Building resilience together
Lisa Merlo, Ph.D., M.P.E., shares mental health resources for college community
Lisa Merlo, Ph.D., M.P.E.
Aug. 4, 2023 — A fulfilling life is one that balances a person’s work and interests and allows them to form meaningful relationships, both in and out of the workplace. While the administrators, faculty, staff, learners and trainees at the UF College of Medicine are committed to improving health care for patients, their busy schedules sometimes make it harder to step away from campus to seek the care they themselves sometimes need.
With resources ranging from employee assistance programs to online therapy services, the college promotes precision wellness, helping medical professionals, scientists, learners and trainees overcome barriers to receiving mental health care.
“I think we’re doing a good job at emphasizing the need to seek help early,” said Lisa Merlo, Ph.D., M.P.E., a licensed clinical psychologist and director of wellness programs for the College of Medicine. “But as a medical profession, we’re all in this together, so it’s important to try to have less of the I-have-to-do-everything-myself approach and look out for one another more often. My main goal is to help all members of the College of Medicine community engage in work they find meaningful by implementing more things to make it easier for them to do the excellent work they were trained to do.”
Below are some common stressors Merlo noted for physician, researcher, learner and trainee populations, as well as resources available at the College of Medicine to address these and other concerns.
Common stressors for faculty and staff
Physicians who are passionate about teaching medicine and caring for patients may find additional stress in rote duties such as those stemming from electronic health records and responding to emails, which can inhibit their ability to focus on the tasks that bring the most meaning to their work. For many researchers, pressures can stem from the long and difficult process of obtaining grant funding, funding proposal rejections, getting approval for research, expectations from mentors and fixed deadlines.
Mental health resources for faculty, staff, residents and fellows
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Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development: This office supports College of Medicine faculty scientists, educators and clinicians to promote long-term personal and professional well-being and job satisfaction. UF and UF Health faculty and staff can dial 352-627-0032 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Employee Assistance Program Services: UF Health and UF employees (including residents) are eligible for several free counseling sessions each academic year. UF employees can visit https://eap.ufl.edu or call 1-833-306-0103. UF Health Shands employees can visit https://eap.ufhealth.org/eap-program/ or call 352-265-5493.
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TalkSpace Free Confidential Online Therapy and Psychiatric Management: College of Medicine and UF Health Shands employees (including residents) who have GatorCare benefits are eligible for this free, unlimited online therapy service. Register at https://talkspace.com/gatorcare or email gatorcare-support@talkspace.com.
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Outpatient Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Services through the UF Department of Psychiatry or Department of Clinical & Health Psychology practices: UF and UF Health employees and trainees with insurance can call the mental health services access line, 352-627-0032, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Care for Colleagues: UF and UF Health employees who are involved in work-related events that are emotionally difficult can match with a trained peer who serves as an unbiased support system. This confidential, free-of-charge service can be requested by calling 352-494-5795.
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Graduate Medical Education Institutional Wellness Committee: Established in 2018, this program completes a needs assessment of residents and program directors to identify areas to target for wellness improvement.
Common stressors for students
In addition to a rigorous curriculum, students studying medicine and science often experience major life milestones that coincide with their training, such as moving far from home for the first time, becoming financially independent or getting married, which can add stress to their studies. They may also struggle to dedicate time to relaxing and connecting with their loved ones, which can lead to feelings of isolation.
Mental health resources for students
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Office of Student Counseling and Development: Led by Beverly Dede, Ph.D., M.A., this office provides students within the medical school with short-term, personal counseling, referrals for long-term therapy and consultation. To schedule a counseling appointment, email beverly@ufl.edu or dial 352-273-8383.
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COMmunity student interest group: This confidential, student-run organization works to build a supportive student community to reduce the stigma associated with the many struggles students encounter.
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Mind-Body Medicine Track: This two-credit elective works to introduce students to mind-body practices in three phases to enhance self-awareness and self-care.
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UF Counseling and Wellness Center: To help students cope with the change and stress that comes along with college years, this center works to ensure that students are better equipped to thrive and learn with on-call providers and after-hour assistance. Visit http://counseling.ufl.edu or call 352-392-1575.
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UF GatorWell Health Promotion Services: Established to help empower UF students to develop positive health behaviors, GatorWell provides services such as wellness coaching, HIV testing and workshops to prepare students for lifelong personal and professional success.
General crisis services
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UF Health Shands Psychiatric Hospital: Located at 4101 NW 89 Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 or dial 352-265-5481. Emergency walk-in hours are 24/7.
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UF Crisis and Emergency Resource Center: Located on the 4th floor of Peabody Hall, the CWC has services available for students in need of immediate emotional support, where walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged Dial 352-391-1575.
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Dial 988: For access to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, dial 988 from any phone, call 1-800-237-TALK (1-900-273-8255) or use the online chat at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/.
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National Suicide Hotline: Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or online chat at https://www.imalive.org/.
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Alachua County Crisis Center: For crisis and suicide intervention phone counseling to all residents of Alachua County, dial 352-264-6789.
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Alachua County Sexual Assault Helpline: Call 351-264-6760 or 1-800-252-5439 (toll-free).
