Let’s Weather This Storm Together
In these uncertain times, don’t forget that you have some amazing people and services at your fingertips.
As an employee of a VEHI member school district (or supervisory union), you have free access to a whole host of benefits to help you stay well if you are quarantined, lonely OR just feeling the need. Log in to your PATH Account for the following:
[NOTE: We are updating this post regularly as information changes and grows]
Progress Coaching — Wellness coaches who can help you with decision making, goal setting, habit building, and just plain processing — all over the phone. Jump start your energy and get on the PATH to your dreams with our fabulous coaches. Go to your PATH account and click on the words Progress Coaching next to the little coach.
Invest EAP — Licensed, clinical mental health counselors who can help you deal with crisis, change, stress, you name it. They are working on web-based and telephonic counseling to keep you safe and still get the help you need. Contact them any time and they’ll match you to the services that are best for you. No issue is too difficult for them to handle. Call 1-800-287-2173. Website: www.investeap.org Specifc help for COVID-19: www.investeapcovid19.org
Telemedicine — American Well (AmWell), our provider through BCBS of Vermont, “has established a Telehealth Response Program to support the use of telehealth as an initial COVID-19 screening tool, which includes an always-on-call infection control officer. NOTE: There may be a fee depending on your BCBSVT plan and you will need to present a credit card to enroll if so. Telemedicine is a key element to controlling the spread of COVID-19. Whether you are concerned about coronavirus or a non-urgent concern, staying home reduces your exposure and the spread of COVID-19, available 24/7.” We encourage members to download the Amwell app
Exercise Video Library — Need a good exercise program you can do at home? Stream any one of 14 PATH exercise videos in the NEW library. Go to “PATH Community and Keeping Fit” and scroll down to see the library. There’s a different video for every day of a quarantine plus two more in the current PATH Adventure, Joy Ride.
- Oh, and Get Outside! It is safe to go outside, being outside in nature is really good for your immune system and your mental health. Keep a reasonable distance from others and stay safe in all the conventional ways. Worried about Parks? Here is a Joint Statement on Using Parks and Open Space While Maintaining Social Distancing from the National Recreation and Parks Association.
Peer Coaching — A course to help you and a pal reach your wellness goals. Work virtually with a friend to keep your distance but still support each other. Meet via web-based video chat tools and talk about the course units. Then work on your goals and continue to check in. It’s a great time to support a buddy through a new challenge! The course gives you some great skills to do so.
Joy Ride — Keep working on spotting the joy in the little things. If you’re not already involved in Joy Ride, there are two and a half weeks left. We’d be happy to give anyone free access to the previous week’s material to help lighten your mood. Just contact our office using the Contact Support tab on our website (www.tomypath.com)
Further support can be found at:
BCBSVT is offering up-to-date information on your benefits and how to stay safe:
http://www.bcbsvt.com/health-and-wellness/coronavirus-update/
The CDC continues to provide updates as well as the World Health Organization:
https://www.cdc.gov/ and https://www.who.int/
Follow local information from UVM Medical Center here: https://www.uvmhealth.org
For Language Barriers: From the VT Dept of Health: “Please feel free to distribute this video link widely to any businesses, etc. that may find them helpful – it is information on Coronavirus translated into several languages, developed by folks on the Refugee Health Committee in Vermont.” https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3zjPpeFnXqvESr1y3d4DvQ/?fbclid=IwAR3T_Tgf9j34z5R-1c50mjWK55kpzM3OInKAMgyeDFbF8Yki3ZG2Py5lQ_M
Finally,
Feel free to email me even if you just want to chat: [email protected]
I know these are hard and confusing times. I’m happy to talk it out with you. We’re all in this together and all deeply affected. We’re here for you and know that this too will pass. The questions that remain are, “Who do you want to be in this time” and “Who do you want to be when a sense of normalcy returns”? VEHI PATH is here to help you answer those questions.
We believe in you and our exciting future together.
“Hard times are like a washing machine, they twist, turn and knock us around, but in the end we come out cleaner, brighter and better than before.” — Anonymous
Let us know what else we can do.
See you on the PATH Ahead.
Gillian and the PATH Team: Shevonne, Amy, Ashley and VEHI
www.tomypath.com
[email protected]