Taking Care of Our People October 10, 2022

Key Takeaways​​​​

• As part of World Mental Health Day, we want to highlight several mental health services available to the community.
• Today also marks the start of this year’s United Way campaign — an opportunity for UK to demonstrate its commitment to building a healthier, wealthier and wiser Kentucky.

Campus Community,

Midterms are quickly approaching, and with so many activities consuming our time, it can be easy to forget to pause and reflect on who we are at the University of Kentucky. 

We are a community that cares — and that means checking in on ourselves, neighbors, loved ones and members of the community.

Taking care of your mental health

To continue advancing Kentucky, we must care for our people — our students, our employees and ourselves. That means physical health, but also emotional health and well-being.

Today, we recognize World Mental Health Day — an appropriate moment to point to several tools the university offers to ensure we are putting students first and taking care of our people.

Students

• If you are seeking a quick referral to support services or would like to receive direct clinical support for a range of mental health needs and crises, contact TRACS (Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support). TRACS is a physical and virtual one-stop shop for students needing mental health support.
• Call 859-21-TRACS (218-7227), complete this form or show up in-person (third floor, east wing of the Gatton Student Center). 
• UK has recently partnered with Talkspace, a confidential and secure online text and video chat therapy platform. UK students have access to this service free of charge. You can read more about Talkspace here or at this website .

Employees

• All faculty and staff, as well as their spouses, sponsored dependents and unmarried children up to age 26, can make an appointment with Work+Life Connections counselors. Our therapists offer confidential services including short-term counseling and referrals.
• Our certified health coaches with HR Health and Wellness can also consult with you if you’re experiencing feelings of overwhelm, lack of control or worry.

Annual United Way campaign

You often hear me say this special place was created to advance the Commonwealth — to make our state healthier, wealthier and wiser tomorrow than it is today.

One of the ways we accomplish this is partnering with United Way of the Bluegrass — an organization that has provided basic needs, education and financial stability to individuals, families and entire communities across the Commonwealth for 100 years. But to continue this hard and essential work, they need our help. 

Please join me from October 10 to October 31 in supporting our United Way campaign with donations. United Way ensures your gifts will stay in our community, making it possible for Kentucky children and youth to achieve their full potential through education; for families to become more financially stable and independent; and for communities to receive the help they need through uncertain times.

You can find more information about the campaign and how to contribute on UK’s United Way website or by contacting our United Way Coordinator at uk-unitedway@uky.edu.  If you have previously given to United Way of the Bluegrass, we deeply thank you.

I am grateful to be part of this special community — a place that cares so much for so many people across our campus and our Commonwealth.

Eli Capilouto

President