healthy & well
AT LBNL
Welcome
Healthy & Well at LBNL is a centralized location for Lab staff to find support and resources to help build their health, wellness and well-being. The website is intended to get you thinking about the things you can do to foster health and wellness in your life - both at work and at home. In each section you’ll find a collection of resources from the Lab, UC Berkeley and the community that touch on different aspects of health and wellness.
Why does it matter?
You know the safety advice when flying “Secure your own oxygen mask before helping others”? The same goes for health and wellness – caring for ourselves is an integral part in caring for our families, friends and loved ones. Caring for ourselves gives us the capacity to better handle stressful or demanding situations both at home and work.
The site is a collaborative effort between Health Services, Human Resources and the IDEA Office to support the health and wellness of Berkeley Lab employees and their families. Questions? Please email us at IDEA@lbl.gov.
May resources
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Explore the resources below and reach out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) if you need support or guidance.
One Minute for Wellness - May 2023
Mental Health Awareness Month Zoom Background
Websites:
Mental Health Resources on the Healthy & Well at LBNL website
The Healthy & Well website lists LBNL, health insurance, community, and national resources.EAP Support for supervisors as they continue to manage their staff during times of adjustment
UC Berkeley Self Coaching Wellness Guide - This step-by-step guide is a tool designed to directly support you in making behavior and lifestyle changes.
Toolkits:
Emotional Wellness Toolkit - The NIH has put together a list of six strategies for improving your emotional health. Each area has a checklist, articles and more. The toolkit is also available en español.
Exercises to strengthen resilience - UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center
Quick meditations to reduce anxiety - UCLA
Good Reads:
Why Taking Care of Your Own Well-Being Helps Others - Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley
Five Reasons to Share Your Mental Health Struggles - Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley
Communicate assertively to set healthy boundaries and limits at work - Mayo Clinic
Videos:
A Scientist’s Primer on Mental Health - this 1-hour seminar that was held at LBNL in 2020 delivers the basics of mental health at a level that academics appreciate.
Support Your Mental Health Through Challenging Times- Linkedin Learning
Upcoming Events for Mental Health Awareness Month:
UC Moves - May 1 - 28
Early Career & Asian Pacific Islander ERGs Lab Walk - May 1, 11 am
Recognizing and Regulating Work Stress - Tue 5/2; noon
Understanding and Responding to Toddler Tantrums - Thu 5/4; Noon
Guided Meditation - Tue 5/9; Noon
Grief Management for Caregivers - Tue 5/16; 12:10 – 1:30 pm
Mental Health – In the Wake of COVID-19 - Health Net - Weds, May 17, 12 noon
Creating Healthy Boundaries in the Workplace - Thurs, May 18, 12 noon
Event highlights
On May 31, Be Well at Work Employee Assistance invites you to prioritize your mental health. The day will include virtual workshops highlighting mental health education and wellbeing strategies, as well as in-person activities aimed at caring for your mental health needs.
Virtual Events
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace: For Supervisors & Managers - 9am - 10am PST
Working in a management or leadership role comes with many responsibilities, not the least of which is supporting your employees. Be Well at Work Director, Craig Mielcarski has worked at the intersection of mental health and the workplace for over 25 years. He will share observations, common misconceptions, and useful strategies related to mental health in the workplace including how to support individuals and teams while maintaining boundaries and still focusing on getting the work done. Bring your questions! Through a predominantly question-and-answer format, this session is an opportunity for managers and supervisors to get their questions answered, and also learn from each other.
Register for Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
Assessing and Addressing Your Mental Health - 10am -10:45am PST
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is a major component of how we feel and can influence how we think, act, and relate to others. While many of us may be aware of the importance of our mental health, it can oftentimes be ignored, unaddressed, or not talked about. In the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month, this workshop will provide information on common symptoms and behaviors related to mental health that can assist us in self-assessing our own mental health. It will also introduce various ways to support and prioritize our mental health and discuss barriers, such as stigma, that might prevent us from taking healthy actions.
Register for Assessing and Addressing Your Mental Health
Self-Compassionate Strategies for Coping with Anxiety & Depression - 1 pm -2 pm PST
When a loved one is feeling anxious or depressed, we often extend them gentle words of kindness and support. Yet, when we are experiencing those same feelings, we do not always show ourselves the same compassion. While self-criticism, judgment, and frustration are common feelings when coping with anxiety and depression, they can also contribute to increased isolation, stagnation, and stronger negative emotions. This workshop will cover how to become more aware of self-talk, how to improve self-compassion, and how to view ourselves in a more positive light.
Register for Self-Compassionate Strategies for Coping with Anxiety & Depression
In-Person Events
Tabling Event - 11am - 1pm PST
In-Person at the Staff Community Garden
Drop by anytime between 11 am - 1 pm for an in-person tabling event with Be Well at Work to learn about UC Berkeley and community resources.
Simple Practices for a Calmer Mind: Breathing & Grounding Techniques - 12:15 pm - 12:45 pm PST
In-Person at the Staff Community Garden
Research shows that on an average day, an adult has 6,000 thoughts - about six per waking minute. Many of us struggle with anxious thoughts, rumination, or feel easily distracted during the day. Grounding and breathing exercises bring focus to the present moment and awareness to our senses. In this workshop, participants will practice different techniques to calm their bodies and minds by taking part in guided breathwork, gentle stretching, and light movement.
Register for Simple Practices for a Calmer Mind
Walking Meditation: Using Nature to Boost Your Mood - 11:30 am - Noon PST
In-Person at the Staff Community Garden
Walking meditation is a type of mindfulness practice that uses nature and quiet movement to develop calm and enhance connectedness to one's self and one's surroundings. We chose to highlight this type of meditation as it offers a user friendly approach to resetting the nervous system and can be practiced during everyday moments. You do not need any prior meditation experience.
Register for Walking Meditation
UC Moves Summertime Challenge - May 1 - 28, 2023
UC Moves Summertime Challenge is kicking off for 4 weeks of movement between May 1-May 28. This is an annual UC system-wide movement and activity challenge. Join us!
Represent Berkeley Lab in the 2023 system-wide 4-week movement and activity challenge.
Registration is available now (through May 21). After registering, you can also download the app to your phone for mobile updates. Increase your success by inviting friends to join, or joining a team. Activities earn you points, and all participants that earn 5 fireflies a week will be entered into a weekly random drawing for great prizes!
Creating Healthy Boundaries in the Workplace
Date: Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Please join us on Thursday, May 18th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Creating Healthy Boundaries in the Workplace
Healthy boundaries in the workplace are essential to support our mental health and maintain job satisfaction. This workshop provides information about different types of boundaries, how to handle boundary challenges, and how to comfortably say “no”. We will introduce strategies to help participants establish healthy boundaries and improve work-life balance.
About the Speaker:
Julie Resnik (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with experience providing therapeutic support and extensive case management assistance to individuals and families. She also has a specialty background supporting people experiencing chronic illness and organ transplantation. She has worked as a healthcare provider and as a behavioral health educator, teaching classes on wellness, mental health, and managing depression. Julie obtained her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology at Colgate University, and her MSW from Columbia University with a clinical concentration in Health, Mental Health and Disabilities. She received advanced training in Palliative and End of Life Care at NYU’s School of Social Work.
Julie strives to make each person feel understood and uses a client centered approach which focuses on an individual's unique circumstances and goals.
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Date: Tuesday, June 13th, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Please join us on Tuesday, June 13th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Understanding and managing our emotions can increase our sense of well-being, motivation, empathy and ability to relate to others in a healthy way. This workshop will examine what it means to be emotionally intelligent and how to apply key concepts to create a more successful and fulfilling work/life experience.
About the Speaker:
Elliott DiTusa is one of the Employee Assistance counselors for LBNL staff and postdocs. Elliott is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 9 years of experience working in various Employee Assistance models. His work experience also includes providing individual and couples counseling at a group psychotherapy practice. Elliott received his BS in Secondary Education from Indiana University and his MA in Counseling with a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. Elliott enjoys serving all members of the LBL community, and has a special interest in working with those experiencing career stress/pressure, and work/life balance challenges
Habits: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Date: Wednesday, September 20th, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Please join us on Wednesday, September 20th for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Habits: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Habits govern 40% of our day, and can largely determine what we eat, how often we move and rest, and how we treat others. Yet habits are also automatic, and can become difficult to change. This workshop explores multiple frameworks to help us become more aware of how habits develop, and how to harness our strengths to make positive changes. Participants will also receive handouts they can utilize to continue practicing strategies on their own.
About the Speaker:
Kiran Johl (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a background in providing trauma-informed counseling and group therapy for physical and sexual abuse survivors. Kiran has experience in crisis intervention and case management which she sees as an important part of the therapeutic process. Kiran received her B.S. in Human Development from UC Davis, and her MSW from Sacramento State University.
Kiran’s approach is interactive and collaborative. She enjoys connecting clients with resources and discussing strategies that can support their emotional health outside of the counseling session. She has a special interest in working with women of color, individuals identifying as first or second generation, as well as those exploring cultural identity development. She also enjoys helping individuals who are experiencing life and/or career transitions.
Handling Work Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Date: Thursday, November 2nd, 2023
Time: Noon - 12:50 pm PST
Please join us on Thursday, November 2nd, for a lunch time workshop just for Berkeley Lab brought to us from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Handling Work Stress and Avoiding Burnout
Unhealthy work-stress can lead to reduced levels of productivity and performance and negatively impact our lives outside of work. Alternatively, stress managed well can help us create a healthy relationship with work that can strengthen our careers and positively impact our personal lives. This workshop will provide information on stress and burnout and introduce effective strategies to manage our work-stress including; boundary setting, focus strategies, and ways to build community at work.
About the Speaker:
Elliott DiTusa is one of the Employee Assistance counselors for LBNL staff and postdocs. Elliott is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 9 years of experience working in various Employee Assistance models. His work experience also includes providing individual and couples counseling at a group psychotherapy practice. Elliott received his BS in Secondary Education from Indiana University and his MA in Counseling with a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. Elliott enjoys serving all members of the LBL community, and has a special interest in working with those experiencing career stress/pressure, and work/life balance challenges
All Be Well at Work events require advance registration. Please click on the link in the event title to register.
Coping with Dementia: Tips and Tools for Family Caregivers as examined through the documentary"Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter"
Thursday, July 27th, 3 -4:30pm
Thursday, August 10th, 3 -4:30pm.
Join us for a two part series this summer aimed at taking a closer look at essential caregiver skills and coping tools for those caring for a loved one with dementia. We will view the seminal caregiver documentary “Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter” as our guide, which features Deborah Hoffman, an acclaimed Bay Area filmmaker, as she comes to terms with her Mother’s dementia and learns to care for her Mother and herself. Although this documentary was made in 1994, it remains a relevant must see for family caregivers striving to make sense of their loved one’s cognitive decline.
Skills highlighted will include tips for communication, addressing difficult behaviors, and the practice of holding on and letting go. This workshop series, offered in person, is for faculty and staff caring for a loved one with dementia. While it is suggested you attend both sessions, you may register for either session.
Click on the link below for more information and to register.