The UT Chattanooga Human Resources department recognizes the need for more online resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of all University employees. Since March 2020, the department has hosted more than 20 webinars and online sessions for staff and managers, providing support and highlighting several useful tools focused on recognizing and coping with stress and anxiety.
Call-in sessions also are available for employees who don’t have the ability to easily access a computer and join a webinar. Employees can join by phone to learn about coping with stress and anxiety. After the stress and anxiety session, employees have a safe space to talk with a provider individually, with a 15-minute private conversation.
Opportunities like these will continue each month as UT Chattanooga moves forward together. Sessions will cover opportunities and resources available through the Employee Assistance Program and Optum, with a focus on health and wellbeing. Recordings of past events are located online at https://kate.tennessee.edu/, and new opportunities will be announced through email.
“2020 has changed and challenged us all,” said Nicholle Harrison, talent management specialist. “We have worried about loved ones, had our work-life balance strained and learned just how real Zoom fatigue is. Stress has reached us all in new and unprecedented ways and we are hoping that by continuing to offer these sessions, we can help our employees process their current situation and find ways to take care of their personal wellbeing as we move into the next normal.”
