Return to campus: Supporting faculty and staff mental health

As many of us prepare to return to campus, some will experience excitement, while others may have concerns and feel some anxiety.  If you need mental health support outside of your networks, UBC provides the following resources.

Employee and Family Assistance Program – LifeWorks

Have you accessed our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)? While some people are aware they can access clinical counsellors through our EFAP, not as many individuals access the articles, self-guided programs (like CareNow a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-based program), and online assessments that are available. These supports, which are 100% paid for by UBC, are available on-demand to help bolster your mental health before you need to reach out for additional support from a health care professional.

To access LifeWorks

• Visit ubc.lifeworks.com
• Log in using Company Code: ubc
• You will then be redirected to a CWL page. Enter your login name, password, and multi-factor authentication as you normally would

Mental health services through your extended benefits

Through UBC’s extended health benefits, you can seek support from registered/licensed clinical psychologists, or registered/licensed social workers, or clinical counsellors and they are 100% covered to a limit of $2,500 per year, per person based on reasonable and customary charges (maximum increasing to $3,000 per year, per person, effective October 1, 2021.)

We have also developed a video how-to guide to show how you can view your psychological services coverage in the benefits portal.

Support your team by becoming a Not Myself Today ambassador

If you would like to take on a more active role in your team to share helpful mental health content, including articles, podcasts, and other tools with your colleagues, consider joining the other 40+ Not Myself Today ambassadors across UBC.

Not Myself Today ambassadors are champions for mental health. They encourage teams and colleagues to remain resilient in the face of our changing work environment and create a space for people to be honest about how they are feeling. We know people are busy, and we know some people don’t feel comfortable being seen as mental health experts. That is why the Canadian Mental Health Association developed Not Myself Today to connect people and teams with resources, lesson plans, and direct support to help de-stigmatize mental health and foster a safe and supportive work environment. 

To sign up to be a Not Myself Today ambassador or for any questions, please visit the Not Myself Today page or contact Crystal Hutchinson at UBC Vancouver and Amanda Swoboda at UBC Okanagan.

Mental health toolkits for managers and leaders to support your teams

Three toolkits are available for each mental health support listed above to provide leaders with additional information. The toolkits include email templates and key messages, as well as articles and resources to help you support your team.

Take a look at the toolkits on the HR website’s Manager and Admin portal