Working Well Remotely: Mental ResiliencySeptember 29, 2020

Agenda• Welcome and Introductions

• Video

• Signs and Symptoms

• Challenges

• Resources

• What to do if you have a concern about a peer vs. student/trainee?

• Interviews – Sharing our own stories

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Mental Resiliency

Who are we?

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Mental Resiliency

Deena Shin McRae, MDAssociate Dean for Graduate Medical EducationDesignated Institutional OfficialAssociate Clinical Professor, PsychiatryUCI School of Medicine

A mom with 2 kids who are very active in sportsA wife of a husband who used to travel 3 D/wkA daughterA sisterAn auntA nieceA friend

Who are we?

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Mental Resiliency

Negar Shekarabi, PsyDLicensed Clinical PsychologistCoordinatorFaculty & Staff Support Services

A mom with 2 very active boysA wife of a husband who works in banking/salesA daughterA sisterA friendA mental health provider

Work remotely they said. It'll be fine they said.

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Signs and Symptoms of Depression/Anxiety

Mental Resiliency

Mood

Sleep disruption

Appetite/Weight change

Energy level

Poor concentrationDifficulty with decisions

GuiltWorthlessness

Disengaging/Isolating

No longer enjoying activities

Suicidal thoughts

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Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use

Mental Resiliency

Unpredictable mood swings

Withdrawal from family and friends (or different group of friends)

Change in performance at school/work

Physical changes

Withdrawal symptoms

Financial problems

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Warning Signs of Harm Risk

Mental Resiliency

Suicide is 10th

leading cause of death in the U.S.(>48,000 people/year)

2nd leading cause of death for those ages 10-34

2.5 times as many suicides in the U.S. as homicides

Hopelessness

Common Challenges

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Many of the strategies that are critical to ensuring collective public health put many people at great risk for mental health issues

Common Challenges• We are anxious, depressed,

and traumatized • Some of us are lonely, but not

all • The effects depend on your

personality, lifestyle & demographics

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In April, 14 percent of Americans were experiencing serious psychological distress, more than triple the rate in 2018

Nearly 1 in 7 U.S. adults said they were often or always lonely in April 2020, up over 25 percent from 2018, while many others demonstrate remarkable resilience and report no increase loneliness & a greater sense of support.

Young people tend to be more depressed, anxious, stressed, and traumatized. Women may be more lonely & burdened by childcare and job loss risk.

Related traits: tolerance of uncertainty and tolerance of distress.

Common Challenges • Domestic violence has increased,

worldwide– In those who were already

experiencing it the violence has gotten worse in nearly 60 percent of cases.

– A variety of factors: people spending more time at home with abusive partners, unemployment and other financial stressors causing conflict, shelters shutting their doors, and police being discouraged from making arrests.

– The threat of abuse is compounding the stress, anxiety, and fear that many people are already experiencing during the pandemic.

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Common Challenges• It is worse for disadvantaged groups.

– Poor health– Income– Education

• The effects are compounded by racism.

– Those unequal effects extend all the way to who lives and who dies

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Pew research suggests that more than a quarter of Black Americans know someone who was hospitalized or died from COVID-19, compared to 1 in 10 white Americans

Nearly one-fifth of Latino adults were experiencing serious psychological distress in April 2020

Discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans has risen since the pandemic started

Established Resources - National

• Short TED Talks for When You are Feeling Burned Out• Palouse online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (free)• Headspace meditation and mindfulness app• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)

Mental Resiliency

Established Resources – State/County• Families Forward • NAMI Orange County Chapter

Mental Resiliency

Established Resources - UCI

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UCI Employee

Faculty & Staff Mental Health Care

Medical Plan

Behavioral Health

Benefits

Human Resources Wellness Programs

Employee Assistance Program

(EAP)

ComPsych Guidance Resources

A free, confidential benefit that will help

with problem identification,

assessment, and referral to treatment

providers & community resources. First 3

session free.

844.824.3273www.guidanceresources.com (UCIID: UCIEAP3)

Onsite consultation & supportCoordination of resources

Outreach & education

Anthem Blue CrossHealthNet/MHN

KaiserOptum Behavioral

Health

Perks & discountsWellness videos on demand

Webinars, classes & resourceshr.uci.edu/wellness/

https://hr.uci.edu/disaster-relief/mental-health.php

Established Resources - UCI• UCI HR Wellness Page • UCI Human Resources Page• UCI Wellness, Health & Counseling Services• UCI Wellness Videos• UCI Wellness Online Courses and Programs• UCI Wellness YouTube Channel• UCI Virtual Self-Care Wellness Resources• UCI Childcare Services• UCI Parenting Support Program• UCtv Wellbeing Channel• UCI Psychiatry• UCI Employee Assistance Program (Guidance Resources)

Mental Resiliency

New Resources during COVID Pandemic• McLean COVID-19 Mental Health Resources• PsychHub COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub

• For Blue Cross PPO – LiveHealth Online has no copays

• UCOP Website – Coronavirus updates for UC employees

• UCI Website – Coronavirus Updates• UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute

Mental Resiliency

I’m concerned about someone, what should I do? (student, faculty or staff)• Your Responsibility Is:

– To offer a warm, friendly ear to someone you believe may be hurting, if she/he will let you.

– To try to determine the extent to which a situation is a crisis that needs intervention.

– To activate a supportive network of trained people who can help the person in crisis.

– To consult and refer.– To care for yourself!

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I’m concerned about someone, what should I do? (student, faculty or staff)• Your Responsibility is NOT:

– To have eyes everywhere at once.– To be a mind-reader.– To give someone more help than

she/he will allow you to give.– To know the exact right thing to do

in all situations.– To solve another person’s

problem(s) for her/him.– To be ultimately responsible for

someone’s decision of whether or not to commit suicide or harm themselves.

– To put yourself in danger to help someone else.

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Sharing Stories

Mental Resiliency

Sharing Stories

Mental Resiliency

Mental Resiliency

Sharing Experiences and Ideas

Mental Resiliency

Contact Information

Mental Resiliency

Negar Shekarabi, PsyDCoordinator of Faculty/Staff Support ServicesClinical PsychologistUC IrvineWebsitenshekara@uci.edu

Deena Shin McRae, MDAssociate Dean for Graduate Medical EducationAssociate Clinical Professor, Dept of PsychiatryUCI School of MedicineWebsitemcraed@hs.uci.edu