Office of Workforce Wellness

May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, and a new movement is happening to NOT self-bully. Have you ever bullied yourself with negative self-talk? Your inner critic is not the only voice that matters; giving yourself permission to be self-compassionate is something for which we need to strive.                                                                              

What does self-bullying look like?

• Feeling like we lack perfectionism? This illusion can lead to loneliness, demoralization, and disconnect. Allow yourself to just do your best; it doesn't have to be perfect.
• Is it hard for you to accept when good things come your way? Do you talk yourself into questioning why something good is happening to you? Accept the good that is happening! Be grateful for it. Don’t allow self-bullying to make you believe you don’t deserve when something good is happening. Coach yourself to accept goodness with open arms.

How do you overcome negative self-talk (self-bullying)? When you realize you’re creating negative situations, reframe the negative thought and practice gratitude. Sounds easy right? Practice these three steps to help you derail self-bullying:

1. Identify the situation that’s creating the bad feeling.
2. Reframe it by asking yourself, “If I could change the bullying thought, what would I say different to myself”?
3. Find something related to the negative self-talk that you can turn around and view from a perspective of gratitude?

Mental health statistics for 2024 show that 50 million Americans are affected by mental illness. Many of those affected go without treatment every year with the reason being the costs associated with accessing help. Approximately 20 percent of American adults and 1 in 6 children (up to age 17) experience mental health issues every year with the most common issues being anxiety and PTSD.  (Source: Mental Health Statistics 2024. USA Today)

State employees and their dependents have exceptional support through the EAP as well as Health Care and Benefits. If you’re not sure where to start, email eap@mt.gov.

State of Montana Benefit Plan Members – click here for additional Wellness resources available for you!

Below are free resources which can provide you with extra support:

• Challenging Negative Thinking
• Positive Self-Talk
• Stopping Stupid Thoughts
• Helpful vs Harmful: Ways to Manage Emotions
• Unhelpful Thinking Styles
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Women’s Health
• Mental Health Awareness Toolkit

Below are the training sessions scheduled in May and June.

All Employees – All Training Times are 12 – 1 P.M., MST Unless Designated

• May 7: Mental Health Awareness
• May 8: Emotional First Aid/Resilience (**10:00 – 11:00 Presented by Kody Ramler)
• May 14: Stress: A Way of Life or a Fact of Life
• May 21: Combatting Imposter Syndrome
• June 4: Managing Anger at Home and at Work
• June 11: Coping with Compassion Stress
• June 18: Basics of Estate Planning
• June 25: 10 Strategies for Improving Your Finances

Please visit the Office of Workforce Wellness for more EAP information.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helps you privately solve problems that may interfere with your work, family, and life in general. EAP services are FREE to you, your dependents, and all household members. EAP services are confidential and provided by experts.   

• Supervisor Orientation 
• Employee Orientation 

                                           How to Access Your EAP Resources

Call ComPsych GuidanceResources:  1-844-216-8709 (TTY: 1-800-697-0353)

• For dependent or household members (non-state employee), you will need to provide the first and last name of the employee who provided you with the GuidanceResources phone number.

Online:  guidanceresources.com (Web ID: BCBSMTEAP)

Mobile App:  GuidanceResources® Now (Web ID:  BCBSMTEAP)

Online Registration:  To complete the registration process for the online GuidanceResources, your identification number is located directly below your name on your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana insurance card.  Although the identification number listed is 12 digits, ignore the first three characters and only enter the last nine numbers (Example:  U5S123456789), Web ID: BCBSMTEAP

Once you are registered, there are several ways to get connected with services. The chat function is available Monday- Friday 7:00 – 5:00  MST and is a great way to request an answer.

Questions:  Please email Ann Brewer, EAP Manager, at eap@mt.gov.

• Safety Plan & Instructions