Mental health, coping resources available to Auburn employees, families

Published: April 07, 2020

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Auburn University Human Resources appreciates the many sacrifices that employees are making for their families, their communities and the university during the COVID-19 crisis. As this is a stressful and uncertain time for many people, there are several mental health and coping resources that are available to employees and their family members.

Employee Assistance/Mental Health Treatment

• Through our Employee Assistance Program, or EAP, which is administered by American Behavioral, any full-time benefit-eligible employee—even those who don’t subscribe to the Auburn University health insurance plan—has access to six EAP calls (up to 30 minutes each) per employee and per covered family member free of charge. While our EAP normally offers three calls per calendar year, this number has been increased during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Auburn health insurance plan subscribers also have up to 30 visits for mental health treatment available in a calendar year. Important: If the claim is filed with a COVID-19-related diagnosis, the copay, deductible and inpatient admission copay will be waived.

For more information on either of these services, call (800) 925-5EAP (5327).

Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy Center

The Marriage and Family Therapy Center, or AU MFT Center, is offering technology-assisted family therapy services to all employees and their families during the COVID-19 crisis. Important: The AU MFT Center will waive session fees for the first 12 sessions for full-time, benefit-eligible employees and their families through the crisis.

The therapists offer individual, couple or family therapy for mental, behavioral and emotional diagnoses, along with therapy for coping and relationship support. The TAFT services via Zoom, a secure, HIPAA-compliant videoconferencing platform, will ensure continued care. Zoom can also be downloaded to a smart-phone, with the added benefit of fewer technical difficulties.

For more information, go to http://www.mftcenter.auburn.edu/.

Human Resources has also posted additional tips and resources on its HR coronavirus website. It can be located under “Self-Care, question 9."

For additional questions, contact univhr@auburn.edu.

Submitted by: Patrick Johnston