society, in conjunction with Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Agencies on Aging, are proud to present the 6th Annual...
TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS:
Resources You Can Use When a Senior Relies on You
Check Out These
Two Community
Resources!
For those who have a loved one
with a mental illness...
The Capital District Psychiatric Center’s (CDPC) weekly Family
Services Support and Education Meetings might be of help.
Participants will experience:
This FREE group is available to Capital Region residents. Your
loved one does NOT have to have been a patient at CDPC for
you to attend the Family Services group meetings. Remem-
ber, you are not alone. Help and support are available!
Support from other families
Meet those who provide services to your loved one
and hear guest speakers on various topics
Learn how to effectively advocate for mental health
services
Gain first-hand knowledge on how to navigate the
mental health system
Thursday Evenings
5:30—7:30 pm
CDPC Family Resource Room Center
75 New Scotland Ave., Albany
For more information, contact UAlbany
EAP Coordinator, Brenda Seckerson
442-5483
OR, call Frank Greco,
Director of CDPC Family Services
518-549-6816
Saturday, April 13, 2013
8 am—12 pm
St. Sophia’s Church, 440 Whitehall Road, Albany
To register: 269-3976 or register online via email to:
[email protected] and noting
“April 13 Forum” in the subject line.
For more information, go to: www.capitalregioncaregiver.com
or email [email protected]
If you are
a caregiver
for an
elder, this
annual
event is for
YOU! The free community event
includes a continental breakfast,
workshops, “Caregiver Connection
Corner” and a vendor resource fair.
Page 6 S P R I N G 2 0 1 3
http://www.albany.edu/eap/event_sign-up.htm
Rain Date
April 24
E M P L O Y E E A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R Page 7
Employee Assistance Program Lunchtime Wellness Program
It’s time for another EAP Art Break! This is
a great way to get energized during your
work day and connect with others who are
interested in the arts and in learning about
the UAlbany campus!
Boor Sculpture Studio
Friday, May 3
12:00 - 12:45 pm
Tour Guide: Professor Edward
Mayer Did you know that the Boor Sculpture
Studio houses graduate students with
studio spaces and provides under-
graduate students with classes in both
traditional and emerging media?
Learn all about the studio with
Professor Edward Mayer as our tour
guide. Discover the amazing features
of the facilities where unique sculp-
tures are created. Stroll the grounds
and see the many outdoor sculptures
surrounding the building. You won’t
want to miss this opportunity!
To register, contact:
Brenda Seckerson,
EAP Coordinator
442-5483
http://www.albany.edu/eap/
event_sign-up.htm
EAP is a joint labor/management program and is part of the NYS Employee Assistance Program - CSEA/C82/GSEU/MC/NYSCOPBA/PEF/UUP. Contact Info: 55 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12210.
EAP-sponsored events and services are
open to UAlbany & Research Foundation
faculty, staff, family members, UAS
employees, retirees and GSEU members.
Distracted driving has become a highly life-threatening epidemic. As the years go by with increased use of technology, the number of fatalities due to distracted driving is increasing. According to Distraction.gov – the official US Government website for distracted driving - statistics show that in 2011, 3,331 people were killed compared to 3,267 in 2010. All distractions, like adjusting the radio, eating while driving, and managing children in the car, can be hazardous to a driver’s awareness. However, texting and phone calls are known to be the most prominent causes because they involve visual and manual attention from the driver. So “Take the Pledge” to protect yourself and your passengers. Drive phone-free, and start the habit of turning off your cell phone when you turn your ignition on. And if you're a passenger, make sure your driver does the same.
April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month
Soil Sample Instructions
Free Soil Analysis at UAlbany Earth and Wellness
Day provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dig down about four (4) inches and take a few tablespoons of dry soil and place it in a
Ziploc-type bag. This can be done in a few areas and blended together to form one
sample from a garden or the front lawn. The sample should be labeled with contact
information and location, such as vegetable garden or rose bed, etc. At the UAlbany
Earth and Wellness Day event in the Ballroom, take your sample to the Cornell
Cooperative Extension table. There you will fill out a form and submit your soil. The
Cooperative will test the soil at their lab and mail you your soil’s pH level along with
any recommendations for amendments. One sample per person.
UAlbany EAP E-News
Spring 2013
Publisher/Contributor
Brenda Seckerson
Special Contributors
Michelle Bowen
Linda Gallagher
Kathy Gurney
Tenasia Rampersant
Copy Editors
Michelle Bowen
Kathy Gurney
Pamela Moniz
That one text or call can wait. Don’t put your life at stake!
Article submitted by Tenasia Rampersant, EAP Office Work Study Student
Take the Pledge!
The fight to end distracted driving starts with YOU. Make the commitment to
drive phone-free today. Distracted driving kills and injures thousands of people
each year.
I pledge to:
Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.
Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver in my car is distracted.
Encourage my friends and family to drive phone-free.
Article resource: http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html
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