HealthFlex Express Archive || E-Newsletters || Wespath Benefits and Investments Website

Vol. XVIII, Issue 33

September 15, 2021

Connect With a Licensed Therapist Via Text Message, Video Chat

HealthFlex participants and their family members now have another option to connect with one-on-one counseling opportunities and mental health support. As part of our commitment to provide easy access and minimal wait time for counselling support, Wespath has added Talkspace to its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) resources. With Talkspace, individuals can connect with a licensed therapist via text message or video chat, and can typically start therapy in just a day or two.

Talkspace is covered under the HealthFlex EAP benefit. That means participants—as well as participants' family and household members, including those not covered by HealthFlex—can use Talkspace via their eight free EAP sessions per concern per year. One week of messaging via Talkspace counts as one session. A face-to-face Talkspace video session also counts as one session.

If an individual is interested in using Talkspace, there is a three-step registration process:

  1. Contact the Optum EAP at 1-866-881-6800 and request a Talkspace authorization code.
  2. Visit talkspace.com/connect. Under "Use my Employee Assistance Program (EAP)," click "Get Started."
  3. Fill out the basic information. Type Wespath in the "Organization name" field and enter the Authorization Code received in Step 1.

After an individual registers, it is easy to find a therapist with Talkspace's online matching tool. After the individual selects a therapist, a complimentary orientation session with the therapist is recommended. The orientation session does not count as one of the eight EAP visits.

For additional information, we invite you to visit our new Talkspace webpage. This page also has the registration details above and can be shared with HealthFlex participants.

The addition of Talkspace is an early step in response to Wespath's Clergy Well-Being Survey, which was conducted this year.

Since the first survey in 2012, we have seen the confidential survey results continue a downward trend in four of the five Dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional, social and spiritual. Emotional well-being, in particular, took a significant step down between 2019 and 2021. Wespath sees these results as alarming, and we are working to gain the understanding and insight to some of the systemic issues impacting clergy well-being.

Based on the results of the 2021 Clergy Well-Being Survey, Wespath is planning several action items, including listening sessions to gather more detail about what impacts clergy well-being, and enhancing our programs, services, and educational offerings. We plan to share more and get HealthFlex plan sponsors' input at the upcoming virtual HealthFlex Summit in October.

The addition of Talkspace and a more detailed breakdown of the Clergy Well-Being Survey results will also be shared with participants in the Wespath Update, which will be e-mailed to HealthFlex participants starting September 16.

The Relax, Renew, Refresh Challenge

The Relax, Renew, Refresh Challenge for individuals enrolled in Virgin Pulse® will run from October 4 to November 1. Registration will open September 20 and remain open throughout the challenge. Individuals can join at any time.

Wespath is organizing this all-UMC challenge because we know we all need to refresh and restore ourselves from time to time. When people don't get the self-care they need, everything suffers—their work, their relationships, and especially their mental, physical, and emotional health.

In this challenge, participants will explore the value of allowing their mind, body and soul to have some meaningful, restorative downtime. Join a team with your friends and colleagues or make some new friends.

Virgin Pulse is planning to send the following e-mails to individuals for the challenge:

HealthFlex Well-Being Program Survey Coming Soon

On September 15, Virgin Pulse will send out an e-mail on behalf of Wespath to some HealthFlex participants that encourages them to complete a survey on the well-being programs. The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. The responses will provide valuable insights into how we can support participants' health and well-being. Participants will have until end of day September 30 to respond. We strongly encourage participants to complete this survey!

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