Wellness Resources Spotlighted in Seminar for Veterans
| Wellness resources available to all UAMS students and employees was the subject of a lunchtime seminar intended for veteran and active duty members of Team UAMS.
The May seminar was the second such monthly event hosted by the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DDEI) Veterans Subcommittee. April’s event focused on information on UAMS benefits for veterans.
“As part of our efforts to build a diverse and inclusive atmosphere for all members of our community, we wanted to create events where those who are serving or have served can be connected to all the resources available to them at UAMS,” said DDEI’s Odette Woods, senior director for staff diversity, equity and inclusion and staff liaison to the veteran’s subcommittee.
The hourlong virtual event featured Natalie Cannady, director of wellness and chief wellness officer for UAMS, who outlined intuitional wellness initiatives and explained how to take advantage of them.
“Wellness is not just talking about nutrition and exercise, though both of those are part of it,” said Cannady. “UAMS is such a big place. So many people do so many different things, everyone may not know about all the resources available to our entire campus.”
Cannady introduced participants to gethealthy.uams.edu, a portal to access wellness initiatives, including physical, emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, social and spiritual wellness.
“If there’s any resource you need, we are willing and open to that,” said Cannady. “We can’t tell every person who works here that we know what you need at all times, so getting that insight from you is very valuable. We’d love to hear about it.”
In addition to the overview, Cannady explained specific wellness programs, such as nutritional seminars and individual nutrition services covered by insurance, the Stocked & Reddie food pantry, the outdoor fitness court at 4th and Cedar streets, mindfulness sessions, the employee assistance program and access to supportive and mental health services such as AR-Connect, a statewide program that can offer immediate support as well as connect patients with long-term mental health care.
The event also included a stretching and breathing exercise, which is another wellness program offered to departments and employees groups to help them work together and stay injury free.
The seminars continue June 30 from noon to 1 p.m., with a focus on PTSD. The guest speaker will be Carolyn Greene, Ph.D., director of Team Science and associate director of the KL2 Mentored Research Program in the Translational Research Institute and an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry. She is a nationally recognized expert and innovator in the use of technology to increase access to high-quality mental health care.
To attend the event on June 30, click here.