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Local 591 EAP / Member Assistance
Credit IAM EAP, LAP
March Special Edition 2020
Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks
(from SAMSHSA.gov)
What You Should Know
When you hear, read, or watch news about an outbreak of an infectious disease such as Ebola, you may feel anxious and show signs of stress—even when the outbreak affects people far from where you live and you are at low or no risk of getting sick. These signs of stress are normal and may be more likely or pronounced in people with loved ones in parts of the world affected by the outbreak. In the wake of an infectious disease outbreak, monitor your own physical and mental health. Know the signs of stress in yourself and your loved ones. Know how to relieve stress and know when to get help.
Know the Signs of Stress
What follows are behavioral, physical, emotional, and cognitive responses that are all common signs of anxiety and stress. You may notice some of them after you learn about an infectious disease outbreak.
YOUR BEHAVIOR:
- An increase or decrease in your energy and activity levels
- An increase in your alcohol, tobacco use, or use of illegal drugs
- An increase in irritability, with outbursts of anger and frequent arguing
- Having trouble relaxing or sleeping
- Crying frequently
- Worrying excessively
- Wanting to be alone most of the time
- Blaming other people for everything
- Having difficulty communicating or listening
- Having difficulty giving or accepting help
- Inability to feel pleasure or have fun
- Anxiety
Know How to Relieve Stress
You can manage and alleviate your stress by taking time to take care of yourself.
KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE:
Set limits on how much time you spend reading or watching news about the outbreak. You will want to stay up to date on news of the outbreak, particularly if you have loved ones in places where many people have gotten sick. But make sure to take time away from the news to focus on things in your life that are going well and that you can control.
GET THE FACTS:
Find people and resources you can depend on for accurate health information. Learn from them about the outbreak and how you can protect yourself against illness, if you are at risk. You may turn to your family doctor, a state or local health department, U.S. government agencies, or an international organization. Find reliable links to good sources of information about infectious disease outbreaks.
Sources for Credible Outbreak- Related Health Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
1-800- CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) https://www .cdc.gov
World Health Organization
Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization
525 23rd Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-974-3000 http://www .who.int/en
Take Good Care of Yourself to Be Able to Take Care of Others
KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY:
- Eat healthy foods, and drink water.
- Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol.
- Do not use tobacco or illegal drugs.
- Get enough sleep and rest.
- Get physical exercise.
USE PRACTICAL WAYS TO RELAX:
- Relax your body often by doing things that work for you—take deep breaths, stretch, meditate, wash your face and hands, or engage in pleasurable hobbies.
- Pace yourself between stressful activities and do a fun thing after a hard task.
- Use time off to relax—eat a good meal, read, listen to music, take a bath, or talk to family.
- Talk about your feelings to loved ones and friends often.
March Monthly Observances
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Red Cross Month
Hemophilia Awareness month
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Benefits and you
Using Your Spending Accounts
You have three options to use the balance in your Spending Accounts:
1. Smart-Choice Accounts Card
If you are currently enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), you will use the Smart-Choice Accounts debit card to access both FSA/HSA funds and your HRA. If you are not currently enrolled in an FSA or HSA, you will receive a new Smart-Choice Accounts debit card in the mail to access earned well- being rewards. You must activate the card in order to use it to pay for eligible Medical, Dental, Prescription, and Vision expenses. Always be sure to save your receipts, as all Spending Accounts may require you to submit documentation.
2. Automatic Reimbursement
If you select the automatic reimbursement method, your HRA and FSAs will automatically reimburse you (via check or direct deposit) whenever you have a claim for eligible Medical, Dental, Prescription, or Vision expenses under the Plan. Note that automatic reimbursement cannot be used for the HSA.
3. Submit Manual Claims
You may submit eligible Medical, Dental, Prescription, and Vision claims for reimbursement online, by mail, or by fax. Visit the American Airlines Benefits Service Center Smart-Choice Accounts site or call Smart-Choice Accounts at 888-860-6178 for instructions and claim submission information.
Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA)
How the Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) Works
The HCFSA allows you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for eligible health care expenses. Paying for these expenses pre-tax helps reduce your taxes.
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Local 591 EAP / Member Assistance Representatives
Ken Morse- (815) 483-8585 - k.morse@local591.com
National EAP and Benefits–Member Assistance Program Coordinator
Hector Posa- (815) 323-9648 ORD MLS EAP-Member Assistance Peer
Mark Smejkal- (847)757-1954- ORD EAP-Member Assistance Peer
Tony Lepore- (940) 536-8817- t.lepore@local591.com
National Benefits and EAP-Member Assistance Coordinator
Danny Wilson-(631) 334-0933- d.wilson@local591.com
Northeast Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits Coordinator
Rawle Skeet- (954) 559-7505- r.skeete@local591.com
Southeast Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits Coordinator
Phil Revollo- (954) 665-7383 MIA EAP-Member Assistance Peer
Sean Bruno- (310) 594-2025-s.bruno@local591.com
West Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits Coordinator
Edwin Joseph- (310) 709-4755- jord352000@yahoo.com
West Region Member Assistance Program EAP and Benefits peer Coordinator
John Hadaway- (817) 637-8075- J.hadaway@local591.com
Southwest Region Member Assistance Program (Terminal) EAP and Benefits Coordinator
David San Miguel- (817) 875-5808- D.sanmiguel@local591.com
Southwest Region Member Assistance Program (Hangar) EAP and Benefits Coordinator
David Emerline- (469) 408-8197- EEMERLINEE07@YAHOO.COM
Southwest Region Member Assistance Program (MLS) EAP and Benefits Peer Coordinator
Download:
EAP March Special 2020 News Letter.pdf
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