Get the help you need NOW! You are already enrolled. All you have to do is CALL ANYTIME 24/7 for confidential assistance. To reach a counselor for any of your EAP needs, just call toll-free 1.800.252.4555 or 1.800.225.2527 or VISIT theEAP.com and give the name
SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT AME CHURCH as your employer. Help is on the way.
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, AND JANUARY OH MY!
In the U.S., the month of November launches the holiday season of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year. This time of year can be exciting and fun, filled with the joy of celebrating our Savior, Jesus Christ, and reuniting with family and friends. However, it also presents the stress and pressure of event planning, attending a multitude of programs, travelling near and far, busting our budgets, and missing loved ones who are no longer with us. Although the holidays are intended to bring joy and laughter, they can actually increase the risk of anxiety and depression. In addition, the holidays create opportunities for impulse buying, that can cause long-term damage to a person's financial stability. Here are a few tips to survive the holidays. Read More....
CLERGY
BURNOUT
Preventing Burnout in Ministry • Burnout is the physical and emotional exhaustion that occurs when physical and emotional resources are depleted. • 72% of pastors report working between 55-75 hours per week. 84% of pastors feel they are on call 24/7. www.pastoralcareinc.com
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Help balancing your work, life and career
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Help with personal issues from relationships to stress and substance abuse
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Access a vast collection of self-help and articles Information and resources to improve your overall wellness
ALL CALLS ARE CONFIDENTIAL!!! Please contact your local Clergy Care Team Member if you have additional questions regarding access. If you have any questions please feel free to contact your Conference Coordinator—contact information can be found on the EAP Brochure. All Calls Are Confidential 1-800-225-4555 or 1-800-225-2527 Visit www.the EAP.com
According to OSHA, about 2 million people each year report some type of workplace violence and it is estimated that 25 percent of workplace violence goes unreported. And some of those incidents are rooted in intimate partner violence, which spills over in the workplace.
Workplace and Intimate Partner Violence
New EAP Resource Center:
Violence is something that can intrude in terrible ways both at work and at home. Taking sensible steps to reduce our risk and knowing what to do or where to turn should we encounter a violent episode can help to make us safer.
That’s why we launched a new Workplace and Intimate Partner Violence Resource Center, where you’ll find training, videos, articles, links and tools on this important topic. There are valuable resources for everyone – for you and for your employees.
Click here for a flyer that provides more detail. The violence prevention resources are easy to access – simply log in to www.theEAP.com and click the Workplace & Intimate Partner Violence tile – see the image above Take a minute to read the attached flyer and please make sure to share this important resource with managers and your employees!
Never dismiss someone’s pain. A major mistake that occurs in the church is to ignore the signs, suggest worry is a lack of faith, and that a person’s condition will simply pass through prayer. We certainly walk in faith. However, God gives us wisdom and provides support to address the challenges of life. In the 19th chapter of 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah had a moment where he contemplated suicide. “4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” His answer came in the form of an angel, who led him to places of physical rejuvenation where he would ultimately receive God’s spiritual restoration (vs. 5b-8).
You may be that angel to respond to someone in crisis. Let the person know that you care and want to seek professional help for them. Have a list of local Mobile Crisis Response Centers. Utilize the EAP, find professionally licensed counselors and encourage counseling services for others. Know who you can call with questions and to obtain other social services that the person may need. Call 911 if the situation warrants. Don’t be afraid to personally ask for help. Your life, and the lives of others may depend on it.
National Suicide Helpline Call 1-800-273-8255
EAP - call toll-free 1.800.252.4555 or 1.800.225.2527 or
VISIT www.theEAP.com
—THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS—
There are warning signs. The first flag is a person who frequently talks about losing hope in their future. This may include using words and phrases like feeling hopeless, not wanting to live, feeling trapped, or a burden to others. Secondly, a person may show strange behavior such as mood swings, depression, anxiety, excessive and/or increased use of alcohol or drugs, isolation from family and friends, sleeping a lot, saying goodbye and/or giving away important belongings. Other concerns might be recent or past stressful events such as loss of a loved one, being bullied or abused, loss of a job or an educational setback, trauma from an assault, work environment or military service. Another factor is to determine if the person has a plan and the means to carry out their thoughts. For instance, the use of guns comprises over half of the suicides that occur in the United States.