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Managing Stress and Uncertainty in 2021

Last Updated: May 4, 2021 1:16:21 PM PDT
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Explore resources to support your mental and emotional wellbeing during times of stress, anxiety and uncertainty.

large statute of a bear made of stones on a grass lawnThe UC San Diego Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) team recognizes that 2020 was a year of unprecedented challenges, and also a few unprecedented victories.

Honestly, most of us were happy to see the year end. Most of us were anxiously awaiting the turn of the page, for 2021 to appear on the horizon with new promise and encouragement. Indeed, there are some wonderful things happening. The vaccine is being delivered to millions of healthcare workers and the elderly; and we are witnessing medical history, social movements towards justice and learning more about our family members than we ever dreamed we would.

However, there are also many frightening events taking place in our nation that have sent many of us into a state of shock, feeling as traumatized and uncertain as we did last spring at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Layers and layers of fear, doubt, and continued isolation feel particularly heavy right now. That injection of energy and hope we were looking for feels elusive. We have some ideas of how to get your feet solidly on the ground again. We need every UC San Diego stakeholder to bring the promise of 2021 to fruition!

We want to remind our campus employees that as individuals, we all manage stress and uncertainty differently. Some of us are talkers, while others retreat. Some of us gather, while others prefer solitude.

Whatever your reaction, your need or your preference, FSAP is here for you. We are a caring, principled community at UC San Diego. Each employee is offered an array of well-being benefits.

We hope you will connect with us through one of our monthly groups, individual tele-health appointments or management consultations. We also would like to highlight other resources available to employees throughout the year such as monthly support groups, meditation apps, podcasts and more.

Resources

Counseling and Campus Support Groups 

  • Individual counseling appointments are available to UC San Diego campus employees at no cost through FSAP. Schedule an appointment with an FSAP counselor »
    • FSAP counselors can also help with referrals to external behavioral health providers through University-provided health programs (Optum, Anthem, MHN) and other service options in the community.

Upcoming Support Groups and Events

  • Caregivers and Eldercare Support Group 
    • First Tuesday of the month from 12 - 1 p.m.
    • To receive the Zoom meeting invitation, contact Crystal Green at cegreen@ucsd.edu. 
    • Explore our Caregiver and Eldercare Resources 
  • Tritons Flourish, facilitated by William Youngblood, LMFT
    • Third Thursday of the month at 12 p.m.
    • This monthly program is open to any UC San Diego campus employee interested in connecting with others who are committed to flourishing in their personal and professional lives. Learn more »

Chauvin Verdict: Supportive Shared Discussion Space

The Campus Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) will be hosting a supportive space of shared discussion on Wednesday, April 21 from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. to discuss reactions to the recent verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

Registration is not required. 


The world has watched as the horrifying events that led to the death of George Floyd were told in detail over the course of the trial. We all wondered if justice would be served; and will still wait to see how our nation will move to address much-needed systemic change and anti-Black racism.

Shifts in our collective consciousness due to the on-going racial violence, the global pandemic and “more of the same” injustice, power struggles, and exposed anti-Blackness, have created a range of reactions for us as Tritons. In the spirit of our Principles of Community, all Campus staff, faculty, Postdocs and retirees are invited to join, listen, share and lean in together to process the latest in important national events. Let’s see if we can’t affirm the struggle, validate those in the forefront of both injustice and activism, and find some hope together.

Use this link to join the discussion via Zoom » 

For Campus staff and faculty interested in a more private processing space, please access FSAP appointments at: How to Make an Appointment With FSAP (ucsd.edu).