This morning I heard about a study of the effects of the pandemic on young people and the shocking statistics revealed that 11% of young people under 18 had seriously considered suicide during the past 2 weeks. For young people 18-24 the stats were 1 in 4. To think that 25% of our young adults just getting started in life view their futures as so dark is stunning! It reminds us of the human need for connection and the toll that physical separation takes on all of us, particularly the young and the elderly. As the pandemic eases and people come back together, we can be sure that public spaces like ours will provide a healing place for our community in more ways than we can now imagine.
If the sad statistics I've mentioned here feel close to home, please remember that our EAP benefits extend to your immediate family. If your children are feeling really down, please take advantage of free counseling. And if you feel like the world is heavy on your shoulders, don't hesitate to reach out for counseling yourself. Sometimes just having someone to talk to who won't judge you or worry about you if you confess you're feeling vulnerable is all you need to feel stronger. Many of us carry a lot of responsibility. Some of us are the "head of the family" and know everyone is looking at us as the role model for staying strong. We don't think we can share our worries with our families. Rest assured that everyone is feeling the effects of all the challenges we've had to face this year. Please take advantage of our EAP support system. It's completely confidential. All we'll know is how many staff members used the service, never your name, or what you told the counselor.
The Aurora EAP can be reached by calling 1-800-236-3231 (available 24 hours a day)
Please know your coworkers care about you. We're all in this together!
Barb
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