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View these videos for stress management, financial stress relief tips
The University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program has created these videos to help Ohio State faculty and staff manage the stress and financial pressures that many are experiencing in these difficult economic times.
- "Walk, Talk & Breathe: Learning to Manage Stress in Difficult Times" shares with viewers tips to cope with stress, such as physical activity, confiding in friends and family, and breathing exercises to help focus on calmness. UFSAP counselors Lisa Borelli, LISW, and Bob Forte, MA, LPCC, host this 13-minute session.
Click here to view:
Windows Media Player: mms://streaming1.osu.edu/media2/ufsap/ufsap.wmv
Real Player: rtsp://streaming1.osu.edu/media2/ufsap/ufsap.rm
Quicktime: rtsp://streaming1.osu.edu/media2/ufsap/ufsap.mov
- In this 22-minute video, "Relieving Financial Stress," Fisher College of Business finance professor emeritus Stephen Buser shares advice on managing the financial worries that cause a cascade of other stress and problems. This Q&A format is facilitated by Robert Meier, MSN, RN, director of UFSAP.
Click here to view:
Windows Media Player: mms://streaming1.osu.edu/media2/ufsap/111208.wmv
Real Player: rtsp://streaming1.osu.edu/media2/ufsap/111208.rm
Quicktime: rtsp://streaming1.osu.edu/media2/ufsap/111208.mov
UFSAP - A service of the Office of Human Resources
The University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (UFSAP) is the university's employee assistance program (EAP).
Mission Statement
UFSAP is dedicated to providing high quality, easily accessible behavioral health assessment, referral and counseling to the university community. We strive, through ongoing quality improvement, collaboration and professional development, to contribute to the mission of the university, the behavioral health of its faculty, staff and families and to the climate of the university environment.
About UFSAP
What is the University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program?
UFSAP is a confidential counseling service for OSU employees and their families experiencing some form of personal or work related distress that can interfere with work performance. All UFSAP counselors are independently licensed behavioral health professionals with years of experience and a commitment to the university community.
The following services are provided:
- Training presentation: "Getting the Most From Your Employee Assistance Program"
- Brief counseling for stress and other behavioral health issues
- Assessment and referral to university and community resources
- Crisis counseling for individuals and workgroups
- Marriage, family and relationship counseling
- Referrals for child and elder care and for legal and financial counseling
- Consultation with managers and supervisors about employee relations problems
- Work performance counseling
- Substance abuse assessment and referral
- Drug free workplace training
- Training and skill development for individuals and workgroups including:
- Stress taming and mindfulness
 Download the Stress Taming CD here.
- Relationship skills
- Conflict management and resolution
- Dealing with difficult people and situations
- Grief and loss
- Parenting
- Other workplace related topics
Online Workshops
The following online workshops were conducted by staff of the University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.
Stress Taming
Web Video: http://streaming.osu.edu/mediawww/wellness07/stress/stress_files/Default.htm
Relationship Skills
Web Video: http://streaming.osu.edu/mediawww/wellness07/relationships/relationships_files/Default.htm
Man to Man About Men's Health
Web Video: http://streaming.osu.edu/mediawww/wellness07/menshealth/menshealth_files/Default.htm
Eligibility
Any university faculty or staff member and/or members of their immediate family, are eligible to use the services of UFSAP. You do not have to be covered under a university-sponsored health plan to utilize UFSAP services.
Confidential and Voluntary
Confidentiality is regulated by state and federal laws and UFSAP protects the privacy of your contact with our office. Except in situations presenting the threat of violence or harm to yourself or another person, any contact you have with UFSAP and any information you share is shared with no one without your written permission. Even your initial contact with our office is private.
Without your request or permission, UFSAP will not disclose the fact that you have consulted with us, the dates of your visits, or the content of our discussions. Even if your manager recommended your visit, we will not disclose any information without your authorization, except in the strictly defined situations described above.
Your EAP files are not part of your human resources personnel file. Use of UFSAP services will not jeopardize your job or your chance for promotion.
Participation in UFSAP counseling is voluntary. Supervisors may recommend our services as part of resolving a personal or work related problem but the decision is that of the employee.
Cost
All UFSAP services are sponsored by the Office of Human Resources and provided free of charge to employees, immediate families of employees and work groups at The Ohio State University. UFSAP is a benefit to all university faculty and staff members. There is no charge for our assistance. If a referral is necessary for ongoing counseling, hospitalization or the resolution of other problems, the cost of these services will become your responsibility. University health plan insurance will often cover such charges after the appropriate copayment is made by the employee.
Appointments
Call UFSAP at 614-292-4472 or 800-678-6265 and request to speak with one of our professional counselors. If you get our voicemail, we routinely respond within 24 hours and can meet with individuals or groups within 24-48 hours. The counselor will discuss the problem with you and suggest solutions or ways to begin working toward solutions. These could include training, individual or couple problem solving sessions, referral to other resources or meetings with you and your work team or family. The choice will be completely yours. Supervisors are encouraged to recommend that faculty and staff make use of UFSAP services when personal problems interfere with job performance.
Emergent or crisis situations are responded to on a priority basis as appropriate. For after hours or weekend emergency situations, please call 911 or go to the OSU Medical Center Emergency Room (or nearest emergency room).
Directions and Hours of Operation
The UFSAP staff is available, by appointment, from 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For after hours emergencies, please call 911 or go to the OSU Medical Center Emergency Room (or nearest emergency room).
Administrative Office
Our administrative office is located within OSU Managed Health Care Systems on Ackerman Road next to the Rt. 315 N entrance ramp.
The Ohio State University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program
700 Ackerman Road, Suite 580
Columbus, Ohio 43202
614-292-4472 (phone)
614-292-2667 (fax)
1-800-678-6265
www.osumhcs.com/ufsap
Clinical Office (by appointment only)
Our clinical office is located in the Neuroscience Facility at 1670 Upham Dr. The facility is immediately behind the South Cannon Parking Garage at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Cannon Drive at the OSU Medical Center complex.
Employees with "A" parking tags can park in the South Cannon Garage at 12th Ave. All other tags are usable in the lot across Cannon Drive. Clients without parking passes are directed to the 10th Avenue entrance to the North Cannon Drive Garage.
Also note that the clinical office location is on the Campus Loop Bus Route.
Directions to the clinical office
From Olentangy River Road: turn onto John Herrick Drive and proceed east over the river. Turn right onto Cannon Drive. 12th Avenue is at the next intersection.
From Woody Hayes Dr.: Turn onto Cannon Drive near the Stadium and proceed south to 12th Avenue.
From High Street or Neil Avenue: Proceed west on 12th Avenue to Cannon Drive.
UFSAP Staff
Robert Meier, MS, NP, RN
Robert has been the Director for UFSAP since 1998. He has more than 25 years of mental health experience as a psychiatric nurse. He has been an advance practice psych nurse since 1992 and completed his post-graduate Nurse Practitioner's Certificate Program in 1998. He has experience working with adults with both mental health and substance abuse problems. He has been with The Ohio State University since 1988 and has been in administration at both the OSU Medical Center and the University since 1990. He has served on the boards of the Summer Institute of Addiction Studies, The Columbus area Council on Alcoholism, and served as the Chair of the University Staff Advisory Committee.
Lisa Borelli, Licensed Independent Social Worker
Lisa is a licensed independent behavioral health professional with 17 years of experience working in the mental health and addictions field. She has worked in the private sector and has experience in hospitals as a counselor and consultant. Her area of expertise is in wellness and stress management. You can reach Lisa at (614) 292-1709 or borelli.3@osu.edu
Bob Forte, M. A.; Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Bob is a licensed behavioral health professional with 25 years experience working with personal and organizational growth. He is a counselor, trainer and organizational consultant and has worked with groups as diverse as law enforcement, political parties and not for profits. He is a graduate of the Clinical Training program of the Gestalt Institute of Central Ohio and the Business of People Leadership Training Program also offered through the Institute. You can reach Bob at (614) 292-2465 or at Forte.17@osu.edu
Workshops and Services
Workplace Consulting and Services to Managers and Supervisors
As part of our mission, UFSAP works to reduce stress levels, enhance workplace climate and promote positive workplace interactions. We specialize in "people working with people" and offer the following:
- Discussion with managers and supervisors by phone or face to face at your site or ours on issues such as employee performance enhancement, conflict management, assessing and responding to behavioral health needs, drug free workplace, training and teambuilding.
- Collaboration with human resource professionals regarding issues arising in your areas.
- Individual or group assessment and problem solving sessions with employees.
- Training seminars delivered at your site including:
- "Getting the Most From Your Employee Assistance Program"
- Communication skills
- Stress reduction and coping skills
- Change management
- Conflict resolution
- Teambuilding
- Drug free workplace education
- Dealing with trauma or loss
- Crisis management
UFSAP partners with the Office of Human Resources to provide comprehensive human resource services. We also work closely with Human Resource Professionals (HRP's) and organization and staff development teams from all areas of the university to solve problems and enhance workplace climate.
Crisis Debriefing Services
UFSAP is available to respond to traumatic situations through on site counseling, assessment, referral and follow up services. Examples of traumatic situations include sudden loss of an employee through illness or death, workplace or externally initiated violence, natural disasters, national or local crises. UFSAP counselors will respond quickly and partner with other university resources to make recommendations and follow through after the crisis abates as necessary.
Please feel free to call us and discuss your particular situation.
Be Well/Work Well
The University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program maintains a confidential self- service behavioral wellness link called “Be Well, Work Well” that includes tips and information on relevant topics, self assessment scales that you or your workgroup can download and print and links to OSU services and other sites related to behavioral health and wellness. We encourage you to use the information and assessments to enhance your life, work and relationships. If you have questions or concerns that you would like to follow up on, please call UFSAP at 614-292-4472 and speak to Lisa Borelli or Bob Forte.
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An Informational Guide to Behavioral Wellness
Welcome to "Be Well/ Work Well." In this section are three types of helpful information.
Updates -- contains information updated monthly, related to topics such as behavioral and organizational health, stress, relationships, communication and nutrition.
Check your list--contains checklists that you can view and use to assess your level of wellness.
Resources--provides web links and phone numbers to university services available to faculty and staff to assist you with wellness and university related human resource questions. Also, web addresses to national and local resources are listed to assist individuals in everything from child care and services for the elderly to the latest medical research.
Updates
Did you know that “Friends are good medicine?” As we cope with the common cold season, bear in mind that although many people believe that chicken soup is the best remedy, the friend or loved one bringing the soup may actually be more important to maintaining good health. Research reported by Dr. Sheldon Cohen shows that people with various types of positive social relationships such as family, work friends, neighbors and church or social groups were less likely to develop a cold when exposed to the cold virus.
It is also interesting, as we move toward spring and the “wedding season,” to think about research reported by Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser right here at Ohio State University. Her study showed that among happily married newlyweds, negative, hurtful interactions were strongly associated with increased levels of stress hormones and changes in the immune systems of individuals over the following 24 hours. These changes tended to be good predictors of decreases in marital satisfaction over time. The way we talk to each other is important and taking the time to develop communication and relationship skills is a worthwhile investment.
Tips on communication in relationships
- Learn to listen; not only to words but to feelings. Try to hear what the other person needs from you.
- Communicate clearly and negotiate about your needs and feelings.
- Be flexible; accept not getting all that you want without detaching from the relationship or discussion.
- Ask for feedback about how your communication style affects the other person.
- Never attack the other person through name-calling or other verbal abuse.
- Set limits by asserting yourself and talking about what you need and feel, and give feedback about how the other person is affecting you.
- Remember that relationships occur over time and that developing them takes ongoing effort.
Check Your Lists
The following self-assessment scales are meant for general information purposes only and are not designed as accurate diagnostic criteria. If you have a concern that you may be experiencing one of these conditions, contact UFSAP or your primary care physician.
List 1: Individual Stress Responses
Psychological
Concentration problems, indecision, forgetfulness
Sensitivity to criticism or self-critical thoughts
Rigid attitudes
Emotional
Nervousness, tension
Irritability, anger, hostility
Sadness, guilt, shame
Moodiness, loneliness or jealousy
Physiological
Increased heart rate & blood pressure
Rapid or irregular breathing
Muscle tension
Sweating or dry mouth
Immune system slows down (frequent illness)
Behavioral
Shaky voice or jumpiness
Accident proneness
Difficulty sleeping
Overeating or loss of appetite
Attempts to escape stressor
Violent response
Spiritual
Cynicism, alienation, pessimism
If you are bothered by these stress indicators despite your attempts to control them, you may need to learn more about stress and stress management options such as exercise, relaxation and mindfulness, how to work with negative thinking, conflict management or other personal and interpersonal skills. Consult UFSAP to learn more.
List 2: Alcohol Abuse Assessment
Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. You have an alcohol problem if your use interferes with your health or activities of daily living. You develop alcoholism if you become physically or psychologically dependent on alcohol.
Symptoms of an alcohol problem include personality changes, blackouts (periods of memory loss), drinking more and more for the same "high" and denial of the problem. A person with an alcohol problem may gulp or sneak drinks, or drink alone or early in the morning. Alcohol abuse patterns vary. Some people get drunk every day. Some drink large amounts of alcohol at specific times and do not drink at all at other times.
If you have questions or concerns about your use, answer the following questions. Then, feel free to follow up with a call to UFSAP for further information.
| 1. |
Do you use alcohol? |
(Circle one) |
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Yes |
1 |
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No |
2 |
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| 2. |
How many drinks of alcoholic beverages do you have in a typical week? |
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Less than one drink |
1 |
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1-7 drinks |
2 |
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8-14 drinks |
3 |
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15-21 drinks |
4 |
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22 or more drinks |
5 |
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One drink is: |
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1 glass of wine (5 o.z) |
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1 can or bottle of beer (12 oz. ) |
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1 mixed drink or shot of liquor |
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| 3. |
Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking? |
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Yes |
1 |
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No |
2 |
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| 4. |
Have people ever annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? |
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Yes |
1 |
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No |
2 |
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| 5. |
Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? |
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Yes |
1 |
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No |
2 |
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| 6. |
Have you ever taken a drink first thing in the morning to get rid of a hangover or to steady your nerves? |
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Yes |
1 |
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No |
2 |
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| 7. |
How many times in the past month have you had 5 or more drinks at one setting? |
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Zero times |
1 |
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One or more |
2 |
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| 8. |
Do you want help to cut down on your drinking? |
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Yes |
1 |
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No |
2 |
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| 9. |
Circle the number that best matches your plans about drinking alcohol? |
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I have no plans to cut down on how much I drink in the next six months |
1 |
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I am thinking of cutting down in the next six months |
2 |
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I am making plans to cut down on my drinking in the next 30 days |
3 |
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If you answered "yes" to question one, you are part of a large group of Americans over the age of 21 (twenty-one) who consume alcohol.
With regard to question 2, the general recommendation for safe consumption of alcohol is 2 drinks or less per day. If you average more than 14 drinks per week you may be at risk for abuse of alcohol.
Questions 3,4,5 and 6 combine into a screening instrument called the CAGE. One "yes" answer on these questions indicates a possible abuse problem. 2 "yes" answers indicate a high probability of abuse.
Question 7. Anytime you have more than 5 drinks at one session, it is considered a binge.
If you answered "yes" to question 8 but are not clear about your answer to 9, call UFSAP and discuss your situation with us.
List 3: Depression Assessment
Depression is a complex medical disorder that can occur as a result of a number of factors. Stress, loss of a loved one, life changes, illness, certain medications, family history of depression or substance abuse can contribute to changes in the body that lead to depression.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly 19 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from depression. It also can affect adolescents and children. Depression is often not recognized in its victims or is recognized only after the disorder has caused serious damage to the individual’s life. It is often mistaken for other disorders or for problems such as “bad attitude” or “lack of motivation.” Depression can actually contribute to worsening of physical problems that are then treated, often without treating the underlying depression. Accurate diagnosis by a mental health professional, psychiatrist or skilled primary care physician is important. Use the following questionnaire to begin to assess if you are experiencing symptoms of depression.
1. Have you been in a depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day for at least two weeks?
2. Have you lost interest or pleasure in most daily activities, nearly every day for at least two weeks?
3. Has your appetite changed (increased or decreased)?
4. Have you felt tired or experienced a loss of energy during the day, nearly every day for at least two weeks?
5. Have you had guilty feelings or feelings of worthlessness nearly every day for ate least two weeks?
6. Have you had difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions nearly every day?
If you answered "yes" to questions one or two and/or more than two of the other questions, you should contact UFSAP or your primary care physician for a follow up assessment. Depression is a treatable disorder through counseling, medication or both. Your OSU health plan will assist with the cost of treatment as outlined in your policy. |
Community Resources (non-OSU)
Contact Us
To reach the University Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, please call 614-292-4472.
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