UW and UW Medicine offer a wide variety of supports for staff and faculty. From immediate crisis assistance to a conversation with a listening supportive ear, we are here for you.
You may find a resource from the list below and reach out.
General Support
WA EAP // employee assistance program including counseling, financial, and legal support
The Washington Employee Assistance Program (WA EAP) supports PEBB-eligible University of Washington employees and their household members to help identify and resolve personal concerns to promote individual and workplace wellbeing.
Services include counseling, legal advice, financial counseling and education, family support, and resources for supervisors.
UWMC CARE4U // services, events, and education organized to provide staff support
Visit the CARE4U UW Medicine webpage for resources, contact information, and programs designed around support for staff at UW Medical Center Montlake and Northwest (UW NetID required).
CARE4U can work with you to create individual and team support plans and events for your work area. Reach out to schedule a quality improvement or moral distress debrief, join group chats, or find a booster buddy for support.
For questions about the CARE4U program, email Marie Cockerham at marie678@uw.edu.
THE WHOLE U // events and activities to foster community and promote holistic wellness
For and by the UW, The Whole U launched in January 2014 to foster community, promote holistic wellness, and share the great perks available to UW faculty and staff. The Whole U also offers virtual programming for events and activities.
Learn more about discounts, healthy living resources, and more at the Whole U.
WELL-BEING AND MINDFULNESS // webinars and resources to promote your own well-being
A few webinars are listed below. These 5-10 minute self care sessions can be beneficial as a friendly pick-me-up, or to provide ways of reframing our thinking.
Connecting Mind & Body for Healthy Living
Physical things you do with your body can affect the way you feel mentally. Thoughts going through your mind can affect the way you feel physically. In this module, you will learn ways to harness this mind-body connection to improve many aspects of your life.
Laughter, Humor & Play To Reduce Stress & Solve Problems
You don’t have to be a professional comedian to use humor to lower stress levels. This training offers practical ways to incorporate humor and play into everyday situations.
Learning To Relax
The training will allow you to learn and experience several simple relaxation tools such as progressive muscle relaxation, abdominal relaxation, breathing and visualization.
SPIRITUAL CARE // on-site support for Seattle-area UW Medicine team members
Spiritual Care Providers attend to the well-being of the whole person: Mind, Body, and Spirit with deep cultural and spiritual humility. We invite patients and caregivers to engage their emotional and spiritual resources of strength in the midst of both celebration and struggle. We are available to everyone, whether they consider themselves spiritual or not. We assess and attend to a patient’s existential, spiritual and/or religious distress.
We are here to help patients and staff discover ways to navigate suffering and uncertainty while building on their current strengths and practices. We support patients, families, caregivers and staff.
UW Medical Center, Northwest
1:1 support (i.e. moral distress, secondary trauma, grief, existential /spiritual distress and overwhelm, resilience and grounding practices)
Tea for the Soul/Drop In Debriefs
Reflection Space: D-Wing (1 person at a time)
Contact Info: Link to Spiritual Care and Wellbeing intranet site
Harborview Medical Center
Harborview Medical Center Managers/Charges please reach out to Jill Rasmussen-Baker if your unit/department has urgent needs 744-5768 jlrb@uw.edu
- Please contact spiritual care for any urgent staff needs. 206-989-4946 (pager; can send text message to this number) 206-744-3155 (leaving voicemail will page Spiritual Care Provider between 8am and 8pm), or through paging operator (206-744-3000)
- Debriefs are available for any group or individual of any shift by reaching out to Jill Rasmussen-Baker or a unit’s Spiritual Care Provider
- Meditation Room: 4WH-74 open 8am to 8pm
- For one-time after-hours access, call Public Safety at 206-744-3193
- For ongoing after-hours access, email chaplain@uw.edu from your UW email; include your name, employee ID number and unit/department
- Spiritual Care is on-site 24/7 and is actively rounding on day and evening shifts. Staff Care is a priority for Spiritual Care.
- Link to HMC Spiritual Care Intranet site
UW Medical Center, Montlake
UW Medical Center Managers/Charges please reach out to Mia Baumgartner if your floor/department has urgent needs or should be listed as a priority 598-1112 mbaumgar@uw.edu
Please page spiritual care for any urgent staff needs. 206-559-6764 (text) 206-598-9174 (voicemail), or through paging operator. Spiritual Care is actively rounding on day and evening shifts. Staff Care is a priority for Spiritual Care.
Oncology floors
- (7SE, 7NE, 8NE, 8SA): SCCA Spiritual Health provider can be paged directly during Weekday
- MONDAY: 206.626.4555
- TUES-FRIDAY: 206.541-8379.
- EVE/WEEKEND: Page 206-559-6764 (text)
1:1 support (in person or phone) 24/7 (i.e. moral distress, secondary trauma, grief, existential /spiritual distress and overwhelm, resilience and grounding practices) See contact info below.
Tea for the Soul/Drop In Debriefs: see contact information below to arrange. Conducted in partnership with Palliative Care Social Work Staff
Reflection Space: 3rd floor skybridge
Quiet Room: 4SE (4109) near cascade elevators
Contact Info: 24/7 on-call # 206-598-9174; Link to Spiritual Care and Wellbeing intranet site
VA EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE // resources and contacts for VAPS employees
Occupational Health
- Monday – Friday from 08:00am – 3:30pm phone 206-277-4444
- Any calls outside of the hours of operation list above need to go to the COVID after hours number: 206-714-6983
- Need to talk? Want someone who listens? VA Puget Sound has confidential resources you can utilize during these stressful times:
- Chaplain Service: 206-764-2023
- Critical Incident Response Team (Pager): 206-416-6573
- Employee Assistance Program (24/7): 1-800-869-0276; www.espyr.com, Password: VAPSHCS
- Mindfulness practice through Zoom meetings. Don’t have the invite in your calendar? Contact your supervisor to get more information.
- Employee Whole Health Wellness Links
Covid-19 Peer Support Team at Occupation Health Services:
Available 24/7, from work or home! Brief counseling and support for staff members coping with stress related to COVID-19 issues, such as:
- Coping with quarantine
- Distress related to increased isolation
- Managing stressors related to providing care to COVID-19 positive patients
- Skills for improving sleep
- Dealing with grief or anxiety reactions related to COVID-19
- How to deal with anxiety about family members’ health
- Relaxation skills
To schedule an appointment, please email PUGMHSUPPORTCOVID@va.gov
You will get a response by the next business day. For urgent needs and for triage, please page a staff member 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.
M-F 830a-430p: pager number 253-280-3002; After Hours: 206-797-0627
Community resources:
- Social Work Services Share Point has information on Community Resources. These resources are not necessarily limited to Veterans: Social Work Service SharePoint
Mental Health Resources
24/7 SUPPORT // contacts for emergent needs and staff support
For emergent mental health concerns for a colleague, encourage the employee or escort to the Emergency Department (per regular practice).
For an on-demand counselor or critical incident response, use the WA EAP Call Line 24/7 @ 877-313-4455.
UW Medical Center, Montlake only: Contact Spiritual Care On-Call 24/7 @ 206-559-6764 (text) 206-598-9174 (voicemail) or through the paging operator.
EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT // resources for WA UW Medicine employees and households
UW Medicine leadership in partnership with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has launched the UW Medicine Employee Mental Health Support (EMHS) program.
Through EMHS, UW Medicine employees and their household members who live in Washington State may receive help navigating a variety of mental health resource options.
You can access the intake form here. A Health Navigator can help you identify options available to you. There is no charge to speak with an EMHS Health Navigator. The intake form and communication with the Navigator is completely confidential unless there is risk of harm to self or others.
Those seeking resources for individuals under the age of 18 may be directed to Washington’s Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens (833-303-5437), at Seattle Children’s Hospital designed to help people access care in the community.
PEER TO PEER PROGRAM // a conversation with a trained supportive colleague
The peer to peer program is designed to provide a supportive listener after a stressful event or when your job feels overwhelming. Any care team member can access one on one support from a colleague in their field – a trained peer supporter.
Find out more and schedule a conversation for you or a colleague here.
PHYSICIAN SUPPORT LINE // psychiatric assistance for US physicians and medical students
Physician Support Line is a national, free, and confidential support line service made up of 600+ volunteer psychiatrists, joined together in the determined hope to provide peer support for our physician colleagues and American medical students as we all navigate the COVID-19 epidemic.
No appointment necessary. Call the national support line at 1-888-409-0141.
STRESS FIRST AID // training resources to improve recovery from stress reactions
National Center for PTSD
Manuals & Workbook // Training Videos & Materials // Webinars // Resources
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/type/stress_first_aid.asp
Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare
Resources for healthcare workers
Asynchronous Course *UW NetID required
https://www.theschwartzcenter.org/members/programs-support/stress-first-aid/
*Log in with your UW NetID to get the membership ID for your hospital here: https://forms.office.com/r/QQeEwWBJf9
BLACK PATIENT SUPPORTS // resources for black healthcare workers and the community
Supporting your black patients
Dr. Juliette McClendon, VA National Center for PTSD, on distinguishing racial trauma from PTSD
#BlackLivesMatter in Psychotherapy
VA talking points for discussing community trauma in response to killings and mistreatment of Black and Brown Americans
Resources for Black Healing is a compilation of mental health, self-care, and healing tips
Dr. Candice Nicole, Black Psychologist at University of Kentucky, developed this 17-minute meditation in response to BLM to heal racial trauma
Therapists and community support
Live Another Day has extensive information on mental health and substance use resources for people of color.
The Association of Black Psychologists has created this family, community, and self-care toolkit
The Black Mental Health Alliance has several resources for members of the community
Black Therapists Rock includes a therapist search, and has recently published a book, “Black Therapists Rock: A Glimpse Through the Eyes of Experts”
Therapy for Black Girls provides mental health and other therapy related podcasts and other resources developed by and for Black women
For podcasts on Black mental health, articles, and a therapist search, visit Melanin and Mental Health
GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (GME) // resources for residents and fellows
The GME Wellness service offers free and confidential counseling services for individuals and couples in addition to other wellness resources for ACGME and CODA program residents and fellows.
UW ALLIES // resources for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in basic science labs
The UW Medicine Allies program serves graduate students and postdoctoral scholars across the School of Medicine. Allies are faculty and staff who provide trainees with support during conflict with mentors and lab mates, assistance in navigating institutional barriers to success, and connection with institutional and community services. Allies stand in solidarity with trainees, so they don’t have to face challenges alone. Allies are available during weekly drop-in hours or by appointment.
UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (UME) // resources for medical students
UME provides services through the School of Medicine’s Counseling & Wellness department program in Seattle or as part of the WWAMI regional program for medical students and their partners. All of the medical student counselors are licensed mental health professionals who are experienced and knowledgeable in providing psychotherapy and counseling to medical students experiencing a broad range of concerns. All services are free and confidential.
Family Care
Child Care at UW
UW Medicine employees who need child care should call the Child Care Aware COVID Referral Center. The call center can serve callers Monday through Friday between 8:30-4:30 and in their home language. The Referral Center will connect families directly to vacant child care slots in the community, including those available only to UW employees. Here’s how the process works:
- Call 1-800-446-1114
- Press “1” to request child care.
- Press “1” to indicate you are a healthcare worker/first responder.
- Tell the operator you are a UW Medicine employee.
If you want to sign up to receive childcare support updates, join the listserv here.
WA Employee Assistance Program
The Washington Employee Assistance Program (WA EAP) supports PEBB-eligible University of Washington employees and their household members to help identify and resolve personal concerns to promote individual and workplace wellbeing.
Services include counseling, legal advice, financial counseling and education, family support, and resources for supervisors.
Lactation Stations
The UW provides private, secure, and clean lactation stations to support nursing mothers in buildings across campus, at the medical centers, and other UW offices.
Family Friendly Packet
There are many resources available for families through the University of Washington. There is a lot of information on the Benefits and Work Life Division of Human Resources webpage: Family Friendly Policies. Whether you are starting a family or joining us from elsewhere, you may have questions beyond these resources. For this reason, we are collating UW resources to make it easier for you to get the information you need about leave policies, promotion clock extension, childcare, sick childcare, elder care, and more.
How to Find a PCP in Seattle
Find a primary care provider on the UW Medicine “find a provider” page.