Office of Workforce Wellness

December – Stress-Free Family Holidays Month

The holiday season can be a time of fun and connection with family and friends, but for many people, this time of year brings an increased sense of loneliness and isolation. Whether in a crowd or home alone, loneliness is painful. According to a study from NAMI, 64% of people with mental illness report that holidays make their conditions worse. (NAMI.org, n.d) 

Daylight savings time in the spring helps to create a way to save energy and get more out of our natural daylight. With Montana being high above the equator, this little bit of extra daylight does little to stave off the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD, also known as winter blues, hits the northern states hard. As we move further into the winter months, the days get shorter which results in lower levels of sunlight. Symptoms of seasonal depression include:

• A lack of pleasure or interest in normal, everyday activities
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling a lack of energy, hard to get out of bed
• Easily irritated
• Feeling despair, guilt, or worthlessness

Feeling down some days is normal, but if you are feeling down for several days, it’s time to discuss your feelings with your health care provider.

Below are free resources for extra support and connection this season and all year round:

• Warmlines – A list of phone numbers anyone can call when they need someone to talk to or to just be there whether feeling in crisis or not.
• Peer-to-Peer Anxiety and Depression Support Group – Anonymous online support group that is safe and supportive for people to connect with others who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression (no cost to participate).
• Nami – Maintaining Mental Health During the Holiday Season
• Nine Keys to a Resilient Holiday
• Mental Health and Holiday Blues
• How to Deal with Negative Holiday Emotions
• Holiday Resource Guide from ComPsych

State employees and their dependents have exceptional support through the EAP as well as the Health Care and Benefits Division. 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 is the training session scheduled in December.

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

• December 3: Winter Blues, Isolation, and Strategies to Improve Resilience (10 – 11 a.m.)

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)

• REQUIRED: You must contact Guidance Resources for approval BEFORE scheduling an appointment with a counselor to ensure your first six visits are covered under the EAP.

• 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