Mental Health Newsletter

Summer 2023

In this edition:

• Heart of Florida United Way 2-1-1
• Back to School Mental Health Resources
• Podcast: Back to School: Balancing Academic and Social-Emotional Wellness
• Podcast: School Readiness - Children's Home Society of California
• Podcast: Separation - Children's Home Society of California
• Podcast: Catch Up on Kids Mental Health
• Cigna Behavior Health Series
• Wellable App
• Mental Health Counselor
• Free Counseling Sessions

Returning to or starting a new school can be both exciting and stressful. For parents and caregivers, helping children navigate their feelings is important to their overall wellbeing and success in the classroom.

As summer break ends, you can also help children transition with structure and routine a few weeks prior to returning to school. Having open conversations about what’s worrying them, while letting them know that it’s normal to feel anxious is just one of many ways you can help your child process through their feelings. 

While children are resilient, we must also remember that there are those who struggle and fight through mental illness every day. We hope you will find these tools helpful as you begin to prepare your children to return to school. 

Mental Health Activities for Parents & Caregivers

• Florida’s VPK Specialized Instructional Services (English)
• Florida’s VPK Specialized Instructional Services (Spanish)
• Back-To-School Mental Health Checklist
• Positive Affirmations for Elementary School
• Teens Health for Parents: Provides information to help parents better understand and support their children’s emotional wellness. 
• Kelty Mental Health Resource Center: Provides peer support, information, and resources to help you talk to and guide a youth in your life to the services and supports they may need.

High Schoolers

• Chapman University Mental Health Toolkit for High Schoolers

College Students

• 101 Wellness Tips For College Students

Additional Back to School Mental Health Resources:

• Mental Health Resources for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults -NAMI
• Adolescent and School Mental Health - CDC
• Mental Health Resources for High School and College Students – The JED Foundation

Mental health and substance use disorders affect millions of people every day.

If you’re interested in learning more about behavioral health, check out Cigna’s seminars.

Taught by industry experts, they offer real solutions covering the following topics.

• Autism
• Eating Disorders
• Substance Use
• Children and Adolescent Behavioral Health Issues

Click on a topic to see the seminar schedule and registration link.

For questions, email Wellness@ocfl.net.

Check out our Wellable Application, which addresses dimensions of health, including physical, mental, and environmental well-being.

This application is free to employees and their spouses.

Sign up and register TODAY! https://app.wellable.co/OCWellness

Mental Health Counselor - Janelle Carbone-Rodriguez 

Employees and their family members (spouse and children) have access to a mental health counselor, Janelle Carbone-Rodriguez, and can receive up to six free counseling sessions per issue through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Janelle is a licensed clinical social worker that specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, brief intervention, crisis intervention, and grief and bereavement. She is proficient in both English and Spanish.

Appointment Windows:

Wednesdays - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Thursdays - 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, just follow these steps.

1. Call the EAP toll free number, 1-855-221-8925.
2. Provide the representative with the Web ID, ORANGECOUNTY.
3. Receive a verification number.
4. Call 866-280-9355 to set an appointment with Janelle.

To learn more about Janelle, click here.