A friend once told me, “I feel guilty calling into work.” I too, can relate. We often burden ourselves with the fear of putting our needs first. As I write these words in first person, taking a stance on how I feel, I declare that mindset as history. Knowing we have support from others to make decisions that benefit ourselves is key. MLCV understands this perspective and has taken steps to ensure its Associates don’t feel that burden.

MDLIVE Behavior Health

On September 1, 2022, any MLCV Associate with BlueLink was granted access to MDLIVE Behavior Telehealth. This opens the door to gaining acknowledgment and enrichment of Associate’s mental health in and out of the workplace. MDLIVE Behavior Health is a convenient, confidential, and credible online resource for visiting with a Licensed Counselor or Psychiatrist through online video, mobile app, or phone. Services are available 24/7, so Associates can take time for themselves at any point in their day. Treatments range from addictions to stress to trauma and PTSD and so much more.

Mental Health Awareness

MLCV’s effort to provide Associates with mental wellness support came at a time when its need continues to emerge. According to a 2022 study from Mental Health America (MHA), 24.7% of adults with a mental illness report an unmet need for treatment. This number hasn’t seen improvement since 2011. In addition, more than half of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment. To break it down even further as it relates to the communities that MLCV impacts, 19% of individuals who identify with a Native and Indigenous community have reported having a mental illness in the past year.

The hope is that MDLIVE Behavior Health’s ease of connecting with a health professional from a space that’s safe and comfortable for each individual helps alleviate these statistics, even if it helps just one person.

Making a Change, Together

The numbers, though disheartening, showcase the raw reality of a common thread that can ultimately bring people together — mental health is human and cannot be ignored. As such, MLCV chooses to continue to find ways to support the ongoing development of well-being. Along with the addition of MDLIVE Behavior Health, Associates of the 2022 MLCV Leadership Conference were given a free subscription to Calm, an App known for boosting wellness and improving sleep through meditation.

As September, observed nationally as Suicide Prevention Month, ends, the work of bettering ourselves goes on. MLCV fully supports individuals on their wellness journey and will maintain progress toward this initiative. This year, MLCV raised over $15,000 for the Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE). If you or someone you know may be in crisis, please contact 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

I’ll be letting my friend (and myself) in on a little (not so secret) secret. Mental health isn’t going away anytime soon. Taking time to check in on oneself and get help, even if it means calling into work, is vital. What’s that saying? You can’t pour from an empty cup? Yes, that one. Say it out loud, write it down, and remember it.

This article was written by Hannah Torkelson, MLCV’s Brand Communication Specialist. Hannah is a storyteller and is responsible for capturing great moments within MLCV’s portfolio.