Mental / Emotional Wellbeing – CVM Wellbeing Blog

Mental Health First Aid Comes to NC State and the CVM!

Support for mental health and wellbeing on campus is expanding. As part of a major UNC System initiative announced earlier this Fall NC State is joining a statewide effort to train 10,000 students, staff, and faculty in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a training program that empowers individuals in the community to recognize and address mental health and substance use challenges and crises.

“Just like with physical first aid, people trained in Mental Health First Aid have the opportunity to save a life,” Shannon Dupree, Director of Wellness at University Wellness and graffiti that reads ask a question save a life Recreation explains in a recent NC State news story on NC State’s rollout of initiative. The program, which has already trained millions of people across the US, trains participants to recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges, interact with and provide assistance to someone who is in crisis, and connect them to resources for help. With 1 in 5 adults experiencing mental illness in any given year, every person who completes the training can make a huge positive impact. “Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis” according to the MHFA website.

Here at the CVM, Sheri Renno, Assistant Dean, CVM Human Resources and Julia Rice, Director of Wellbeing were among the first cohort of 16 faculty and staff at NC State to complete instructor certification to train others in MHFA. A second cohort of 9 faculty and staff followed, resulting in a total of 25 certified MHFA Instructors on NC State’s campus. The NC State instructor cohort is collaborating on the roll-out, and training dates are being offered as early as December 2021. NC State staff, faculty, students, and house officers can complete MHFA training free of charge, as a part of the UNC System Initiative.

Everyone can play a role in supporting mental health. The MHFA initiative at NC State aims to break down barriers for getting help, and in so doing, reduce stigma around mental illness.

MHFA Course offerings at the CVM will be announced at a later date. Those interested can read more about the initiative and its rollout at NC State, or reach out to Sheri Renno and Julia Rice (sarenno@ncsu.edu and jcrice3@ncsu.edu) for questions.

The Educator’s Pledge

Recently, members of the Academy of Educators (AoE) and the NC State branch of the Southeastern Veterinary Education Consortium’s (SEVEC’s) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion working group have been invited to participate in an initiative called the Educator’s Pledge, a personal intentional pledge to create learning environments that are more inclusive, equitable and supportive of diversity through our habits and actions. It has been exciting to see so many colleagues at the CVM enthusiastically making their pledges and sharing them publicly (which is part of the process, so what we can all be held accountable).

While working on my own Pledge (see below), I reached out to AoE director, Jesse Watson to give us an overview of what the pledge is all about:

What is the purpose of the Educator’s Pledge?

– The Educator’s Pledge is about using intentional practice to change our habits and create a more inclusive, equitable, and diversity supportive learning environment for our students. We want to adjust our cultural norms to better reflect the needs of our students and graduates.

Who started the pledge? Who was invited to take part?

– The Pledge comes out of the Southeastern Veterinary Education Consortium’s (SEVEC’s) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion working group. This includes representatives from nine CVMs in our region collaborating to support each other in becoming better educators and educational institutions. Each college is participating to a different degree, and some are waiting to join us in Fall 2021. Within NCSU, we’ve advertised the pledge within the Academy of Educators, though anyone is welcome to join.

How did the idea for the Educator’s Pledge come about?

– There are many excellent programs for increasing awareness of these issues and beginning the lifelong process of self-educating. We have folks like Dr. Cannedy and all the projects coming through the CVM Diversity Committee, the Faculty Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (FCDI) as well as the NCBI and training provided by NCSU main campus. The Educator’s Pledge is designed to come in after you’ve attended a couple of these or similar opportunities and are trying to figure out what you can do in your own practice. It is intended to be an entry point to taking action and applying what you have learned, and hopefully are continuing to learn. It’s also designed to have some fairly “light lift” options for engagement. Not everyone is prepared, able, or interested in becoming a crusader, and some action plans can be intimidating, or even impossible for folks. We wanted to provide a scaffold for folks in different situations to work towards positive change at the level they can do. Further, we wanted to create something that was community building. To this end, we ask that every pledge be made publically. This is not only to share what you’re doing, but to show that it’s worth doing. This is how we grow one person’s desire to improve into a community-level movement.

My Pledge (Julia Rice):

I am an Educator.
As an Educator, I am responsible for providing the best education I can for my students.
As an Educator, I am responsible for acknowledging that I and my students live in a world full of prejudices that wrongfully disadvantage many in our field, our college, and our classrooms.
As an Educator, I am responsible for constant efforts to maintain awareness of these prejudices and to provide an education that actively works against oppression.
This is how I strive to be a good Educator.Educating is hard work that requires honesty, humility, and help from you, my students.
I am asking for help to do right by our field, by our college, and by you.
I take this pledge anew each semester to include a specific and observable teaching practice in support of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
I choose a different practice to incorporate each semester, and the practice I choose for this semester is described below.
Please support me in this effort through your feedback, recommendations, and reminders.
We can do better, together.

I pledge to continue developing myself through learning in the GLBT Advocate Program at NC State, as well as the Foundations in Cultural Competence and Inclusivity Certificate Program for Faculty. I also pledge to be a Wellbeing Ally by reaching out to check in with three CVM community members per week.

For more information on the Educator’s Pledge and how to participate, contact Jesse Watson at jwatson3@ncsu.edu

Wellbeing Weekly – November 18, 2020

Happy Finals Week, All! Here’s your weekly resource roundup:

Social/Cultural/Emotional/Mental Wellbeing

This time of year, many look forward to celebrating holidays with family and friends – after a long and challenging year, we all need something to look forward to. However, with the steep rise in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, staying safe this holiday season will mean making adjustments to our traditions, practices and expectations of the holiday this year. The CDC provides extensive guidelines and measures to keep holiday gathering attendees safe, but the task of complying with these guidelines would take an incredibly coordinated effort, likely diminishing quality of time spent together, creating boatloads of stress, and missing the mark on the experience you were hoping for. Not to mention, any gathering poses serious risks this year – even if these measures are adhered to. It may be a good idea to seriously consider the risks – COVID exposure certainly, but also the mental and social stress involved in attending a holiday gathering this year.

For many of us, the thought of not being with loved ones during the holidays is a hard one to face. However, the holidays this year will be different no matter how you look at it – be mindful of your expectations and be open to new approaches this year. Take time to talk with your family, friends, housemates about alternative ways you might celebrate this year – come up with some new, creative and safe ways you can make your holiday season special in lieu of traditions that are just too risky this year. Choose three ways (within your control) that you can make it a meaningful holiday season for you. Document your holiday in a journal, scrapbook or through cell phone photos and videos. Identifying the positives and giving yourself things to look forward to will help you get through it. Think about how you’d like to look back on this holiday season someday – Would you regret taking the risks you’re considering if someone you love were to get sick? Or would a new approach create memories of new traditions, and a time of personal growth, resilience and joy in a difficult time? Discussing your feelings with family and friends may help you feel more assured in making responsible decisions this year – your positive outlook on doing things differently might help them feel better too.

If you’re celebrating in-person, it may be best to stick to doing so with those in your household, and focus your energies on making the most of the situation we’re in. Many folks out there (myself and my husband included) are planning a stay-at-home, scaled-down Thanksgiving this year with the help of reputable cooking and recipe sites such as this one, this one and this one. You might consider pastimes that give you a reprieve from screens such as a new board game or an old classic card game. If Zoom or other video chat services are your only way to connect with loved ones, suggest an activity haven’t done in a while, such as classic parlor games like Charades or 20 Questions, or newer, discussion-based games like Table Topics. For the Zoom-weary, having a loosely structured, fun activity to engage in together can be a helpful way to get through any awkwardness and focus the collective emotions of the moment in a positive direction.

Physical Wellbeing: Nutrition

Students and House Officers: Did you know that your health plan covers nutritional counseling sessions as well? Registered dieticians are available for phone or video consultation visits, which can be scheduled online via HealthyPackPortal or by calling 919.515.2563.

Faculty and Staff, you’ve got coverage for nutrition too! Under the 70/30 and 80/20 Plan, adult and child (age 6+) nutrition and weight management services are included under the Affordable Care Act’s preventive services, meaning that they are covered at no out-of-pocket cost to you. The Employee Benefits page provides more information on this coverage. To find an in-network dietitian, use the Find a Doctor tool and search under “Specialist” for a licensed dietitian/nutritionist. Not sure how to narrow down your options? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a helpful page providing further guidance on selecting the Registered Dietician Nutritionist that’s a good fit for you.

Financial Wellbeing

Faculty and Staff – For many in our community, 2020 has been a financially devastating year. If you are in a position to make a contribution, the State Employees Combined Campaign presents a great way to dedicate funds each month to go to organizations that support communities and people in need. More information can be found on the North Carolina SECC website. Mat Gerard is the CVM SECC Representative for 2020. He recently sent out an email with information on this years campaign and can help answer questions you might have. Pledges can be made through mid-December, and can be made online through the link above. There is a long list of great charities included in the giving guide – I hope you will take a look and consider a gift if you are able and moved to do so.

Environmental Wellbeing

In case you missed the announcement this Fall, you may be proud to learn that NC State University has been named among 10 “Energy Elite” colleges and universities by the American Energy Society (AES).

The report, Top Energy Universities 2020, cited NC State as “the most accomplished and least recognized program in the country.” You can learn more about this accomplishment on the NC State Sustainability Blog.

Career Wellbeing

A job search can, let’s face it, feel like a full-time job in itself! For those on the hunt for jobs right now, it may be hard to find the time to conduct your search. Enter: The Making Time Workbook. Kudos to Amanda Bates, our Director of Career Services and Professional Development for providing this handy guide, which helps you manage all aspects of your job search – and make the time to do so. The workbook can be found in the Career Services Toolkit online for students.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Wellbeing Wednesday resource roundup, and that you found an item or two that might be of use to you. Next week, I’ll take a break from sending the newsletter to enjoy some time for my own wellbeing, but will be back in your inbox the first week of December! Until then, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday break.

All the best,

Julia Rice
CVM Director of Wellbeing

Wellbeing Weekly – November 11, 2020

Happy Wednesday, CVM!!

Here’s this week’s roundup of resources! There are big things ahead, so in preparation, I hope you’re finding manageable ways to take care of your needs, enjoy yourselves, and support wellbeing for yourself and those around you! As we navigate challenges big and small, the care that we invest in ourselves helps us to persevere and find our way through. I hope this week’s list helps you carve out some room for Wellbeing this week – there are plenty of links to quick reads and no-fuss resources. As always, I welcome your feedback, thoughts, concerns, ideas, and input!

SOCIAL
Zoom: Let’s be real, many of us might be experiencing a love-hate relationship with the popular video conferencing service right now. On one hand, the technology has been tremendously beneficial in helping us adapt to the need for social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, Zoom Fatigue is real, y’all! If you’ve been feeling a bit “zoomed out” lately, this article from the Harvard Business Review helps us understand why, and offers tips for reducing Zoom fatigue that are worth taking a look at. I’ve also found it helpful to think about the ways we bring human connection into our Zoom meetings. Sheri Renno recently mentioned to me that she had noticed that there’s a lot of waving at the end of Zoom meetings… She said she had wondered, we don’t do that in person, so why in Zoom? As it turns out, there are reasons for this phenomenon that have to do with our ability to adapt communication skills and social cues when the practices we’re used to are unavailable to us. When you think about it, it’s kind of amazing that as humans, our natural need for certain social patterns will find a way. It reminds us of our social resilience and inherent drive to maintain social connection. So as we Zoom on into Winter, keep an eye out for those social gestures that keep us connected – taking a moment now and then to appreciate our ability to adapt and stay connected might be a small help in keeping your relationship with Zoom a healthy one. After all, it doesn’t look like we’re breaking up anytime soon. 🙂

PHYSICAL
As daylight savings time has ended and we approach the end of the semester and coming winter, some of us might find ourselves turning to those festive treats (that are so plentiful this time of year) and overindulging as a result of the stress of the season. It might help to plan ahead a bit this year for healthy strategies to mitigate stress, such as meditation, exercise and socializing. But also perhaps a “Nutritional Tune-Up” is in order before we head into the season of winter indulgence. Integrative medicine suggests that certain nutrients and foods can help with managing stress levels. Other experts say that research linking food to stress management is limited, but stress that our bodies do need enough of certain nutrients to function properly. If you’re experiencing high levels of stress lately, it may be worth taking a moment to reflect on your recent eating habits. If you’re short time, bandwidth or motivation, peruse these snack and meal ideas for a bit of inspiration. If you’ve got a healthy go-to (for me, it’s having a mid-afternoon apple or orange for a bit of an energy boost to finish the day strong!) think about stocking up now if you have a busy week coming (ahem, exams!) Look for nutrient rich options and take it easy on the sugar and caffeine. Now’s a good time to think ahead a few weeks – a little preparation and nutritional self-care before going into a hectic time can go a long way!

EMOTIONAL/MENTAL
Mindfulness, Meditation, and Making It a Habit: New Community Discussion Circle option for Spring 2021! As studies have shown and you may know, mindfulness and meditation is good for our minds and bodies. Like many folks, you may have been curious about mindfulness but just don’t know how it could apply in everyday life… You might be interested in meditating but maybe doubtful about it making it work for you and your schedule? You’re not alone! This Spring, I’ll be leading a new discussion circle: “Mindfulness, Meditation, and Making It a Habit” (when time, energy, and focus may not be plentiful). This 10-week program will be framed around Dan Harris’ book: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics (books will be provided for registered participants). The book explores not only how to meditate, but how to get past the hurdles and misconceptions that can get in the way of us making a regular practice of it. Each week, we’ll dive into a chapter of the book, gathering as a larger group to discuss what we’ve learned, practice meditating together, and suggest some topics for further discussion in breakout groups or individual reflection. If you’re interested, or even curious, I hope you’ll join us!

CULTURAL

The Council on the Status of Women’s Sisterhood Celebration committee is seeking students, staff, faculty and alum to speak to the challenges faced since February 2020. These 5-minute “TED Talk” style segments will allow for members of the campus community to share their stories, and provide a place to start as we rethink normal in a shared space. Community Story submissions are being accepted thru December 6th. 3 – 4 selected stories will be chosen and shown during this year’s virtual Sisterhood Celebration. Members of the community who identify as women can submit stories here: Sisterhood Celebration: Call for Community Stories Submission Form. If you have any questions, please contact the planning team at sisterhooddinner@ncsu.edu For more information about the Sisterhood Celebration theme or the call for Community Stories please visit go.ncsu.edu/sisterhood

The African American Cultural Center invites you to tell your truth and explore new ways of thinking about Black experiences during our Kuumba Storytelling and Coffee Hour on November 11 at 7:30 pm over Zoom. This event is part of our Kwanzaa celebration and is open to all members of the NC State community! You can register to tell your story here, and click here for Zoom registration.

CAREER

Sometimes when we’ve got a lot on our plates, we suddenly realize, “I could use some skills to better handle (x)” or “I ought to see if there is a professional development opportunity for (y)”… If ideas like these come to mind, but there’s no time right now, I encourage you to keep a Professional Development Wish List so you can keep track of areas you want to grow your skills and your career path. When you’re ready, chances are, and opportunity is available to you! NC State students, faculty and staff have access to LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com). You can learn how to access these resources for free here: https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/faq/how-do-i-access-linkedin-learning-nc-state-community-member

FINANCIAL

If you are looking to sharpen your financial savvy, but could use a diversion right now, check out Five Money Musts, and interactive game from Fidelity, that was recommended by CVM’s very own Andrew Rotz. It’s a good way to test your ability to make financial decisions, and learn where you might need to hone in on a better strategy. Game on!

ENVIRONMENTAL

photo of skycrest suspension bridge, raleigh greenway — Skycrest suspension bridge, Neuse River Trail, Photo: Wikipedia

Did you know that Raleigh has a Greenway system with more than 100 miles of trails to explore? In 1969, the City of Raleigh published the Raleigh Capital Improvement Plan, called “the park with a city in it,” in which a greenway system was proposed. You might have known that, but did you know that the actual plan for the Greenway was designed by a landscape architecture graduate student at NC State University, William L. Flournoy, Jr.? The unseasonably nice weather we’ve been having lately presents a great opportunity to hit the trails, relieve some stress, and take in the benefits of being in nature. A map of the greenway system can be viewed here, and for more information and a link to the Greenway App, visit the City Of Raleigh’s Website: https://raleighnc.gov/find-a-trail

Have a wonderful week ahead, everyone!

All the best,
Julia

Julia Rice
Director, CVM Wellbeing