Blake Pennington

Blake Pennington
Caring for your Mental Health - Your BHS Benefits

Caring for your Mental Health – Your BHS Benefits

Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being. Self-care can play a role in maintaining your mental health and help support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness. Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it … Read More

Cyberbullying & Keeping Your Children Safe

Cyberbullying & Keeping Your Children Safe

Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment that happens online. It can happen in an e-mail, a text message, a game, or on a social networking site. It might involve spreading rumors or images posted on someone’s profile or passed around for others to see, or creating a group or page to make a person feel left … Read More

988: New Number to Call for People Facing Mental Health Crises

988: New Number to Call for People Facing Mental Health Crises

Everyone deserves access to the support they need when they need it – and that includes mental health support. Available now, anyone facing a mental health crisis can call 988 and be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The line is staffed with mental health professionals who can provide guidance and support. The phone … Read More

Supporting the Mental Health of Millennials and Gen Z

Supporting the Mental Health of Millennials and Gen Z

Mental Health challenges continue to rise, and the pandemic added additional pressures. So what can we do to ensure people emerge healthier and more resilient? A mental health crisis was emerging even before the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly one-third of millennials and the Gen Z population (18–39 year olds) reporting a mental health or substance … Read More

BHS MemberAccess Mobile App Now Available!

BHS MemberAccess Mobile App Now Available!

BHS’ new mobile app includes an array of behavioral health, work/life and personal development resources. The BHS MemberAccess app offers access to our robust member portal. Members can find essential EAP tools as well as access to relevant topics, self-assessments, benefits communications and more. Members can also use online appointment requests and reimbursement forms. To … Read More

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What to Expect in the Wake of Mass Violence

What to Expect in the Wake of Mass Violence

The recent acts of mass violence in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX have brought feelings of stress and discomfort to many, whether locally or from a distance. It’s normal to be fearful during times of uncertainty, instability and violence, as it is an expected reaction to these incidents. However, it is important to not let … Read More

Retired Couple Sitting Outdoors At Home Having Morning Coffee Together

Easing into Retirement

Overall, retirees are a contented bunch, and many report being happier in retirement than they were when working. Older adults are less likely than younger people to experience major depression, says Brent Forester, president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Nonetheless, retirement often involves significant losses of identity, purpose, structure and social contacts that … Read More

Achieve Your Goals

Achieve Your Goals

Perhaps you’ve had the experience of setting goals only to lose sight of them in the rush of daily life, then realize later that you’ve made little progress. When it comes to certain kinds of goals—ones involving health or personal improvement, for example—that’s pretty common. And it corresponds with what science has revealed about what … Read More

Sad young man looking through the window

Planning in Times of Uncertainty

Keep your most important priorities in mind. Step back and consider what’s really important to you, whether it’s integrity, caring relationships, financial security, your health or your family’s wellbeing. When you’re faced with change and uncertainty, revisit your plans and goals with those priorities and values in mind. Perhaps some of your plans are less … Read More

Mental Health Habits to Improve Your 2022

Mental Health Habits to Improve Your 2022

Start a gratitude journal. Recording positive things about your day, whether major achievements or simple pleasures, can reduce stress, improve sleep and even foster better relationships by building a sense of empathy. Take five deep breaths. Changing your breathing pattern can bring your body back into balance decreasing stress, pain, blood pressure and increase immunity. … Read More