A
s we continue to navigate
the unknowns of the
coronavirus pandemic, one
thing has become abundantly
clear for almost everyone: this
situation is stressful. Whether
stress stems from worries
about your health and the
health of those around you,
financial strain, fulfilling new
and different roles at work and
home, or anything else on a long
list of potential culprits, there
are resources available to help.
"Self-care" has become a bit of
a buzzword, but the meaning
behind it can be incredibly
helpful. It's crucial to take time
Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19
BY MICHAELA GORMLEY
CAPITAL BENEFIT SERVICES
For more CDC recommendations,
visit cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/daily-life-coping/
stress-coping
If you find you aren't able to
manage stress on your own,
there are many resources
available for professional help,
such as the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA);
access their disaster distress
helpline by calling 800.985.5990
or texting "TalkWithUs" to
66746. You can also visit fchn.
com/documents/fch/pdf/
samhsa-social-distancing-tip-
sheet.pdf
Your employee benefit plan may
also offer additional resources,
such as access to professional
If you need help finding the
appropriate resources and
benefit plans for yourself
and your employees, contact
the MBA Health Trust team
at 425.641.8093 or
mbahealthtrust.com
to care for yourself, even in small
ways, to maintain your mental
health during high-stress times.
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommend the following for
managing stress:
• Stay active with regular
exercise
• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat healthy foods and avoid
drugs and alcohol
• Don't overwhelm yourself
with too much news and
social media
• Unwind doing activities
you enjoy
• Stay connected with friends
and family
counselors, telehealth mental
health support, discounts
on additional mental health
services, and online tools.
If your company is a part
of the MBA Health Trust
through MBAKS, you and your
employees may have access to
mental health tools through
Regence BlueShield, one of the
MBA Health Trust medical
carriers, or First Choice Health,
the MBA Health Trust Employee
Assistance Program carrier.
Learn more about MBA Health
Trust carrier partner resources
at regence.com/member/health-
lifestyle/self-care and fchn.com/
learn/coronavirus-information-
updates
With so many unknowns
still to come, finding ways to
manage your stress and take
care of yourself is crucial.
"Self-care" has become a bit of a buzzword, but
the meaning behind it can be incredibly helpful.
46 master BUILDER
|
FALL 2020
MEMBERSHIP VALUE
