Wednesday Word: The "Silent" Place

October 4 – 10 is National Mental Health Awareness Week

Long before COVID and long after COVID, the importance of improving mental health will remain essential. However, essentiality does not always yield the focus and awareness that is warranted. October 4 – 10 is National Mental Health Awareness Week

Long before COVID and long after COVID, the importance of improving mental health will remain essential. However, essentiality does not always yield the focus and awareness that is warranted.

When we think of an illness, physical ailments come to mind.  Most prevalent in our minds today is COVID-19. Concerns about recent racial, social, political, or occupational issues can also manifest physically, resulting in illness.

But there are also reticent symptoms. Burnout, stress, anxiety and depressions are among them.

Silent symptoms, screaming for attention in an often lonely place—a place that’s different for everyone. A place that few can articulate or willing to admit. A place that very few hear.

That’s changing.

Goldfarb will help support this change. We recognize the power physical, spiritual and emotional health has on the mental wellbeing of our community. As nurse leaders, being the heart of healthcare, it is imperative that we show ourselves the compassion and attention we show others.

If ever you find yourself in that “place,” with our affiliation to BJC HealthCare, we have contracted with the BJC Student Assistance Program (SAP) to provide professional counseling services to our students. The SAP is a confidential service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no cost to you. BJC Student Assistance Program provides a team of professionals ready to help. Just call 314.747.7490 or 888.505.6444 to get help. You can also visit www.bjceap.org to learn more.

Many additional resources are also available:

•           BJC Behavioral Health Response is available as a resource at 314.469.6644 or toll-free 800.811.4760

•           The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at toll-free 800.273.TALK (8255)

•           Life Crisis Services are available 24/7 at 314.647.HELP (4357)

These services are also available to faculty and staff.

Additionally, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recently “endorsed a new resolution titled A Call to Action for Academic Nurse Leaders to Promote Practices to Enhance Optimal Well-being, Resilience, and Suicide Prevention in U.S. Schools of Nursing. Given the need to protect the health and well-being of nursing students and faculty, this resolution calls for a renewed focus on programs and resources that promote sound mental health, physical health, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and well-being. Click here to see the AACN resolution online

At Goldfarb, we also stress the importance of maintaining mental health via exercise, reading, volunteering and building a network of trusted confidants. These are just few methods that will help enhance wellbeing and are especially important during this time of physical distancing.

Change may be not be as fast as we’d like. Be encouraged that it is happening, intentional and will be sustainable. Remember, it takes all of us as Goldfarb continues to Go Forward—TOGETHER.