Mental Health Awareness Month focuses on prioritizing emotional well-being, reducing the stigma of mental health and increasing access to resources. The workplace plays a vital role in overall health and well-being, and Ohio State is committed to fostering an environment where employees feel supported.
This month, we’re highlighting a range of resources, programs and initiatives designed to help employees navigate stress, build resilience and access professional support when needed. Whether you’re looking for mindfulness workshops, confidential counseling services or simply a space to connect with others, there’s something available for everyone.
Your well-being matters, and you are encouraged to explore and access resources and support when and how you need them.
Find support for all of life’s challenges and stresses: Ohio State’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential support to help you manage life’s challenges. From short-term counseling and mental health resources to legal guidance, financial education, and family care referrals, EAP is here to make life easier. Available to benefits-eligible employees, their dependents, household members, and parents/parents-in-law, this program ensures you have the support you need—when you need it.
Practice healthy habits: Participate in the Keep Calm and Learn On Your Plan for Health May healthy habit challenge in the Personify Health portal to earn points and focus on your mental health. When you track that you completed at least 15 lessons in LinkedIn Learning, you will receive 250 points and an entry to win $25 Rewards Cash. The challenge includes information directing you to suggested lessons, and most can be completed in less than five minutes.
Join a workshop, series or event: Connect with wellness experts from across the university for focused discussions, practical applications and ways to focus on mental health.
- Mental Health Awareness for Managers, May 14, 2025: A wellness workshop focused on increasing understanding of the signs and symptoms to mental health issues and learning approaches to support coworkers and your staff. Log in to Link to Health > Click “Schedule an appointment or class” > Select EAP Workshop” and click “Find appointment or class” > Select the date and click “View/schedule”
- Mental Health Awareness for Staff, May 27, 2025: An interactive wellness workshop focused on increasing understanding of the signs and symptoms to mental health issues and learning approaches to support coworkers. Log in to Link to Health > Click “Schedule an appointment or class” > Select EAP Workshop” and click “Find appointment or class” > Select the date and click “View/schedule”
- Emotional Balance: Cultivating Self-Regulation in Daily Life: A 4-part interactive EAP Series that delves into the essence of self-regulation, learning how to apply it in your relationships—especially during times of tension—and discovering practical ways to enhance your emotional mindfulness and achieve inner balance. Log in to Link to Health > Click “Schedule an appointment or class” > Select EAP Series” and click “Find appointment or class” > Select the date and click “View/schedule”
- Health Athlete: This program emphasizes energy management through a comprehensive examination of goals and values in relation to spiritual purpose, mental, emotional and physical development. The seven-week series kicks off May 14 at noon and a one-day workshop on July 18. Register for the Health Athlete program.
- Amazing Race to Wellness, May 22: Have fun and boost your well-being. Sign up a four-person team to embark on a series of challenges based on the ten dimensions of wellness.
Get reimbursed for well-being expenses: Ohio State offers eligible employees a Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) to reimburse up to $125 quarterly ($500 annually) for personal expenses related to health, fitness, family, emotional and social wellness. Examples include stress management apps, fitness memberships, art and hobby classes, athletic apparel, emergency auto repairs, yoga, massage therapy, self-help books and more.
Use available paid time off: Whether you schedule a vacation or need time off to care for yourself or family, Ohio State’s paid time-off policy provides you ways to access the appropriate benefit. As a reminder, scheduled vacation time off, flex time and/or comp time is not just for travel or special occasions but also for personal rest, recovery and resilience.
Additionally, sick time can be used when you are unable to perform your job duties due to your own mental, emotional, or physical illness, injury, or health condition. Your need may be short-term or long-term and may result from different types of conditions or symptoms, such as flu, back injury, a cold, depression, diabetes, sprained ankle, acute anxiety, a stomach virus, etc.
Although you may choose to provide details about why you want to use sick time off, you are not required to provide a specific reason/health condition to your supervisor*. See the policy FAQs for more details. If you have any challenges using your benefit time, please contact Employee and Labor Relations for assistance.
Learn more about well-being: Employees have free access to thousands of courses through LinkedIn Learning, including topics on mental health, sleep improvement, stress management and even quick desk exercises. Get 24/7 unlimited, on-demand access to learn at your own pace.
Get care as a caregiver. To help support your many family needs – for every life and career stage – you have access to Bright Horizons benefits. Get help with a wide variety of needs such as ongoing or occasional child care, elder care, tutoring, housekeeping, camps, after-school care, back-up care and pet care. Join a “Whole Person Support” webinar in May to see how to use the benefits.
Reduce stress: Prioritize your mental well-being by using personalized evidence-based resources to reduce stress and improve well-being. Check your stress levels and review evidence-based resources (brief videos, articles and credible websites) tailored to you. To establish a healthy habit, revisit and practice the resources for 60-90 days.
Access self-help programming: RethinkCare is an evidence-based digital training mobile app offered through YP4H that leverages neuroscience, positive psychology and adult learning theory. Enjoy on-demand access to mini-courses with audio and video sessions, tips, articles and exercises that will enable you to build easy-to-learn skills.
Partner with a health coach: If you have a personal health goal that includes managing your stress or overall well-being, improving your sleep health, or practicing mindfulness, Ohio State Health Coaches are happy to help you set realistic goals and provide you with support and resources to motivate you along the way towards your goals.
Meditate on Friday mornings: Join colleagues on Fridays from 8:45-9:30 a.m. on Zoom for meditation. Led by rotating practitioners, sessions feature various meditation styles, including live and video-led practices. Experience an informal, supportive community of faculty and staff and enhance your well-being. No registration required. Drop in anytime.
Start a new journey: Reaching a personal health goal starts with a single step. Visit the Your Plan for Health portal for five daily, self-guided courses to help you build healthy habits focused on mental health and well-being. Earn points when you complete a step or a course.
Manage stress: Guided video exercises from The Ohio State University Health Plan are intended to help destress your life, declutter your mind and help you move above the noise.
*Medical documentation may be required for some absences and most leaves of absence (i.e., Family and Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA), Medical Leave (Non-FML)). Medical documentation, when required, is handled centrally by the Integrated Absence Management Team, and does not go through your supervisor.