Mental Health - Support, Educate, Discover

#MentalHealth is a topic that has broken through to the mainstream, shedding the stigmas that surround it, and as a society, our culture is now promoting #mentalhealthawareness not just for individuals, but for everyone in our lives.  

"Human nature is imperfect, yet the paradox is that we are whole within that sphere of imperfection."

As much as we have to focus on profits and gains, we must equally focus attention inward toward ourselves, our team, and the company to determine how to best reach each team member with our message of continuous support....on all kinds of days. 

As one of the founding members of our Culture Crew, and a proud member of our People Ops team at Vcheck Global, I am honored to be able to amplify messages such as this to the whole team. We compiled an internal 3 page resource in honor of EACH person that comprises our talented team, and out of our commitment to every individual's mental health. We've included over 40 links, and care to share them with our networks. Quite often, small actions can matter most.

Special thank yous to Andrea Lassen, Ki Lin Tay, Esq., Rebecca Handler, Justin Perron, Chris De Armas, Noah Pinck

LI doesn't allow for a linked pdf to upload, therefore, our message & links are below.

The Culture Crew & People Operations Team at Vcheck wants to acknowledge & honor our entire team during National Mental Health Awareness month this May, and promote ongoing daily mental health rituals that allow you to be the best version of you.

Everyone’s mental health is unique to themselves. It isn't always about "being happy" and can look like a lot of different things for different people (allowing yourself to cry when you need it, having a difficult conversation with a friend, or giving yourself time for self-care). Positive mental health is required for our individual ability to fulfill all we are capable of. We may worry about many things, but when we live in a chaotic world, we need to recognize the importance of taking a pause to take care of ourselves. Self-care is self-love.

“Health does not always come from medicine. Most of the time, it comes from peace of mind, peace in the heart, peace in the soul. It comes from laughter and love.” - Unknown

Mental health care doesn’t have to involve massive amounts of time, money or energy. Small additions or changes to your daily routine can have a major impact on your health and wellbeing over time. Here are some ways to take care of your mental health:

• Be active. Experts say that exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. “Being active” is broad, and also encompasses activities such as walking, running errands, gardening. household chores and improvements.
• Talk about your feelings and share with others. Talking about an issue can help you cope with a problem rather than letting it roll around in your head. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone, and helps strengthen our connections with other people. Human connection has been shown to decrease health risks and improve physical well-being and longevity.
• Ask for help. There are times that may feel overwhelming to navigate, and you don’t have to do it alone. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope - ask for help. Most insurances, including Vcheck’s, offer access to mental health professionals. If you don’t know where to turn, reach out to People Ops, and we’ll help you find the resources you need. We’ve included a list of resources below too!
• Take a Break. Oftentimes, we get caught up in the day to day - and we all know that things are always busy here at Vcheck! People who take vacations have lower stress, less risk of heart disease, a better outlook on life, and more motivation to achieve goals. Be sure to use your PTO and take some time off for longer breaks, and each day, take a break by stepping outside for a bit of fresh air. And let’s not forget the importance of a reinvigorating lunch: watch a favorite video, put on your favorite playlist, walk your pup! Some teammates find an immediate boost by setting a timer to get up from the computer, stretch, take in a few deep breaths of air - every little bit does help.
• Help Others. Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health. They may even live longer.

We hope that each of you takes time for yourselves, not just this month, but every month. We know that work can be demanding, and thank you for all that you do, but your health and wellbeing are what matter most to your colleagues and leaders here at Vcheck. 

Please check out this list of resources you can utilize to help you on your journey. 

Headspace (free w/select insurance)

Meditations and Mindfulness Apps - free for everyone

• Guided Morning Meditation
• 5 Minute Meditation for Gratitude
• 10-minute Meditation for Anxiety
• Grounding Meditation
• Insight Timer - a free app for sleep, anxiety, and stress – and it also offers a large library of free meditations
• Meditation Minis - a guided meditation podcast that functions like an app

Podcasts

• The Meditation Podcast
• The Mindful Minute
• The Meditation Station

Book lists:

• Healthline’s list of the 13 Best Mental Health Books, which includes best books by topic
• Men’s Health’s list of The 20 Best Mental Health Books to Read in 2022 (they’re not just for men!)

Talk Therapy:

• Why Therapy Isn’t Just for People with “Problems”
• Finding a Therapist can be super overwhelming! Here are pandemic guidelines & tips on finding a therapist. Remember, it is sort of like dating meaning you may need to try a couple out before finding your best match. 
• With Blue Shield of CA, you have access to Teladoc. You should have received a Teladoc Card upon enrollment in your health plan, but you can also access more information by calling 1-800-TELADOC (835-2362) or through their website, blueshieldca.com/Teladoc
• Link to Blue Shield’s Behavioral Health Services
• Talkspace

Therapeutic Modalities: There are many different kinds of therapy and what works for one person might not be helpful for another. Here is a great website that explains a little about different types of therapy so you can find what might be the best fit for you! Some popular modalities are:

• CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 
• DBT - Dialectical Behavior Therapy
• Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Therapy

Exercise or Yoga:

Join us for Yoga at Work w/Noah! Bring a mat, towel/blanket, or chair for this Bi-weekly, 30 min Yoga session led by a certified instructor

There are thousands of free workout and yoga videos on YouTube! A few instructors that our People Ops team have utilized and love are: 

• Yoga with Adriene - Yoga
• Sydney Cummings - Strength and cardio training
• Kit Rich - Strength and cardio training with minimal equipment
• Lumowell Workout Videos - Various HIIT training

Volunteer

Find somewhere in your area to volunteer at VolunteerMatch.org

Hobbies

Top 40 Hobbies to Boost Mental Health

Hobbies for Mental Health or Anxiety

Music is good for your mind and soul

Additional reading and resources on Mental Health Awareness Month

• NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness 
• Mental Health Awareness Month | SAMHSA

Be Open, Take a Break, and Get Fresh Air

• How to Embrace Vulnerability as Your Greatest Strength
• Be Nurtured by Nature
• 13 Ways to Project Positive Energy