As an employee or retiree you have access to a valuable Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by Cigna at no additional cost. EAP personal advocates will work with you and your household family members to help you resolve issues you may be facing, connect you with the right mental health professionals, direct you to a variety of helpful resources in your community and more.

Cost

• No cost to you
• Can share EAP with someone in your household

EAP Services
The EAP offers access to face-to-face counselors in your area, as well as Cigna EAP phone consultants to help process life stresses and improve well-being.

• Counseling - Each person may use up to 8 face-to-face counseling sessions per issue per year.
• Legal assistance - 30-minute consultation with an attorney face-to-face or by phone (employment-related issues not covered)
• Financial - 30-minute telephone consultation with a qualified specialist on topics such as debt counseling or planning for retirement
• Parenting - Resources and referrals for childcare providers, before- and after-school programs, camps, adoption organizations, child development, prenatal care and more.
• Eldercare - Resources and referrals for home health agencies, assisted living facilities, social and recreational programs and long-distance care giving.
• Pet care - Resources and referrals for pet sitting, obedience training, veterinarians and pet stores.
• Identity theft - 60-minute consultation with a fraud specialist.

How to Get Started

• Contact Cigna any day, anytime - 1.800.244.6224
• Log in or register at myCigna.com

Schedule a virtual counselling session with licensed therapists to help manage and support your mental health! EAP can be used by your (or members of your household) to help resolve issues you may be facing, connect you with the right mental health professionals, direct you to a variety of helpful resources in your community and more. Virtual EAP sessions can be conducted on your smartphone, tablet or computer! 

Click here to get started! or call 800.244.6224

MDLive Virtual Behavioral Care provides you with quality behavioral and mental health care whenever and wherever it's convenient for you!  Have private and secure sessions with psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed counselors, marriage/family therapists and social workers through video or on the phone. MDLive Virtual Behavioral care aims to support you in facing life's challenges.

Click here to get started!

Happify allows you to build skills for long lasting happiness. Take control of your emotional health with this free app including science-based games, exercise and activities to strengthen your mental health! You can access Happify on your phone, tablet or computer.

Click here to get started!

iPrevail is a digital program that allows you to access 24/7 mental health support with on-demand coaching, lessons and more! You can connect through interactive lessons made just for you, a peer coach and others who face similar situations and know what you're going through. With iPrevail, you don't have to be alone.

Click here to get started!

Stuck and stressed at home? Choose from a selection of calming coloring pages for you and the whole family! Meditative art allows you to express your creative side while improving your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Reduce stress, improve self-esteem and feel better overall. Select a link below, print and create!

Fox Design
Bird Design
Flower Design
Skull Design
Ocean Mandala
Lion Design
Mandala One
Mandala Two
Mandala Three

Aromatherapy can have different well being benefits including:

• Relief from anxiety and depression
• Improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions
• Improved sleep

Essential Oils are natural compounds extracted from plants. Essential oils, used in aromatherapy, activates receptors within the nose that can regulate emotions and other bodily systems. Different essential oils have varying well being benefits. Essential oils can be applied externally on the skin in small droplets including the forehead and temples. Essential oil diffusers can also be used to disperse essential oil particles in the air for inhalation for therapeutic purposes.

Sources & More Information

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/aromatherapy/faq-20058566
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/aromatherapy-do-essential-oils-really-work
https://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/most-commonly-used-essential-oils

The companionship of pets and animals have proven to have a lot of benefits to overall health. They can provide support with anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges. Along with companionship, pets can enhance motivation, purpose and happiness.

During this pandemic, with more time spent at home, people worldwide have been turning to fostering and adopting pets. Join the movement and help a furry friend today! Fostering and adoption options are available through the following resources:

• Harris County Pets: www.countypets.com
  612 Canino Rd, Houston, TX 77076
  281-999-3191
• BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions: www.houstontx.gov/barc
  3200 Carr St, Houston, TX 77026
  barcfoster@houstontx.gov
  832-395-9084               
• Houston Humane Society: www.houstonhumane.org
  14700 Almeda Rd., Houston, TX 77053
  info@houstonhumane.org
  713-433-6421
• Pasadena Animal Shelter: www.pasadenatx.gov/151/Animal-Control-Adoptions
  5150 Burke Rd., Pasadena, TX 77504
  281-991-0602

What is fostering?
Fostering a pet is when a person temporarily provides shelter and care for a pet while waiting for the pet to be adopted. Fostering gives the pet a safe, healthy environment for the pet and to socialize them in order to increase their adoptability