Employee Health and Wellness Resources
Supporting YOU so you can be your best self at work and at home
Help & Support Lines
DialHelp:
Call 906-482-4357 or 800-562-7622.
Text 35NEEDS or 906-356-3337.
Chat online at dialhelp.org
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
Call or text 988
Pathways Community Mental Health:
Call 888-728-4929
Marquette County Crisis Line:
Call 888-728-4929
Veteran’s Crisis Line:
Call 800-273-8255 and press 1.
Text 838 255
Chat online at veteranscrisisline.net
Michigan Crisis & Access Line (MiCAL):
Call 844-44-MiCAL (64225)
NAMI Alger Marquette Support Groups and Education Programs:
Visit namimqt.com for information on local mental health support groups and education programs
Northstar EAP
Northern Michigan University has partnered with NorthStar Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to provide mental health and wellness tools to its benefits eligible employees, including contingent faculty, and their families (spouse/partner and legal dependents) . Eligible members may use NorthStar to help manage issues that could adversely impact their personal and work lives. There are various tools and ways to engage with Northstar EAP, with the goal of finding tools and resources to improve your mental health and overall wellbeing.
Confidentiality is maintained in accordance with privacy laws and professional ethical standards, and the university is not notified when EAP services are used.
EAP Counseling
A highly personalized approach tailored to each clients individual needs to help attain the personal and professional growth for which they are striving. This short-term, solution-based virtual or in-person mental health counseling supports a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues for:
- Depression and Grief
- Relationship/Family Counseling
- Substance Abuse Issues
- Stress and Anxiety
- And more
Sessions are typically one hour and each eligible member has access to eight (8) counseling or coaching sessions annually. Available sessions renew annually as of Jan 1st . Request services by visiting the intake and scheduling link below.
Text with TESS
Meet TESS, the text-for-care mental health tool. This confidential service is available 24/7 to support your mental health needs. This chat enabled service offers coaching, strategies and techniques to help you manage stress. This on demand tool is a great supplement for mental health counseling or when you just need someone to connect with in real-time.
Text with Tess today! Simply text "Hi" to 906-208-4204 to get instant support, skills, tips, and coping tools to help you deal with issues in the moment. Tess can be used between EAP sessions or as a standalone service. You can opt in or out at any time. To opt out of this feature text "unsubscribe" at any time.
MyLife Expert Self Service Portal
A secure work-life portal that can be accessed anytime from your computer or mobile device The portal gives access to thousands of up-to-date topic related articles, videos, calculators, podcasts, interactive checklists, and more related to:
- Financial and Legal
- Child Care and Education
- Eldercare
- Career and Military
- Everyday Living and more....
You simply need to create a unique log in by using the company code NMUNIV as noted below.
Webinars and Newsletters
Star the Buck Says...
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Michigan Services
BCBS Virtual Care
With Virtual Care by Teladoc Health (formerly BCBS Online Visits) you and everyone on your health plan can have virtual visits with licensed therapists and U.S. board-certified psychiatrists. The Therapy and Psychiatry options provide ongoing support for stressful situations or issues such as grief, anxiety, or depression.
Through the Mental Health option, you can connect with a licensed therapist or U.S. board-certified psychiatrist when you're dealing with stressful situation or issues such as grief, anxiety, and depression.
To get started, you will need to first visit bcbsm.com/virtualcare to download the Teledoc Health app. Family members ages 18 and older will need to create their own Virtual Care accounts. When updating or creating your account, choose your plan name and enter your member ID (enrollee ID # on your BCBS card) so your coverage is applied correctly.
*Virtual Care is effective 01/01/2024. BCBS Online Visits will continue to be available until the transition occurs on 1/1
Behavioral Health Options
Blue Cross/Blue Shield gives you access to a variety of care options and resources to treat mental health and substance use disorder conditions. These options include in-person treatment, virtual care options, and many free resources. This summary sheet will help you navigate these options by providing a description, examples of what the options may be used for and how to access them.
AbleTo
AbleTo is a virtual behavioral health provider contracted with your health plan that offers convenient and confidential care for mild to moderate depression and anxiety. AbleTo includes access to over 2,000 licensed therapists nationwide.
Virtual appointments with a licensed therapist who will guide you through a personalized 8-week program over phone or video to teach you skills and tools you can use to enjoy more of life.
Blue Cross Virtual Well-Being Webinars and Meditations
Blue Cross Virtual Well-Being program offers:
- Live, interactive, science based, well-being webinars every Thursday at noon.
- Guided meditation every Wednesday at noon
- Popular topics like personalizing your sleep hygiene, functional training, foods that boost brain health and planting for garden to table.
- Drop 5 Virtual Weight-loss Community offering weight loss tips and healthy recipes for people who are losing weight five pounds at a time.
Watch live or on-demand!
Behavioral Health Resources
Educate yourself in every arena of mental health and substance abuse through BCBSM's behavioral health resource site. Resource highlights include:
-
Parents' guide to mental health in children and adolescents
-
Mental health during COVID
-
Mindfulness-based techniqies to calm kids' anxiety
-
Stigma education
-
Substance use and crisis support
-
ADHD
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Preventive Care
Annual check-ups and tests can help find health problems early, and sometimes, before they even start. By having your annual health exam, you will be taking important steps toward a longer, healthier life.
A routine health exam is a chance for your health provider to:
- Screen for diseases
- Assess risk for future medical problems
- Encourage a healthy lifestyle
- Update vaccinations
- Maintain a relationship with you in case of illness
Health & Well-being Online Resources
Powered by WebMD, Blue Cross Health & Wellbeing online resources provide you with access to a broad range of health and well-being information and tools. They are available 24-hours a day, everyday, when you log in as a member at bcbsm.com
Health Assessment
Symptom Checker
My Pregnancy Assistant
Mental Health Podcasts
Recipes
Health Trackers
Medical Encyclopedia
AND MORE
Blue365 Deals
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan members can score big savings on a variety of healthy products and services in Michigan and across the United States. Member discount with Blue 365 offer exclusive deals on things like:
Fitness and wellness
Healthy Eating
Lifestyle
Personal Care
Identity Protection
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is committed to you. That’s why they are working with Experian to offer all eligible members identity protection services. These services are available to you as long as you remain eligible and you won’t be charged.
Once you enroll in IdentityWorks, you will have access to:
- Experian Credit Reporting
- Credit Monitorsing
- Internet Surveillance
- Identity Restoration
- Lost Wallet
- Child Monitoring
- Up to $1 million Identity Theft Insurance
Enrollment is required! Visit the Experian IdentityWorks website below to enroll
Mental Health First Aid
NMU will be offering opportunities to complete 8 hour, in-person courses in Mental Health First Aid, free to NMU employees. Mental Health First Aid is an international education program proven to be effective in teaching adults how to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges. One or two certified instructors lead each course and follow a national curriculum and teaching standards, while emphasizing hope for recovery. Classes usually consist of 30 people or less and are offered in a respectful, comfortable environment. If you are interested in completing this training, please sign up here
You will be notified of upcoming training dates and details, and given the opportunity to reserve your spot.
Additional Resources
Hope Health
A quarterly newsletter offering motivating lifestyle choices and promoting good health and safety!
Connected Communities for Health
The Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP) offers a complete resource guide called Connected Communities for Health which offers resources for food assistance, childcare, clothing, transportation, housing, utilities assistance, employment, educational opportunities, and more
Wildcat Wellbeing
A collection of resources for students and employees related to:
Mental Health
Wellbeing
Training
Workshops
Nonopiod Directive Information
A nonopioid directive helps fight the opioid epidemic by allowing patients to notify health professionals they do not want opioids. A patient, a person’s legal guardian, or patient advocate can now fill out a State of Michigan Form that directs health professionals and emergency medical services personnel to not administer opioids. The form should be submitted to the patient's primary care physician and included in the patient’s medical records.
A link to the directive form can be found by visiting www.michigan.gov/opioids. Click on the “Find Help” section and then scroll down to the bottom to "Additional Resources."