Mental health describes how we think and feel about ourselves and others and how we interpret events in our day to day life.
It relates to our ability to manage with change, transition and the stress that often comes our way. One in four of us will experience a mental health difficulty in our lifetime. RCSI believes in the importance of encouraging friends, workmates and family to seek help when they need it, without fear or stigma. To assist staff to improve their mental health, RCSI provides a range of programs.
RCSI has curated a range of internal and external resources to support your health and wellbeing so that you can perform at your best in and out of the workplace. Available here .
Employee Assistance Programme
Consistent with our desire to develop the best HR services for our employees, RCSI offers a confidential counselling and information service for all staff through an Employee Assistance Programme. We are delighted to announce that after a competitive tender process, Spectrum.life is the new RCSI institutional Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and Student Assistance Programme (SAP) wellbeing provider.
Spectrum.Life are a leading provider of health and wellbeing supports across Ireland and the UK and are specialists in the provision of both EAP & SAP services to the university sector. Like RCSI, they put human health at the forefront of everything they do with clinical foundations at their core. Their mission focuses on clinical efficacy and outcomes as their prime responsibility and they do this by providing best-in-class wellbeing services, delivered by fully accredited, experienced professionals. Our investment in Spectrum.Life demonstrates our commitment to support the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff and students. This partnership seeks to complement the current wellbeing offering and services already in place provided by our Student Welfare Office, HR Department, Inspire, Gym teams and local initiatives across the college.
What is an EAP?
The EAP is a free, confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner/spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home. The service is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
What’s different about Spectrum.Life?
Spectrum.Life have extensive experience and a successful track-record in providing both EAP and SAP Programmes for many Irish and UK Universities – not least in flexing the wellbeing provision to meet demand throughout the academic year and better understanding and responding to the needs of our university communities. Through Spectrum.life staff can avail of up to 8 free and confidential counselling sessions per issue.
An additional feature of the Spectrum Life service, is a best in class digitally enabled wellbeing offering through their wellbeing platform and app providing 24/7 access to hours of clinically curated self-help content and wellbeing resources. We see huge opportunity for this to complement our existing services and will work with Spectrum life to ensure this is delivered in a planned way. We are planning a phased rollout of this platform and services for staff and students in the new academic year. Watch this space!
I am currently using VHI EAP services, our previous provider, what do I do now?
Nothing. If you are currently receiving EAP or counselling support from VHI, our previous EAP provider, you will continue to use their services for the duration of your current treatment plan. If you should require EAP support after this has finished for another issue you will then engage with Spectrum.Life support, not VHI.
What can I talk to the EAP counseling service about?
In short, anything. When you contact the Spectrum.life EAP counselling service you will be connected immediately with a clinical psychologist who can provide in the moment support and will determine the best course of action to support you and your particular issue. They have professional experts who specialise in a range of different fields to ensure you get the best support and advise. Specialist areas include:
How do I contact the new EAP Service?
Freephone ROI: 1800 903 542
WhatsApp: Text ‘Hi’ to 087 369 0010
Spectrum.Life – RCSI Digital Wellbeing Platform and App
The Spectrum.Life Digital Wellbeing platform contains thousands of hours of tailored health and wellbeing content created by clinical experts, on key aspects of health, wellbeing, fitness, nutrition and mindfulness. It has multiple easy access points directly to the EAP service aswell as an RCSI specific health & wellbeing resource hub. You can access it here using your username@rcsi.com email or download the app direct to your phone by searching for ‘Spectrum.Life’ in IOS or Android app stores. If you have any log in issues you can contact inspire@rcsi.ie.
You can few this short demo video on how to sign in and navigate the platform.
Mindful Moments
If you ever need some time out, why not go to the locations below for some self guided mindfulness, meditation and prayer. These location open daily. Everyone is welcome.
- Serenity Room, Basement level in 123 St Stephen’s Green from 13:15 – 13:30.
- Meeting Pod, 1st floor, Block 2, Beaumont Smurfit building from 13:45-14:00.
Dealing with Depression – Support Resources
Depression can happen to anyone and is not a sign of weakness. We can all experience low mood days but where these feelings persist over time it could be a sign of depression. If you feel any of the symptoms contained in the resources below and would like to speak to someone about it, you have access to free confidential counselling through the RCSI Employee Assistance Programme, details contained above. Below are some support resources from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on dealing with depression or if you are worried about someone who seems depressed.
Depression: what you should know
If you are living with someone with depression
Depression during the teens and twenties
Depression during pregnancy and after childbirth
If you feel like life is not worth living
Suicide: if you are worried about someone