The Employee Assistance Plan provides support, including up to six counseling sessions, to help manage and work through emotions in response to recent violence in our country.
Mass shootings are sadly no longer rare in our country. Recently, our nation suffered the worst school shooting since 2012, just days after 10 people were tragically killed in Buffalo, New York. For those directly impacted, healing can be a long and challenging process. Many struggle with anger, fear, guilt, and crushing grief. But we can all be touched by these horrific and senseless events.
Cigna, the administrator of the Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)* provided by the Board of Pensions, offers strategies to help you cope with the outrage and sorrow you may feel in the aftermath of a mass shooting as well as ways to help children cope. If you would like to talk to someone about what you're feeling, you have 24/7 access to licensed clinicians through the EAP. Just call 866-640-2772 and ask for a telephone consultation. Or log on to Cigna's website to schedule a call (one-time registration is required; use pcusa for Employee's Employer ID).
In addition to phone consultations, the EAP provides up to six face-to-face counseling sessions with a dedicated counselor. There's no cost to you, and all EAP services are completely confidential. Your family members and anyone who lives with you can use the EAP, too.
Members who are not eligible for the EAP can call Cigna's Behavioral Resource Line at 866-912-1687 to connect with qualified clinicians.
*The EAP is available to eligible employees, including retired members enrolled in the Medicare Supplement Plan. It is not available to members enrolled in Triple-S or GeoBlue. Those enrolled in Triple-S or GeoBlue should consult their plan for information about benefits for behavioral health or substance use.
Employers can use the materials in the Employee Assistance Plan toolkit to promote usage of this benefit so employees know they are not alone when they need help or someone to talk to. With the EAP, 24/7 support is just a call or click away.
In the face of the horrific incidents of gun violence in the past two weeks, the Presbyterian Mission Agency has put together a video devotional of the Reverend Dr. Diane Moffett, President and Executive Director, PMA, for churches as they minister to their communities and to use at their discretion. This devotional and additional resources are available below:
