Although the days are getting shorter and temperatures are beginning to drop, wellness remains a focus for Buckeye Wellness Innovators (BWI’s) within the Office of Administration and Planning (A&P).
In October, the A&P BWI’s teamed up with Ohio State experts from the Health Plan’s Personal Health Coaches and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for a fall gathering of interactive presentations to learn more about wellness offerings available to Ohio State staff. The event took place on the heels of an annual presentation of physical health assessment (PHA) survey data given by Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer. 2023 survey findings for A&P indicated opportunities for increased physical activity, nutrition improvement and stress management. The meeting sessions were informed by A&P BWI’s interests and aligned with future opportunities in A&P.
Michael Bramlish, Ohio State health coach, kicked-off the A&P BWI session with a resistance band demonstration, discussing the physical and mental health benefits of resistance training. With lively music playing in the background, participants were given resistance bands to try various exercises and work with partners on correctly implementing stretches. “Health coaching is a free service for benefits-eligible staff and is a great way to help Buckeyes achieve their personal wellness goals,” said Bramlish. “Today’s event is a great example of the ways we partner with departments as well as staff, one-on-one, to tailor programming for everyone’s unique needs.”
After a healthy lunch from Café Carmenton inside the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center (EAIC), the focus shifted toward a group discussion about stress, led by Helka Casey, senior counselor with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). While stress can often times have a negative connotation, the presentation focused on ways to use physical indicators of stress to understand and manage our stress response in our daily lives. “It’s important for staff to know that we are available to make their lives a little easier with the resources we provide,” said Casey. “Whether it’s counseling services, stress management strategies, resource locators for a variety of needs, and so much more, we’re here to work with staff to enhance their overall well-being as well as the well-being of their family.”
“Creating opportunities to connect with each other and with wellness experts from across the university is critical in continuing to build a culture of well-being,” said Nicole Holman, associate director of communications for A&P and A&P BWI chair. “Staff wellness remains a priority and we’re fortunate to have direct access to wellness contacts and resources that can benefit our teams.”
Additional information about Ohio State Health Plan resources is available online.
Learn more about health and wellness in A&P.