Collaborative Events Highlight Importance of Well Being for Mental Health Awareness Month

By Julie Van Orden, Employee Assistance and Well-being Programs
05/02/2022

Wayne Tormala, MSW, retired bureau chief for the Arizona Department of Health (Photo courtesy of Wayne Tormala)

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To highlight the importance of mental well-being, the Office of Employee Assistance and Well-being Programs (EAP) is working with campus-wide partners including the Departments of Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pulmonary Critical Care, and Psychiatry to bring a robust line-up of resources to participate, listen, and access.

“I’ve had the pleasure of participating in campus-wide initiatives specifically focused on addressing and preventing burnout as a collaboration between Faculty Assistance and Faculty Affairs,” said Robin Dickey, PhD, senior faculty assistance specialist and academic ombuds at UTHealth Houston. “It is encouraging to see the systemwide efforts we are able to implement and offer in support of mental health awareness at UTHealth Houston. Not just for Mental Health Awareness Month, but as a consistent pillar of support.”

Two powerful speaking engagements are planned as hybrid events, featuring Wayne Tormala, MSW, retired bureau chief for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

  • On Wednesday, May 4, join Tormala and EAP Executive Director Monica Guidry, LCSW, ACSW, for a conversation on “Recapturing the Soul of our Work: Returning to the ‘Why.” In the daily toil of doing our jobs, as professionals, we can easily describe, what we do and how we do it. Too often we lose track of the “Why.” Our sense of purpose and personal mission; our reason for entering the medical and health field in the first place; can get lost in the long and stressful hours of getting our jobs done. If unattended, this can lead to compassion fatigue as our resilience runs low. Worse yet, we can experience burnout and may see “dropping out” as the only option. The event will be held in person from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in the Beth Robertson Auditorium, Fayez S. and Susan K. Sarofim Research Building, 1825 Pressler St. It will also be streamed live.Register online through Webex to attend the session in-person or virtually
  • On Thursday, May 5, the McGovern Medical School Departments of Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pulmonary Critical Care, and Psychiatry present for “Grand rounds: Protecting our well-being.” Tormala will discuss our capacity to care for others and its dependence on our capacity to care for ourselves. The session will delve into the four levels of caring (sympathy, empathy, compassion, and altruism) as well as explore ways we can identify where we truly are, and practice ways to “listen within” as we translate our thoughts and feelings into actions to increase our sense of well-being and sustainable balance. To allow for safe distancing, sponsoring department members may attend in person. All others are invited to attend virtually. The discussion will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 5, at McGovern Medical School, Room 1.006Register online through Webex to attend the session in person or virtually.

A full list of Mental Health Awareness activities in May can be found online.