Six free counseling sessions are only the beginning. Explore the well-being tools and support available to Yale employees and household members.

Illustration of a woman sitting in a chair outside looking at her phone.

AI-generated image, created and edited by William Buccheri.

Sometimes when facing the ups and downs of everyday life, it is comforting to know that Yale’s mental and emotional well-being offerings are a click or a phone call away.

The long and the short of it

Emotional Well-being Solutions (EWS) through Optum is short-term support for challenging life events or everyday concerns. People often engage with the program for help navigating relationship problems, workplace conflicts, financial concerns, caregiver support, and stress, anxiety, and depression. This benefit provides up to six free, confidential counseling sessions and is available to all Yale employees and their household members; you do not need to be enrolled in any university health plan to access this benefit. Sessions are available in-person or virtually.

If, after the six sessions, there is a need for more specific clinical care, medication management, a specific diagnosis, or long-term support, your health insurance plan will guide you to a behavioral health service to meet these needs.

Human Resources’ Lisa Kimmel, director of employee well-being, recently shared her own example. “I reached out to Optum when I was approaching the empty-nest phase, experiencing a multitude of emotions as many parents do,” she said. “Having a safe space to be vulnerable was liberating. By my final session, I acquired practical skills to navigate a sea of intense emotions. But if we had discovered any underlying issues requiring further attention, Optum would work with me to find a behavioral health provider through my medical insurance to continue my journey.”

More than just the six

Optum offers services beyond the six free and confidential counseling sessions. Staff, faculty, postdoctoral associates, postdoctoral fellows, and Local 33 PhD graduate students can schedule a virtual or in-person session with Yale’s dedicated counselors, Dr. Amy Sceery and Rebecca Colasanto. They are trained not only to counsel, but also to help you decide what you need and where to get it. Since this service is only for the groups noted above, household members should contact 866-416-6586 to find an EWS provider through the Optum network.

In supplying anonymous feedback, two Yale employees noted that “Amy was exceptional. A great listener, and she provided very tailored advice,” and “Rebecca was monumental in helping me through a difficult period of my life.”

Enhanced caregiver support

Optum has enhanced caregiver support and initial consultations with mediators or financial and legal experts. Through the program, you can receive six hours of telephonic support from an experienced care manager, along with a virtual assessment conducted by a registered nurse or other qualified professional for your loved one.

Support also includes:

  • Recommendations for your care recipient based on individual needs
  • Verified resources and referrals to help you navigate your caregiver needs
  • Access to monthly caregiver education sessions on topics such as how to have a successful family caregiver meeting, dementia care, caregiving for yourself when you are a caregiver, and more
  • Access to weekly 20-minute mindfulness meditations led by a certified facilitator

Calm Health

Many may be familiar with the free, premium membership for the Calm app. As part of an update to Optum’s health and wellness program offerings, the Calm app is being replaced with Calm Health, an expanded app that can help in relieving stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and living more mindfully. It also includes clinical programs developed by psychologists, targeted support for specific mental health needs, and much more. Current Calm subscriptions will end on October 1 and will be replaced by Calm Health. The enhanced version can be accessed now.

To sign up for Calm Health:

  1. Visit the registration page to get started.
  2. Log in with your existing Calm credentials or create an account.
  3. Get the Calm Health mobile app (from the Apple App Store or Google Play) on your mobile device and log in with your Calm credentials.

Not sure where to start?

Optum’s website is a good place to go if you are having trouble deciding where to start. Register by creating an anonymous username to begin browsing resources. You can also call 866-416-6586 to speak with a navigation specialist.

Mental health first aid training

Yale employees can get certified in adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and be ready to help someone in their department, family, or community. It’s the first support you can offer to a person who is having a mental health or substance abuse crisis until clinical treatment or support arrives, or until the situation resolves itself. The course consists of two hours of asynchronous online pre-work and two 4-hour in-person sessions (with breaks). Employees receive certification when all parts of the training, including the two live sessions, have been taken.

The next sessions will take place on:

  • October 14 & 15, 12:30 – 4:30 PM (attending both dates required)
  • 221 Whitney Ave., Training Rooms 5&6

Register through WorkDay Learning. Registration closes September 21. For more information, contact Danielle Casioppo.

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