World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10, and this year’s theme is “It Is Time To Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.” Purdue University has been dedicated to enhancing health and wellness, including mental health, over the past six years for its community. The university continually seeks to expand resources, tools, and programs that support overall well-being, focusing on the five pillars of its Healthy Boiler Program: behavioral health, financial wellness, physical health, social wellness, and work-life integration.
The behavioral health pillar emphasizes increasing awareness and sharing resources to assist faculty and staff with any mental health concerns they may encounter.
At Purdue and Purdue Global, the aim is to lessen the anxiety often associated with accessing mental health services, enabling employees to go Beyond the Surface and seek help. This is facilitated through the university’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides behavioral health providers offering free, confidential counseling to eligible employees and their dependents under Purdue’s health plan.
These professionals deliver quality counseling, available both in-person and virtually, in a non-judgmental setting where individuals can address their concerns. Initial contact begins with a phone call to a compassionate professional trained to support individuals regardless of their issues.
Furthermore, once an employee connects with their campus’s behavioral health provider, they may be referred to the Center for Healthy Living (CHL) for any necessary long-term behavioral health support and care.
For Purdue Global employees, EAP services can be accessed through HealthAdvocate. However, it is important to note that Purdue Global employees do not have access to care at the CHL or the Healthy Boiler Program.
ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
For Faculty and Staff
Purdue faculty and staff can access the Mental Health Resources webpage, which features various resources supporting the behavioral health aspect of the Healthy Boiler Program, along with information regarding mental health and substance abuse coverage in Purdue’s health plan.
For Students
Faculty and staff who interact with students or have students at home can guide them to the following resources for behavioral health support. United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR), which serves as the medical plan provider for students and graduate students, offers a total of 292 unique in-network mental health providers across various locations in Tippecanoe County. A comprehensive list is available online. Additionally, students covered under the UHCSR insurance plan can utilize HealthiestYou, which provides virtual mental health care access, all offered free of charge.
Office of the Dean of Students
Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)