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  • Su salud mental es importante

    Su salud mental es importante

    Su salud mental es importante

    Es posible que finalmente estemos dando un paso definitivo sobre la pandemia de la COVID-19,

    pero el impacto en nuestra salud mental y emocional persiste. Muchos trabajadores de atención médica de primera línea siguen combatiendo el estrés, la depresión y el agotamiento. Si le suena familiar, esto es lo que necesita saber para cuidarse.

    Qué debe controlar

    • Cambios de humor notables, de la excitación a la depresión y viceversa
    • Dificultad para concentrarse
    • Inquietud y fatiga
    • Sentimientos prolongados de tristeza, preocupación o nerviosismo
    • Malos hábitos de sueño y alimentación
    • Evitar amigos o actividades sociales que solía disfrutar
    • Consumo excesivo de sustancias, como drogas y alcohol
    • Pensamientos suicidas

    Cuándo pedir ayuda

    Está bien no estar bien… excepto cuando no lo está. No es necesario estar en crisis antes de pedir ayuda. Si alguno de los síntomas anteriores está afectando su vida diaria, comunicarse con un profesional de la salud es el primer paso hacia un plan de tratamiento que puede ayudarle a sentirse mejor.

    Encuentre el apoyo que necesita

    Cuando tiene dificultades, intentar buscar ayuda puede sentirse como otra tarea para incorporar a su lista de quehaceres.

    Karinn Glover, MD, MPH

    FOTO: OREN SIDDO

    Si no tiene ninguna emergencia de salud mental, su médico primario puede ser un buen lugar para comenzar. Su médico no solo puede abordar cualquier síntoma físico, sino que también puede ponerle en contacto con un consejero, terapeuta o psiquiatra. Puede verificar si están en nuestra red en findadoc.1199SEIUBenefits.org.

    El equipo de consejeros y trabajadores sociales capacitados de nuestro Programa de Bienestar y Asistencia a los Miembros también puede ayudarlos a usted y a sus dependientes elegibles a encontrar apoyo relacionado con la salud mental. Toda la información que se comparta es confidencial y hay opciones multilingües disponibles. Para obtener más información, comuníquese con el Programa de Bienestar y Asistencia a los Miembros al (646) 473-6900.

    También puede dirigirse directamente a Teladoc.com para consultar los perfiles de especialistas en salud conductual, como psiquiatras, psicólogos, trabajadores sociales y otros profesionales de salud mental para programar una cita por video o teléfono. También puede llamarlos al (800) TELADOC (835-2362).

    Hay muchas formas de abordar el bienestar. Reír, ingerir buenas comidas que incluyan frutas y verduras, pasar tiempo en la naturaleza y hacer ejercicio, como bailar, son actividades muy importantes. La terapia grupal, la psicoterapia individual y, en ciertos casos, la medicación, también pueden desempeñar un papel vital en la preservación del bienestar bienestar.

    Karinn Glover, MD, MPH
    asistente de Psiquiatría para Pacientes Ambulatorios Adultos en Montefiore;
    profesora asistente de Psiquiatría y Ciencias del Comportamiento, Escuela de Medicina Albert Einstein

  • Más que una etapa: cómo ayudar a los niños a seguir adelante

    Más que una etapa: cómo ayudar a los niños a seguir adelante

    Más que una etapa: cómo ayudar a los niños a seguir adelante

    Se estima que 1 de cada 5 niños experimenta un problema de salud mental cada año, y con los cambios drásticos en la escuela, las actividades sociales y las rutinas a causa de la pandemia, más que nunca sufren problemas de salud mental. Si usted es un padre o una madre que siente preocupación por el bienestar emocional de su hijo, hay ayuda y hay esperanza. Comuníquese con un profesional de salud mental con el que pueda hablar a fin de obtener apoyo y asistencia para ayudar a su hijo.

    Qué debe controlar

    Muchos niños no se sienten cómodos hablando de sus sentimientos, especialmente con sus padres, por lo que la mayoría de los síntomas de los problemas de salud mental se presentan como comportamientos nuevos o modificados. Estas son algunas señales de alerta frecuentes:
    • Preocupación o ansiedad excesivas
    • Cambios en el desempeño escolar
    • Pesadillas frecuentes
    • Incumplimiento de las normas y comportamiento agresivo
    • Falta de interés por los amigos y las actividades sociales
    • Cambios de humor extremos

    Cómo obtener ayuda para su hijo

    Concrete una cita con su médico primario o profesional de salud mental lo antes posible. Pueden ayudarle a explorar los próximos pasos, que podrían incluir sesiones de terapia o medicamentos. Si su hijo representa un peligro para sí mismo o para los demás, obtenga tratamiento de emergencia de manera inmediata. Puede comunicarse al (646) 473-6900 para hablar con uno de los trabajadores sociales de nuestro Programa de Bienestar y Asistencia a los Miembros y obtener asistencia adicional.

    ¿Lo sabía?

    La salud mental no solo involucra la cabeza. Los estudios muestran que el estrés, la ansiedad y la depresión pueden afectar su sistema inmunitario y perjudicar la salud cardíaca a largo plazo. El estrés no tratado puede aumentar su riesgo de padecer hipertensión, infartos o accidentes cerebrovasculares.

    Recursos adicionales

  • Message From the Executive Director and CEO, Spring 2022

    Message From the Executive Director and CEO, Spring 2022

    Message From the Executive Director and CEO, Spring 2022

    Dear 1199SEIU Members,

    Spring is upon us! I hope it brings breathing space for you—time to focus on yourself, for a moment. You deserve it, having given your all on the frontlines of healthcare throughout the pandemic. Please take the time now to check in with yourself, especially regarding your health and wellness.

    This issue of For Your Benefit is designed to help you do just that, with resources and tips for your physical, mental and financial well-being. Our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Van H. Dunn, has important information to share about the best ways to check in and stay on track.

    When things get overwhelming for you or your loved ones, know that we are expanding the array of mental health resources available to support you. Taking care of your emotional well-being is as important to your physical health as it is to your mental health. We all suffer from stress, anxiety and depression at different times in our lives, and it is well documented in the medical community that this can lead to heart attacks, strokes, chronic conditions and death.

    Spring is upon us! I hope it brings breathing space for you — a time to focus on yourself, for a moment. Having given your all on the frontlines of healthcare, you deserve it.

    This issue includes a few guidelines for understanding when help is needed and how to get it. I encourage you to reach out and get support when you need it. Also in this issue, you’ll hear from member Malikah Weston, who shares her inspiring account of how she coped during the pandemic and survived a major health crisis.

    You’ll also find tips for staying on top of the health screenings and measures that can help you prevent or manage common chronic illnesses. And because staying healthy depends on your financial well-being, too, we’re providing updates about upcoming webinars that can help you better manage your money.

    Stress increases the risk of developing various chronic and other health conditions, including heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke. Mayo Clinic

    Finally, I’d like to acknowledge an important transition within the Family of Funds. Vivian Fox has retired after 16 years of unparalleled leadership as the Executive Director of the Child Care Funds and President of the 1199SEIU Child Care Corporation. We will miss her dearly, and we are heartened that she is leaving the funds in the expert hands of Rossmery Dais, who was most recently Deputy Executive Director.  Please join me in thanking Ms. Fox for her years of leadership and in welcoming Ms. Dais to her new role!


    Sincerely,


    Donna Rey, EdD
    Executive Director, 1199SEIU Benefit and Pension Funds
    CEO, 1199SEIU Funds Administrative Operations
  • Malikah Weston: Member Profile

    Malikah Weston: Member Profile

    Malikah Weston

    Malikah Weston counted on her health benefits to help her deal with anxiety during the pandemic—and survive a brain tumor.

    As a Direct Care Counselor at the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State, Malikah Weston has cared for people with developmental disabilities for more than 10 years. “I love what I do, knowing the people I care for will be able to do more,” she explains. And when she needed help, she knew she could rely on her Benefit Fund’s health coverage.

    Struggling Through the Pandemic

    At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malikah began to suffer from anxiety and nightly panic attacks that made it hard to sleep or breathe. “Everything was changing so quickly,” she says. “It was very difficult to learn exactly what was going on, or even just to find personal protective equipment.” A short time later, she lost her brother, with whom she had been extremely close, deepening her distress. Malikah knew she needed help and began therapy sessions—first virtually through Teladoc and later in person—that helped her cope and end the anxiety attacks.

    Then less than two months after her daughter, Serenity, was born last spring, Malikah was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Her doctors told her she needed surgery immediately or would lose sight in at least one eye—and that the situation could be life-threatening. “I was so scared,” Malikah remembers. “It could have been deadly, but my recovery was great. I shocked everyone by being back at work so quickly. I’m extremely grateful for my benefits!”

    Nothing can stop you from being who you are destined to be. Especially with your 1199SEIU benefits!

    Malikah Weston

    Direct Care Counselor

    Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State

    Caring for Herself so She Can Care for Others

    Since both diabetes and high blood pressure run in her family, Malikah carefully monitors her health. She walks 30 minutes each day in a nearby park and is thinking about taking up jogging again, which she used to do in high school. She’s careful about what she eats, too, avoiding salt, eating salads, swapping out soda for water, and making smoothies with cantaloupe, mango, spinach and kale.

    Despite all of the challenges she faced, Malikah continued to pursue her dream of one day becoming a case manager or behavioral specialist. Using her training and education benefits, she graduated last June with honors and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from the New York City College of Technology.

    Meanwhile, Malikah continues to enjoy helping those she cares for live healthy, productive lives. She admits it was a struggle to overcome her physical and emotional hurdles, but she says with a smile, “Nothing can stop you from being who you are destined to be. Especially with your 1199SEIU benefits!”

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  • A Message from Dr. Van H. Dunn, Chief Medical Officer, Spring 2022

    A Message from Dr. Van H. Dunn, Chief Medical Officer, Spring 2022

    A Message from Dr. Van H. Dunn, Chief Medical Officer, Spring 2022

    Stress Relief

    Try deep-breathing exercises, meditation or yoga.

    Enjoy the extra daylight and sunshine outdoors by taking a walk.

    Reconnect in person with friends and family members.

    Don’t go it alone: talk to a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.

    For more information on boosting your emotional well-being, see “Your Mental Health Matters”.

    These past few years have been challenging, taking a toll on the physical and emotional health of all of us. For healthcare workers and their families, it has been especially acute. Now that we have left the harshness of winter behind us and stepped into the sunshine of spring, it is time to renew our commitment to our physical and emotional well-being–one step at a time.

    Protect Your Physical Health

    Catching hidden conditions early can help you live a longer, Healthier Life During the COVID-19 pandemic, while many people got vaccinated against the virus, many missed routine vaccinations—such as for the flu, HPV, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and hepatitis—and lifesaving cancer screenings. So, if you have not visited your doctor’s office in a while, go ahead and schedule that appointment. Even if you are feeling great, there could be hidden conditions that your doctor should screen for. Catching these conditions early can keep you on your path to health and help you lead a longer life. That is why it is important to have a doctor you can trust, who listens to you and who you feel comfortable talking with. Relationships matter, and so do you. If you need to find a doctor, visit findadoc.1199SEIUBenefits.org.

    Protect Your Emotional Health

    Reducing stress and anxiety can decrease chronic conditionsMany of us have suffered from greater levels of stress during the pandemic. An April 2021 national survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Washington Post showed that almost two-thirds of frontline healthcare workers said that worry related to the pandemic negatively affected their mental health. Something as simple as deep breathing can help reduce stress. Reducing stress and anxiety can decrease your risk of high blood pressure, obesity, gastrointestinal distress and other chronic conditions. So, start breathing deeply, and if you would like to talk to someone, you can reach out to our Wellness Member Assistance Program social workers to help you find a therapist or you can go directly to our network or Teladoc to find one. If you need to find a therapist, visit findadoc.1199SEIUBenefits.org or Teladoc.com.
  • Boost Your Financial Health this Spring

    Boost Your Financial Health this Spring

    Boost Your Financial Health this Spring

    Worrying about money can affect your mental and physical health. That’s why your Benefit Fund offers “Take Charge of Your Finances,” the popular online series designed specifically for 1199SEIU members. When you register, you’ll get access to online presentations led by financial expert Ryan C. Mack. For your convenience, all classes will now be held on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm.
  • A Change in Leadership at CCF and CCC

    A Change in Leadership at CCF and CCC

    A Change in Leadership at CCF and CCC

    Vivian Fox, Executive Director of the 1199SEIU Child Care Funds (CCF) and President of the 1199SEIU Child Care Corporation (CCC) has retired, following 16 years of leadership and support for you, our members, and your children. Through her commitment to helping ensure quality child-care opportunities and benefit programs, Vivian modeled selfless service that has helped shape the academic and professional futures of generations of young people.
    Vivian modeled selfless service that has helped shape the academic and professional futures of generations of young people.
    While we say a fond farewell to Vivian, we are happy to welcome Rossmery Dais, MPA, as the new Executive Director of CCF and CCC President. Rossmery comes to her new role as an accomplished champion of children and families through her work in the nonprofit world for nearly 20 years. Working with CCF and CCC since 2008, she most recently served as Deputy Executive Director, overseeing programs and services provided to over 20,000 families annually. She also served as Co-director of the 1199SEIU/City of New York Education, Child and Eldercare Fund.

    Rossmery’s familiarity with CCF and CCC benefit programs and services has made for a seamless transition, and her passion for supporting you and your children will be invaluable as she continues to strengthen the solid foundation Vivian built.

    Rossmery comes to her new role as an accomplished champion of children and families through her work in the nonprofit world for nearly 20 years.
  • Training and Employment Funds Help You Advance Your Healthcare Career

    Training and Employment Funds Help You Advance Your Healthcare Career

    Training and Employment Funds Help You Advance Your Healthcare Career

    The Training and Employment Funds (TEF) offer a variety of programs that provide you with the skills you need to further your education and keep your career path on track.

    Prep Academy

    Prep Academy prepares you to return to school at various levels of education, including high school and college. Classes focus on reading comprehension, essay writing, math and science.

    Members’ Voices

    TEF’s programs were amazing! They helped me upgrade my position. I am now earning more money and can provide a better future for my family.

    Clarelle Karaha, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Brookhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Clarelle enrolled in Prep Academy, passed the licensed practical nurse (LPN) licensing exam and now works at Brookhaven as an LPN.

    After two unsuccessful attempts at getting my BSN, TEF helped guide me to a program that finally worked for me. Not only was I able to get my BSN, but I now also have a master’s degree!

    Lamin Jabang, RN Case Manager at Montefiore Medical Center. Lamin was an RN with an associate’s degree before he received his BSN in 2020 and then a master’s degree in case management.

    College Prep

    College Prep (the highest level of Prep Academy) prepares you to perform college-level work by attending classes on how to take college entrance exams or by completing three-credit math and English courses at various City University of New York campuses.

    Health Careers College Core Curriculum (HC4) Program

    The Health Careers College Core Curriculum (HC4) Program is a supported program for adult learners with little or no experience in higher education who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in various allied health fields. The HC4 Program works with college partners to enable you to take “core” prerequisite courses required to complete your degree.

    Nursing Degree Programs

    TEF provides case management, academic advising and support for members enrolled in registered nurse (RN) degree programs, Associate of Applied Science in Nursing programs, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs (including RN to BSN), and Master of Science in Nursing programs (including for nurse practitioner and other advanced nursing degrees). Financial assistance is available.

    For more information, including how to register, call (844) 833-1199.

  • Knowledge Is Power: Know Your Numbers, Protect Your Health

    Knowledge Is Power: Know Your Numbers, Protect Your Health

    Knowledge Is Power: Know Your Numbers, Protect Your Health

    It’s simple: Preventive screenings save lives. Knowing your health stats, like blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and checking them against health guidelines, can help you better manage ongoing conditions and alert you to any problems that could be brewing. Use the chart for quick reference of healthy ranges and make sure you’re up to date on recommended screenings and check-ups with your primary care provider.
  • New for Your Kids: “World of Money”

    New for Your Kids: “World of Money”

    New for Your Kids: “World of Money”

    Give your kids a head start learning about money and their finances by signing them up for the World of Money (WOM), a new benefit offered in partnership with the Benefit Funds’ Financial Wellness Program and the Child Care Corporation. The program offers self-guided online courses that provide children age 15 through 17 with a financial education that lets them learn at their own pace.