The stress of COVID-19 can present many challenges to those who are in recovery. In particular, social distancing is limiting people’s ability to get support from friends, family, and support groups.

Connection to others in recovery is a big part of the solution for many in recovery. Meetings make people feel supported and understood in ways nothing or no one else can. With much of the world under orders to quarantine or shelter in place, people in recovery can struggle to maintain a connection to their support groups. The good news is many recovery groups are scheduling virtual meetings, and that number is increasing each day.

Below are links to information about virtual 12-step and non-12-step meetings. These meetings take place in a variety of ways: over the phone, in online community posting forums, in social media groups, and through video.

Also, if you have a sponsor, peer specialist, or other special relationship, maintain that connection through text, email, phone, and FaceTime, or Skype.

12-Step Programs 

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA; aa.org): For regularly scheduled virtual meetings, visit aa-intergroup.org and click on Online Meetings.

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA; na.org): For regularly scheduled virtual meetings, visit www.na.org/meetingsearch. In the NA Meeting Search box on the right, select “Phone” or “Web” in the Country field drop-down list.

• Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics; al-anon.org): For regularly scheduled virtual meetings, visit al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/electronic-meetings.

• Nar-Anon (for families and friends of addicts; nar-anon.org): For regularly scheduled virtual meetings, visit www.naranon.com/forum.

Other Programs

Some in recovery prefer non-12 step programs. Listed below are a few organizations who provide virtual support.

• SMART Recovery (for people with addictive problems; smartrecovery.org): To find online forums and meetings, visit www.smartrecovery.org/smart-recovery-toolbox/smart-recovery-online.

• LifeRing (for people addicted to alcohol or drugs; lifering.org): To find online video meetings via Zoom, visit www.lifering.org/online-meetings.

• Women for Sobriety (for women facing issues of alcohol or drug addiction; org): For information on the online community, visit wfsonline.org.

For more information and tips, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

COVID-19 has disrupted our lives in many ways. The stress of social distancing and loss of routine, compounded with health and job concerns, has caused grief and anxiety levels to increase. What we thought of as “normal” is in transition, and we need to redefine how to cope with these changes.

Reasons people feel grief

Grief is a natural feeling accompanying any kind of loss. Typically, grief is associated with losing a loved one to death. With COVID-19, people are experiencing grief related to the loss of routines, livelihoods and relationships. While it is always good advice to be thankful for what we have, it is also important not to minimize the pandemic or its associated losses. Also challenging is that we do not know how long we’ll be impacted by COVID-19. With no clear end in sight, feelings of grief can intensify and make people feel less in control.

Grief shows itself in different ways

It’s perfectly normal to grieve when you can’t celebrate your child’s birthday, your friend’s graduation, your honeymoon or other important life events. It’s important to know that we all grieve differently. Some people may experience feelings more intensely than other people. We shouldn’t make judgments about how someone grieves. There is nothing wrong with having emotions; it is a common response to loss. When we don’t express our feelings, they can get stuck in our bodies, causing physical illness and/or depression.

Listed below are some of the common emotions people experience when grieving, and they may be heightened because of the pandemic.

• Shock, disbelief and denial
• Anger
• Fear
• Guilt
• Helplessness
• Anxiety and depression
• Acceptance and hope
• Relief

Complicated grief

In the current environment, any losses experienced now have additional layers of complexity and depth. Likewise, if we’ve had previous traumas from earlier stages in our lives, the stress of the pandemic might bring up past life experiences that were painful. It’s important to be sensitive to those potential triggers.

COVID-19 has brought on many situations: not being able to say goodbye, to have a funeral service, to grieve because of taking care of others, dreams put on hold, etc. We don’t have the same levels of support due to the quarantine, such as being able to see loved ones and friends. For these reasons and others, it is important to develop coping skills to help get us through this difficult time.

Understanding grief

Part of what gives comfort during challenging times is understanding the healing process.

• Grief can be an ongoing process. It can take on different forms and meanings and with time; the intensity and feelings of grief do change.
• Grief doesn’t mean you obsessively think about what has happened. It is important to allow yourself to deal with the feelings, but obsessively thinking about the pain and fear will only make the feelings worse and can trigger anxiety.
• Grief does not mean “forgetting.” If you have experienced a significant loss or you have missed out on a long-planned event, it is okay to think about who or what you will miss. Part of the grieving process involves keeping your loved ones and/or cherished dreams with you emotionally, as they are still a part of you even if they are no longer a physical reality.
• Grief involves growth. Whether it is coping with the death of a loved one, going through a traumatic event or dealing with the loss of a job, no one chooses these experiences. Working through grief and sorting through intense emotions can help you learn new things about yourself and discover new strengths that can result in emotional growth and maturity. In this way, loss sometimes yields gifts.

How to help yourself

• Build a virtual support system. In the era of social distancing, be creative about how to give and receive support. It’s important to turn to friends, co-workers or family members for support. People like to be of service. Giving and receiving are part of the same equation and benefit all.
• Focus on hope. We all have times when we feel hopeless. Being hopeful helps you realize that we all have tough times and that those times will pass, as will the feelings associated with them.
• Take care of yourself. The mind and body are connected. When you feel good physically, you also feel better emotionally. When you feel sad, do not be influenced by how others think you should grieve. It’s important to feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgment. It’s okay to be angry, cry or not cry. It’s also okay to laugh, find moments of joy and let go when we’re ready.
• Practice gratitude. Sometimes when people are in the midst of loss, they have deep moments of gratitude for what they once had. Practicing gratitude trains our minds to change our thinking and to see the glass as half full.

How to help others

• What to say. It can feel awkward when conversing with someone going through grief. You may wonder what to say ornot say; however, don’t avoid the topic or be afraid to bring it up. Open the door for the grieving person to talk about their feelings. It’s not helpful to say things like, “There’s a reason for everything,” or ” “I know how you feel.” Instead, you can offer a simple expression of sorrow, such as “I’m sorry you’re going through this,” or “I don’t know how you feel, but I’d like to help in any way I can.”
• Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing. Or very little. A grieving person may need to tell their story again and again as part of the process. Be willing to listen without judgment. A good rule to follow is to listen 80 percent of the time and talk the other 20 percent. Your presence can be comforting to a grieving loved one, and you don’t have to do anything special. Often, grieving people just don’t want to be alone.
• Avoid giving advice. Unless someone specifically asks for your advice, it isn’t your place to give it. Grieving people need to do things in their own unique way.
• Don’t take things personally. When people are in profound emotional pain, they can cycle through a whole range of feelings, including irritability and anger. If a grieving person snaps at you, or doesn’t feel like engaging, don’t take it personally. It’s not about you.
• Offer to help. Grieving can make the demands of daily living feel overwhelming. Many times, the grieving person does not want to burden others by asking for help. Don’t wait for them to ask. Instead, offer to help by bringing over dinner, shopping, gardening, etc. During the quarantine, there might be a limit to what you can physically do to help, but you can still take on tasks for the individual to relieve some burdens.

For more information and tips, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

There’s no denying that for many of us, our pets hold a special place in our hearts. They’re our loyal companions, can make a bad day better, and love us just the way we are. The First Week of May is National Pet Week. In honor of this, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate some truly amazing animals that have a profound effect on the lives of their owners: service dogs.

Humans and dogs have had a special bond since the early days of our history. So, it’s no wonder we looked to them as a potential resource for people with disabilities who need some extra assistance. Whether it’s retrieving things for their owner, helping them get dressed, acting as their eyes, or alerting their owner of an oncoming seizure or drop in blood sugar, service dogs perform the necessary tasks that make their owners’ lives easier and give them more independence.

In 1929, we were introduced to the first official service dogs in this country – then called seeing eye dogs – who helped people who were blind navigate their surroundings. By the 1960s, people realized that service dogs had the potential to take on other tasks beyond guiding their owners around. By the 1970s, we had created a more formalized set of guidelines and methods for what service dogs could be used for and how to properly train them. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defined a service dog as “any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.” Service dogs also became protected under the ADA, giving people with disabilities the right to take their service dog with them wherever they go.

Getting a service dog ready to serve their owner takes serious work. According to Aaron Backer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Academy for Graduate Service Dogs (WAGS), it takes their dogs around two years of intensive training before they can go home with their owner. WAGS dogs begin their training at 8 weeks old so that all they know is how to be a service dog. During the first two years, the puppies are trained by and live with volunteer trainers, who work closely with WAGS staff to ensure the animals have what it takes to be a service dog. The WAGS dogs will not only need to learn 50 to 60 commands, but also to prove that they are capable of being on-call at all times.

“You need a dog that wants to work,” says Aaron. “If you want them to work, you expect them to jump up and say ‘Yep, I’m ready to go!’ It doesn’t mean the dog should be doing something every second of every day. It means when you ask the dog to do something, they’re going to jump up and do it. That’s the kind of dog that enjoys being a service dog.”

               Aaron & Ian

After the puppies have completed their training with the volunteers, the new owners work with the WAGS Program and Training Director to match them with the right service dog. Owners then train with their dogs at the WAGS office in Madison, WI, over the course of several weekly visits before the dog is finally ready to be taken to its new home.

WAGS primarily provides dogs to people with physical disabilities, and they work exclusively with Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. These larger breeds tend to have a friendly temperament and are motivated to work, making them a particularly good fit for people with physical disabilities and limited mobility. Kinsley Tarr of Appleton, WI, was paired up with Teal, a Golden Lab who was trained by WAGS, in 2016. Teal helps Kinsley, who uses a power wheelchair, by giving Kinsley her paper and pens, helping her put on her jacket, closing doors for her, and carrying her wallet, among other tasks. The two have formed a deep bond, and Teal has become one of Kinsley’s best friends.

“Teal is very smart and fun to be with. Playful and energetic,” says Kinsley. “She’s always a lot of fun.”

Teal isn’t Kinsley’s first service dog. When Kinsley was in high school, she was paired with Hawk, and then after he retired, Kinsley had Shelby until she retired, too. All three of Kinsley’s dogs were trained at WAGS. Kinsley, who is enrolled in the TMG IRIS Consultant Agency, was able to use her IRIS funds to purchase Teal. IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) is a Wisconsin long-term care Medicaid waiver option that allows people with disabilities and those who are aging to self-direct their long-term care supports and services.

                             Kinsley & Teal

Kinsley’s mom, Jane Tarr, says that having Teal and the other service dogs has led to a richer life for Kinsley. Not only does Kinsley have more independence since she doesn’t have to rely as much on caregivers, but having Teal has opened up Kinsley’s world.

“Before Kinsley got her first service dog, we found she was struggling with friendship. Having a service dog, it brings people to her and gave Kinsley her own presence in her social environment in school, and it helped her in the community,” says Jane. “The service dog helped Kinsley expand her outlet for communication with friends and family and people she doesn’t know.”

Taking service dogs out in public so that people with disabilities have more opportunities to be involved in their community is an important benefit of having a service dog.  Organizations like WAGS have a deep understanding of all the things that go into creating and maintaining a good service dog – knowing what breed will best fit the person’s needs, having professional trainers to help the volunteers train the puppies, and being available to the owners to help with any issues that may come up with the service dog down the road.

Emotional support animals are different than service dogs. Many people find great comfort and joy in their pets, which is wonderful and why we have pets in the first place. However, there is no certification needed to deem that a dog is an emotional support animal. There are ways, however, to tell if a dog is a properly trained service dog or is simply a pet, says Aaron. When service dogs are working, they will be perfectly behaved. Also, most service dogs will be wearing a vest with text indicating that people shouldn’t try to pet or distract them.

Kinsley’s mom Jane knows that properly trained service dogs do more than simply help people with disabilities go about their day-to-day lives. These dogs show the world that with a little extra help from their canine companions, people with disabilities can live more independent lives. They also give their owners the opportunity  to talk to curious strangers about what work their service dog does for them, and why it’s so important for people with disabilities to continue having the right to use their service dogs wherever they go.

“A service dog can be an ambassador for people with disabilities,” says Jane.

For those lucky enough to have a service dog, they find themselves richly rewarded. It’s no small undertaking to commit to having a service dog, and Jane says she’s so proud of all the hard work that Kinsley has put into training and caring for Teal. Kinsley, in turn, is grateful that Teal is there to help her whenever she needs, and that she’ll always be by Kinsley’s side. Kinsley and Teal have a deep, unconditional love for one another and an unbreakable bond.

“I think Kinsley and Teal are mirrors to each other,” says Jane. “They both have an internal spirit of happiness and they make each other fulfilled.”

Perhaps, though, Kinsley best sums up this special relationship:

“A person with a service dog has a heart that’s full!”

Article submitted by TMG Wisconsin 

Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. The Social Distancing concept, which is intended to reduce disease transmission and currently being practiced by communities at large, can be very isolating and lead to increase in stress levels. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.

People who might have more difficulty responding effectively to the stress of a crisis include:

• Those who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use
• Children and teens

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, and feel like you want to harm yourself or others please call 911.

In general, health impacts from stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:

• Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
• Changes in sleep or eating patterns
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
• Worsening of chronic health problems
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

People with physical and mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms. Make sure you continue to take your medications as prescribed and contact your healthcare provider if you find you are starting to feel worse.

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. You can do this remotely through phone or video.

Things you can do to support yourself

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.
• Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
• Connect with others over phone or video. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Look out for these common signs of distress:

• Feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear.
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares and upsetting thoughts and images.
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.
• Worsening of chronic health problems.
• Anger or short-temper.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Reduce stress in yourself and others

1. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media.
2. Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
3. Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
4. Connect with others over phone or video. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
5. Use trusted sources for information such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), The World Health Organization and state health department websites and encourage others to do the same.

For Parents

Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include

• Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
• Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
• Excessive worry or sadness
• Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
• Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
• Difficulty with attention and concentration
• Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
• Unexplained headaches or body pain
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

There are many things you can do to support your child, including:

• Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share factual information about COVID-19 from the aforementioned trusted sources in a way that your child or teen can understand.
• Reassure your child or teen it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
• Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
• Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
• Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members over the phone or through video.

Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

To learn more about what Magellan Healthcare is doing to support clients during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

To learn more about Magellan Health’s corporate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to view Magellan’s available resources click here: https://www.magellanhealth.com/news/covid-19/

As the pandemic grows, healthcare workers are experiencing a new level of stress and fear. Since our first piece about healthcare workers and mental health, the toll that COVID-19 cases have taken on them has become more difficult than any could have imagined.

First, let us again say thank you to all of you, from EMTs who answer the first calls to the doctors and nurses who tend to the sickest. Your selflessness and heroism is inspiring.

We’ve set up a counseling hotline for healthcare workers and first responders at 1-800-327-7451 (TTY 711). Your call will be answered by our licensed mental health clinicians. Our team is trained and ready to listen and help during this difficult time.

There are so many things that are out of our control. We are dependent on others to address many aspects of the big picture, but there are things outlined below that we can do for ourselves and those close to us. No single recommendation is enough by itself, but when taken together, they may help.

Talk about it

Acknowledge your anxiety, fear and grief, and talk about it.

Many of our colleagues and friends say that leaning on fellow healthcare workers is very difficult. Everyone’s heart beats a little bit faster when they greet a COVID-19-positive patient, so how can we ask them to support one another? Yet this is what we do as a medical community daily. Peer support is key.

• If a compassion fatigue group isn’t available at your workplace, work with your employer to put one together.
• If a group option isn’t available, talk to your co-workers about what you are seeing and how it is affecting you. You’ll be surprised at how many share your feelings but have been afraid to say anything. Hospital workers have talked about how a quick meeting at the beginning of their shift, during a break or at other times—to talk, pray, or have a moment of silence—has helped them tremendously.¹
• Many hospital systems have been deploying their psychiatric workforce as volunteers to help colleagues who need it.² Ask your employer if this is available.
• If you don’t want to talk about it at work, find a former co-worker or friend from school or training to talk to, or contact Magellan Healthcare at the phone number above.
• Finally, if you are at a point where your feelings impact your ability to perform or feel comfortable in your role, talk to your supervisor or your organization’s human resources group about your employee assistance programs. Monitor your physical and mental symptoms. You may reach a position that you need to be treated by a behavioral health professional. If that happens, contact one as soon as possible.

Make your voice heard

Some healthcare workers are feeling betrayed by their employers and others.² Whether it’s lack of PPE, feeling unappreciated or being expected to work excessive hours, these feelings can make an already untenable situation worse. While there is much you cannot control, don’t let that stop you from advocating for yourself and others.

• Ask for more PPE or the protocols for how it is allocated. Understanding why things are happening can help people accept them and enable you and your colleagues to offer suggestions from the front lines.
• If you are frustrated about things that you see, think about how you would make them better. Make a list and discuss them with coworkers to come up with solutions. Once things slow down, you’ll have strong suggestions for improving your work environment.

Maintain focus

• Remember why you became a healthcare worker. Maybe you watched a family member battle an illness, or you felt a calling to help people. Think about that during these times.
• Remind yourself that what you are doing is noble. The cognitive impact of recognizing the value you offer will help you serve your patients in a positive way.
• Consistent with your training and dedication, keep your focus on the patient in front of you, on protecting yourself to the best of your abilities and extending those protections to the home setting when you are off work.
• When you are off work, turn your focus to what is happening in the moment.

Take care of yourself

• We acknowledge that recommending meditation or focusing on breathing in the midst of chaos and fear may not seem helpful for some. Think about how you breathe when you are stressed. Some of us hold our breath without realizing it; others breathe very shallowly. We don’t realize it until we get around to taking a real breath.
• As you work around people with COVID-19, you might be afraid to breathe deeply. If you can, try to go to a place where you feel comfortable doing so, and take a few deep, slow breaths. Something as simple as this can release stress and clear your mind.
• Exercising may feel like a lofty goal as well. Try to find 10 minutes for a brisk walk, or a quick set of jumping jacks, sit-ups and push-ups.
• If you don’t have time or energy to cook, find easy-to-eat fresh foods like bananas, oranges and carrots.
• To help you relax and get to sleep, try apps like Headspace, Calm and Balance. AMA members can access these for free.
• Finally, if you are on medications for a pre-existing behavioral health condition, don’t stop taking them, and contact your provider if your symptoms are getting worse.

For more information and tips, visit www.MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

With stock market volatility and worrying headlines about how long the pandemic will last, it’s hard not to feel uneasy and question what the future holds. Consider these tips and resources to help you work through financial decisions and challenges that you may face in the weeks ahead.

Create a budget

Make a list of your regular monthly expenses, like rent, loan payments, utilities, food, etc. Compare that with your household’s take-home pay. If you are bringing home more money than your expenses, consider putting a bit of the extra to the side as a financial cushion. If your budget is more than you bring home each month, look for places you can cut to make ends meet. For help, visit www.consumer.gov.

Control your spending

Being isolated and bored at home can give you a lot of time to shop online. With so much uncertainty, it’s important to resist the urge to buy impulse items. Prioritize your most important financial obligations such as food, shelter and transportation first, and items like household décor and extra clothing last. If necessary, consider pausing automatic bill payments so you can control the payment timing until you are on better financial footing.

Contact your lenders (mortgage, car, rent, utilities, student loans, etc.)

If you are unable to work due to COVID-19 – you’ve fallen ill, your place of employment has temporarily closed, you have to stay home and take care of children or loved ones who are ill, etc. – you may not be able to pay your bills. Many lenders have set up exceptions, special accommodations and relief funds to support the public during this health crisis. Take advantage of them.

Reach out to your credit card company

Even if your credit card issuer has not formally released a statement of support, if you are at risk of missing a payment, it is worthwhile to contact the company to discuss your options. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) advises on its website that during a disaster, “Your creditors will likely work with you on a solution, but it’s important to contact them as soon as possible and explain your situation.” Late payments can hurt your credit score, and pile on extra charges and fees, so getting ahead of the issue will save you down the road.

Be aware of financial scams

If you receive a phone call, text message or email asking for your financial information in exchange for COVID-19 testing or medication, do not provide it. Unfortunately, fraudulent companies are taking advantage of people worried about COVID-19 and trying to steal their money and/or sensitive information by offering unproven cures. In particular, note that the World Health Organization is warning about people posing as their representatives to get sensitive information and solicit donations through emails, phone calls, text messages and even fax messages. You can find links to sources of fraud reports at MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19/fraud.

Discuss finances with your partner or someone you trust

Concerns over money is at or near the top of the list of things that stress most of us out. It’s important to communicate with your partner and family about finances on a regular basis to understand your situation and agree on financial priorities. If necessary, consult with a financial professional.

Access community resources

• State and local human service agencies can connect you with public assistance programs such as food stamps or emergency financial funds, Medicaid, housing and the like. Learn more at hhs.gov/programs/social-services/index.html.
• The United Way has information on food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent and utility assistance, support for older Americans and persons with disabilities, etc. Visit www.unitedway.org.
• Aunt Bertha is a social care network where you can search for services like medical care, food, job training, transportation and more, right in your area. Visit www.auntbertha.com.
• The U.S. Government offers benefit information for individuals younger than age 55. Visit www.benefits.gov.

To learn more about what Magellan Healthcare is doing to support clients during the  COVID-19 pandemic, visit  MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

To learn more about Magellan Health’s corporate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to view Magellan’s available resources click here: https://www.magellanhealth.com/news/covid-19/

While our everyday lives are becoming faster and more digital is your medical life doing the same? Do you miss filling your prescription because you forgot to call it in? Do you receive texts from pharmacists checking in on your current health conditions? Do you have a health coach a text away to help with your health goals?

Did you know that the average opt-in rate for receiving text messages is less than 2%? With MRx Connect we have seen more than 33% opt in. In addition, 98% of those who have opted in read the text message.

MRx Connect is an engaging digital communication service that helps prevent gaps in care and enhance awareness by sending proactive texts, emails, and chats. By receiving real-time information, people can make better healthcare decisions. MRx Connect messaging can be done in many ways and has shown many great results:

1. Refill Reminders: Receive a text when your prescription is getting low so that you know when to call in a new fill.
2. Flu Shot Reminder: Know when the best time is to receive your flu shot before it is too late in the season.
3. Re-enrollment Reminders: Be aware of when your enrollment is coming up, so you don’t have any gaps in care.
4. Health Coaching: Communicate with a professional health coach, pharmacist, or tech on your current health in real-time and on your own time.

Results:

• 35% engagement rate and improved refill rates for refill reminder for chronic conditions
• 23% of members received flu shots after receiving text message

Digital communication in healthcare allows you to be more aware and adherent to your care. You are never alone in your health journey and by being a click away from receiving answers or direction you are leading an even healthier, more vibrant life.

As more people are working from home to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), what was once a perk may now seem like a punishment. It can be hard just to find and set up a workspace and connect with work, let alone deal with the isolation.

If you are used to going into work, you may miss opportunities for regular social interaction and connection with co-workers. Regardless of which life stage you’re in, working from home may cause feelings of isolation, frustration or stress that can impact your mental health.¹ Here are some tips to help you manage your new work-life balance:

Set yourself up for success

Find the most quiet place you can to set up your home work area. Make sure you have good lighting, a comfortable chair and plenty of outlets to plug in your computer, monitor, phone charger, etc. Put everything you need nearby so that you don’t need to constantly hop up to find a report, get supplies, etc. Maintain as much of an office-like demeanor as you can. If you are using video for meetings, remember, you’re on camera too.

Establish your routine

When you’re away from the workplace, it’s important to set specific hours—and stick to them. It’s easy to work more hours than normal, but that may cut into your family time and affect your sleep schedule. You may also feel pressure to prove that you are spending your time productively, and this can result in increased anxiety and stress. Set your boundaries and develop a routine: wake up at the same time every day, take a shower, get dressed, etc. Keep as much of your non-work life as it was before the pandemic: eat well, exercise and get fresh air—just remember to maintain a 6-foot distance from others.

Practice self-care

Self-care is any proactive activity that we do to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. Good self-care is the key to improved mood, reduced anxiety and a good relationship with yourself and others. While so many normal activities are disrupted, take some time to practice gratitude, eat healthy, get enough sleep and maintain or start an exercise program. You will feel better for it.²

Increase communication

You might find it easier to be productive without your most chatty coworkers constantly buzzing in your ear. But social interactions—even with coworkers—can alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness. Try to maintain normalcy by setting up regular check-ins with your team or manager that allow you to provide progress updates, sort through problems or brainstorm ideas.

Cherish children

If you have children at home due to school closings, helping them make sense of what is happening in the world will help you process the situation too. Kids of all ages are as vulnerable as adults to feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness. Do the best you can to manage childcare, plan for different age groups and ask for help from those near to you, while staying mindful about social distancing. Be flexible to accommodate your children’s needs and those of your employer. This is a unique moment in history. Move through it as gracefully as you can and create good memories for your family.

Take breaks

In the office, there’s usually time for coffee breaks, lunch walks and chats with colleagues that give some breathing room from work. Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to the same breaks. Hitting the pause button throughout the workday can be good for productivity. Get up and stretch, take deep breaths and look up from the computer at regular intervals. Remember to eat, and check with your supervisor for permission to take a break for a quick walk.

For more information and tips, visit MagellanHealthcare.com/COVID-19.

To learn more about Magellan Health’s corporate response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to view Magellan’s available resources click here: https://www.magellanhealth.com/news/covid-19/

¹Smith, P. (2020, March 10). How To Deal If Working From Home Is Hurting Your Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/working-from-home-mental-health_n_5afd88e2e4b0a59b4e014602?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALPysx5taWAnltmdXV9uEcuIXzXyRxgs3xGUH0ztFrzmyZfyFKQUQo1BetFTXXoiY1lnEVcXeQbFXLffHW2baI7Yr9eG5nDkYyB5iecH6hx8iRFumbBwpzRVhn1H7uRr-3ZngjIoto2Ctd1o-7Sl4sEDdIr-GAyVlgsNUEul-5MM

²Michael, R. (2018, July 8). What Self-Care Is – and What It Isn’t. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/blog/what-self-care-is-and-what-it-isnt-2/