Mental health plays a crucial role in every aspect of life: work, relationships, physical health and overall wellbeing. Mental health screenings are a simple and effective way to check in on how you’re feeling and identify whether symptoms of conditions like depression or anxiety might be present. A mental health screening is a brief questionnaire designed to spot signs of potential concerns. It’s not a diagnosis, but it can help you or a loved one decide if it’s time to reach out for professional support.

Why screen?

• Depression and other mental health issues can affect anyone regardless of age, background or lifestyle.
• Screenings can catch early signs before symptoms become more serious.
• Early support can lead to better outcomes and prevent long-term impacts.
• Treatment can improve daily functioning and quality of life at work, school and home.

Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/about/bh-resources/mymh or call your program for confidential mental health resources.

Tough times can leave you feeling disconnected, anxious or off balance. Grounding techniques help shift your attention back to the present moment by engaging your body, mind or emotions. These small actions can support your mental wellbeing anytime, anywhere.

Anchor yourself with physical grounding

Physical grounding helps you feel present through breath, movement and your senses.                                           

• Breathe and stretch: Inhale deeply, stretch overhead and notice your body release tension.
• Feel with focus: Pick up a nearby object. Notice its shape, weight and texture.
• Pause and listen: Close your eyes. Listen to all the sounds you can notice for one minute.

Stay steady with mental grounding

Mental grounding helps redirect your focus from distressing thoughts to facts, patterns or tasks.

• Spot five things: Look around and name five things you see.
• List it out: Name as many animals or foods as possible in 30 seconds.
• Challenge your brain: Say the alphabet backward.

Find calm with emotional grounding

Emotional grounding helps you reconnect with comfort, strength or safety.

• Speak kindness: Say a calming phrase like, “I’m doing the best I can.”
• Press play: Listen to a song or podcast that makes you feel strong or uplifted.
• Picture peace: Close your eyes and imagine a place where you feel calm, safe or grounded.

A small moment of calm can be the first step toward steadiness. Try different grounding techniques and notice what helps you feel more present, supported and in control.

Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/Mental-Health for more information and helpful resources.

Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees beyond the surface through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests, experiences, and aspirations. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, strengthening relationships and creating a more enriching shared experience.

This month, we’re getting to know Kimberly Elias, sales executive for the employer market. Kimberly has been with Magellan since 2022.

Continue reading to learn more about Kimberly:

Describe a typical workday in your life.

A typical workday involves connecting with employers and insurance brokers in the Southeast and Midwest markets and sharing how Magellan can provide them with the best and most effective wellbeing solutions for their employees and their organization. My days involve extensive collaboration, outreach to decision-makers, education and navigating the complex nuances that come along with forging meaningful partnerships. I love strategizing and collaborating with my Magellan business partners and creating win-win situations for Magellan and our clients.

Do you have a favorite recipe you love to make (or have made for you)?

Coconut curry chicken is my go-to for some homemade comfort food. The secret ingredient is the right amount of garam masala and lemongrass.

In one word, how would your family and friends describe you?

Difference maker.

Who (dead or alive) inspires you and why?

My maternal grandparents will always be my biggest inspiration and my heroes in life. They were married for over 56 years and provided me with a very loving and stable childhood. They modeled unconditional love and showed me that no matter where you come from or what your circumstances are, you can create and achieve the life you desire. My pop pop was a country boy from Oklahoma who served his country and fought in World War II and the Korean war. My grandmother was an immigrant from Germany. They worked hard and loved their family. They taught me that what matters most in life are God, love, family, laughter and a home-cooked meal!

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

You will typically find me in the mountains on my mountain bike or hiking. I also volunteer as an equine therapy horse lead, which involves providing care to 16 horses and helping those with physical and mental health challenges. After a long day on the trail or on the ranch, you will find me in the kitchen cooking and enjoying great conversation with my adult kids.

Bullying isn’t just a schoolyard problem, it’s a pervasive issue that can follow children wherever they spend their time: in classrooms, on buses, at extracurricular activities and online. The impact of bullying is profound, leaving emotional scars that can last into adulthood. Children who are bullied are at higher risk for anxiety, depression, social withdrawal and academic challenges. 

Employees who are parents of children experiencing bullying often face additional stress that can impact workplace productivity, engagement and mental wellbeing. According to the American Psychological Association, workplace stress related to family concerns can lead to higher absenteeism, decreased focus and lower job satisfaction. By providing support for employees’ families, employers can reduce these stressors, improve retention and foster a culture of wellbeing. 

Understanding bullying

Bullying involves intentionally using physical, verbal or psychological actions to harm someone else, often exploiting a real or perceived power imbalance. Parents often notice behavioral changes in children who are being bullied including, withdrawal from activities, mood changes or reluctance to talk about school. Addressing bullying requires proactive communication and practical support. 

Practical ways to help children cope
While every situation differs, there are proven strategies to help children stay safe and resilient: 

• Notify school officials and trusted adults. 

• Avoid fighting back in anger and walk away when possible. 

• Use the buddy system for safety in numbers. 

• Encourage open dialogue and provide guidance tailored to your child’s needs. 

Beyond immediate safety measures, many children who experience bullying also struggle with lasting anxiety and depression that require additional therapeutic support. When traditional in-person therapy isn’t readily accessible or when children need supplemental tools to build emotional resilience, innovative digital interventions can provide crucial support. 

Digital tools to reduce anxiety and empower children 
Magellan Healthcare’s Digital Emotional Wellbeing program, powered by NeuroFlow, is a core component of our Employee Assistance Program. The programs, ThinkHeroTM (ages 6-12 years) and ThinkWarriorTM (ages 13-17 years), offer age-appropriate, interactive digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs designed to address anxiety and depression in children and teens. 

Developed with a clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric CBT, these programs provide adventure-based, interactive narratives that help children: 

• Recognize and change unhelpful thought patterns 

• Practice situations they would normally avoid 

• Build lifelong skills to manage anxiety 

• Develop inner strength and self-empowerment 

Participants progress through nine self-directed steps, with the option to engage a supportive adult to provide encouragement and reinforce progress. The programs are confidential and accessible anywhere, on any device.

Proven impact of Magellan’s programs 

These results show that structured digital interventions can meaningfully improve emotional wellbeing for children and teens, offering a measurable ROI for employers who provide access to these resources. 

Why employers should offer Magellan’s EAP with Digital Emotional Wellbeing Programs
Supporting employees’ families goes beyond childcare, it directly impacts workplace performance. With Magellan’s EAP, employers can: 

• Help working parents manage their stress and support their children’s mental health 

• Reduce stress-related absenteeism and improve productivity 

• Enhance employee satisfaction, retention and engagement 

• Promote a culture of wellbeing and resilience across the organization 

Bullying can’t always be prevented, but with the right support systems, children can build resilience, parents can feel empowered, and employers can benefit from a healthier, more productive workforce.  

Learn how Magellan Healthcare can support your employees and their families with digital emotional wellbeing programs. 

Sources: American Psychological Association and Harvard Business Review  

Together, we can foster a culture of awareness and compassion that saves lives. Every person matters. Every sign matters. Every conversation has the potential to connect someone to the help they need. 

Suicide doesn’t always present clear warning signs and can happen suddenly, without any indication something is wrong. It is essential to recognize the discreet and overt signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. 

Children and teens 

• Decline in the quality of schoolwork 

• Complaints about physical symptoms like stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc. 

• Anger or hostility that seems out of character 

• Withdrawal from friends, family and regular activities 

• Preoccupation with death and dying 

• Statements like: “I wish I were dead,” or “I won’t be a problem for you much longer” 

 Adults and seniors 

• Acting anxious, agitated or behaving recklessly 

• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs 

• Displaying extreme mood swings 

• Giving things of value away 

• Expressing thoughts of being a burden to others, feeling trapped or in unbearable pain 

• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live 

Helping someone who may be feeling suicidal requires sensitivity, a calm presence and immediate action. You don’t have to be a mental health expert to make a difference. By paying attention, speaking up and showing someone they’re not alone, you can help save a life. 

Find more information here.  

Sources: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 

When tragedy strikes the workplace – whether it’s a sudden accident, natural disaster, act of violence, or a major organizational upheaval – the impact on your people can be profound and far-reaching. Events like these can shake their sense of safety and stability, leading to emotional and psychological effects that may linger long after the initial crisis has passed. 

At Magellan Healthcare, we understand how critical it is for organizations to respond quickly, compassionately, and effectively during these challenging times. That’s why our Critical Incident Response (CIR) services, part of our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), support organizations and employees through their most difficult moments. 

Why Crisis Support Matters 

During and after a crisis, employees often experience a range of emotional responses such as shock, fear, guilt, anxiety, confusion and denial. These reactions are normal; however, without proper support, they can escalate into long-term stress and decreased workplace performance. In fact, 61% of employees report significant stress during times of crisis, which can lead to a 33% drop in productivity. If unaddressed, the ripple effects of a crisis may contribute to absenteeism, turnover and reduced morale. 

By providing timely, expert support through CIR services, organizations can protect their employees’ mental health while promoting a faster recovery and return to productivity. 

Magellan’s CIR team comprises licensed behavioral health professionals who average 17 years of experience in trauma response. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year to guide organizations and employees through their most vulnerable moments with professionalism, empathy and skill. 

Our services are tailored to each organization’s specific needs and may include: 

• Psychological First Aid  

• Management consultation and coaching 

• Group and individual debriefings (onsite or virtual) 

• Telephonic crisis support 

Whether an incident affects one individual or an entire department, our CIR team conducts an initial consultation to understand the situation and develop a customized response plan. Support can be deployed quickly, with virtual or onsite services available within hours. 

Beyond the First Response 

Crises are not resolved in a single day; recovery often takes time. Magellan continues to support organizations beyond the immediate response. Our clinicians follow up with the organization in the days and weeks following the incident to assess recovery, recommend additional resources and ensure employees are coping well. This ongoing support helps organizations show care for their employees, build trust and prevent long-term impacts such as burnout or disengagement. 

The Power of Skilled Support 

With more than 3,000 responses per year, Magellan’s CIR team has built a reputation for excellence. Our clients consistently tell us that this service made a real difference for their teams. Employees feel supported, heard and reassured during moments of crisis. 

A crisis can change everything. With the right support in place, your organization can help employees recover and move forward. Learn more about how Magellan’s CIR services can make a meaningful difference during times of need. 

Sources: 
American Psychological Association. 

International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience. 

Spotlight Magellan gives colleagues and those we collaborate with the opportunity to get to know Magellan employees beyond the surface through facilitated interviews that explore their personal interests, experiences, and aspirations. Through intentional engagement, Spotlight Magellan fosters a sense of community and connection, strengthening relationships and creating a more enriching shared experience.

This month, we’re getting to know Jessie French Danzi, human resources business consultant. Jessie has been with Magellan since 2014.

Continue reading to learn more about Jessie:

Describe a typical workday in your life.

On a typical work day, I wake up early and take a few minutes for myself to meditate. Then I start getting ready for the day by checking my schedule for work and activities. I get breakfast ready for my eight and 10-year-old children and myself, my oldest loves to help me. We finish packing lunches and school bags and I drop them off, and then I usually go to the gym. When I get back I get myself ready to start meetings, which is what most of my work day entails. I consider myself very lucky to have great business partners that I enjoy working with. We come up with strategies to support their work and teams, consult on all kinds of human resources (HR) matters and find solutions to challenges. After work I begin my taxi driver service for my kids, taking them to all of their activities. I’m the cheerleading coach, the Girl Scout leader and I’m on the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) board so some of them are my activities, too! Then we have dinner and wind down to get to bed, and then start all over the next day!

What are you currently reading?

I don’t watch much television, but I read a lot. I am in the process of re-reading everything by Tom Robbins, currently on my favorite of his “Jitterbug Perfume” but others may know him from “Still Life with Woodpecker” or “Even Cowgirls get the Blues.” I haven’t read a book by him that I didn’t love!

Do you have a favorite recipe you love to make (or have made for you)?

I really enjoy cooking, especially on the weekends. I make really good meatballs and sauce (five stars from my local Long Island family) which my kids ask for weekly. We like it with a side of pasta, garlic bread and sauteed broccoli. The secret to my sauce is starting it really early in the day and letting everything slowly come together. We don’t rush it, but we do like to check in with some bread dipping throughout the day! My daughters also enjoy cooking so we are always trying new recipes and combinations of things. I have Celiac disease, so cooking at home is usually the best option, and we like to challenge ourselves to make gluten-free food that tastes the same as the gluten version.

What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekends?

On the weekends I love to go on adventures! I live on Long Island so there are lots of outdoor options in the summer like gardening, beaches, boat rides, nature preserves and pools. We are not very far from New York City so we also love to venture into the city to check out museums, Broadway shows and baseball games!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home…it’s your responsibility to love it or change it.”  That’s a quote by author Chuck Palahniuk, but I’ve received that advice repeatedly in some form or another throughout my life. When I reflect on that, I think it helps to ground me in my immediate reality, and being in the moment is where I find the most joy. Present-moment awareness gives us the tools to move through many challenges without being caught in the past or future, neither of which we have control over.

Magellan provides behavioral health counseling to thousands of military families globally through the Military Family Life Counseling (MFLC) program. Our direct work with military children and youth is a cornerstone of supporting them as they grow and learn while being a part of a military family and living within military culture. MFLC counselors also connect with military parents and caregivers to help them better understand the developmental perspective of how their child’s overall mental health and wellbeing can be affected by being military-connected. Building these family relationships is critical to maximizing positive counseling outcomes for our nation’s military children and youth. 

MFLC counselors are licensed mental health professionals who have been trained to connect with families in a traditional therapeutic environment. We focus on building rapport, actively listening to each member’s perspective, and fostering open communication and collaboration.  

Solution-Focused Therapy 

There are many different approaches to strengthening connections with member families, which can be challenging due to infrequent and brief interactions with parents and caregivers. MFLC counseling sessions use solution-focused brief therapeutic interventions. Solution-focused therapy focuses on the present and future, actively seeking ways to create positive change rather than dwelling on the past. It is a future-oriented approach, encouraging clients to envision a desired future and develop steps to achieve it (de Shazer, S., & Dolan, Y., 2007).    

MFLC counselors suggest using solution-focused therapy following these four approaches for effective, brief interactions with military families. 

Build Rapport and Trust: 

• Create a safe and non-judgmental environment: Military families need to feel comfortable sharing their concerns and experiences without fear of criticism. Being available at the front desk or outside of the treatment facility at least once a week during pick-up times. Drop offs are usually rushed, but parents and caregivers might have more time to reach out and talk during pick up.    
• Show empathy and understanding: Acknowledge the family’s challenges and validate their feelings. Discuss the child’s behaviors within the program that day or week. Get to know if these behaviors are common in the home environment as well as in the program. Provide an understanding that functioning as a family as well as being a part of the military culture is a stressful environment to live in.    
• Be present and attentive: Pay close attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues from parents and caregivers when they arrive to pick up children. Notice if they are dressed up more than usual, in workout clothes, or getting some self-care in before picking up their children for the day. Having a spot where you can be seen, an empty chair, or a place where the parent can sit and talk with you while waiting for a child or before picking up the child can be very helpful. 
• Be flexible and adaptable: Understand that each family is unique and tailor your approach accordingly. If you know siblings who are either coming along for pick up or still need to be picked up, include them in your conversation or even assist in walking them to the car.  

Actively Listen and Communicate: 

• Encourage open communication:
  Create opportunities for family members to express their thoughts and feelings. Provide information and handouts as conversation starters.   
• Practice active listening:
  As you are present and attentive, use your observations to open a discussion about what might be going on. Discuss what you have seen within the counseling environment and your clinical impressions, just as insights, not diagnoses. Ask open-ended questions to open further and follow-up discussions.    
• Reflect and summarize:
  Paraphrase what family members have said to ensure understanding and build rapport. Discuss with children what they want to share with their parents and how you can assist them in communicating with their parents. When you notice the parent practicing self-care or using healthy stress management skills, provide that positive feedback and validation that you see the efforts they are making for themselves and their family.    
• Use non-defensive responses:
  Respond to family members with empathy and understanding, even when they are expressing difficult emotions. Inquire about what solutions they have tried already. Discuss the role of the counselor, what the limits of confidentiality are, and if there are any questions about the program.   

Understand Family Dynamics: 

• Employ psychoeducation:
  Provide families with information about mental health, communication, and family dynamics. Utilize available psychoeducational information regarding specific family dynamics: communication suggestions for dinner topics, mindfulness activities, and managing transition stress tips.    
• Observe family interactions:
  Pay attention to how family members interact with each other during pick-up and drop-off. Discuss your observations with the child, parents, or caregivers. When a parent seems to be in a lighter mood, attempt to ask if any stress management techniques have been put into practice. Assist in helping the child gather their items from the day when you notice their parent is in a hurry, and discuss alternatives that can help in the next similar situation. Let parents know that they can call the center ahead of time and have an older child change into their sporting clothes and self-release in order to meet them in the parking lot next time there is a follow-up appointment. Sometimes parents do not know or remember ways in how the counselor is there to support and relieve some of their stress (Kazak, A. E., & Noll, R. B., 2015).          
• Identify power dynamics and communication patterns:
  Understand how family members relate to each other and how communication patterns impact the family system. Provide information to caregivers about the behaviors throughout the day so they can be aware of the evening, such as extra moodiness, tiredness, or hunger.    

Collaborate and Empower: 

• Involve all family members: When appropriate, encourage participation from all members, including children and teenagers. Even when toddlers come in to pick up older siblings or older siblings come in to pick up their younger siblings with their parents.  
• Empower family members: Help them identify their strengths and resources. This is especially important if you have seen changes and positive developments in their behaviors and relationships. Parents often do not receive positive feedback on their children at this age. It is important not only to reach out to parents when there is an issue but to praise them as well (Saleebey, D., 2012). 
• Provide ongoing support: Stay in contact with the family and provide ongoing support and guidance. Provide resources specific to the family from organizations such as Military OneSource and Thrive, as well as the on and off base resources that you know of in the area.   
• Celebrate successes: Acknowledge and celebrate the family’s progress. Pay attention to changes in behaviors and PCS timelines. Acknowledge with families you may be working with that the stress of being a part of the military community affects the entire family (Park, N., & Riggs, D. S., 2015). Celebrate family time spent together, trips, and the positives about PCSing and deployments.    

These are a few suggestions and examples that hopefully can help foster a therapeutic connection with military families, no matter how brief. These solutions emphasize identifying and building on the observed strengths, utilizing known resources, and encouraging successes to live less stressed lives. Do not be afraid to be authentic and build the connections where you can. Keep doing the great work of supporting our military communities, meeting them where they are.  

 Resources

• **Military Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Program**
  – Department of Defense, Military Family Life Counseling Program Overview: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/confidential-help/non-medical-counseling/military-family-life-counseling-mflc/ 

• **Challenges Faced by Military Families and Children**
  – Park, N., & Riggs, D. S. (2015). Military Children and Families: Strengths and Challenges During Deployment and Reintegration. *Journal of Family Social Work*, 18(1), 1-15.
  – Chandra, A., & London, A. S. (2013). The impact of military deployment on children and families. *Future of Children*, 23(2), 121-141. 

• **Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)**
  – de Shazer, S., & Dolan, Y. (2007). *More Than Miracles: The State of the Art of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy*. Routledge.
  – Gingerich, W. J., & Peterson, L. T. (2013). Effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy: A systematic qualitative review of controlled outcome studies. *Research on Social Work Practice*, 23(3), 266-283. 

• **Building Rapport and Trust in Counseling**
  – Norcross, J. C. (2011). *Psychotherapy Relationships That Work: Evidence-Based Responsiveness*. Oxford University Press.
  – American Psychological Association. (2017). Building rapport in counseling. https://www.apa.org/education/ce/building-rapport 

• **Active Listening and Communication Skills**
  – Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications and Theory. Houghton Mifflin.
  – Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). *Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change*. Guilford Press. 

• **Psychoeducation and Family Dynamics**
  – Kazak, A. E., & Noll, R. B. (2015). Psychosocial Interventions for Children and Families in Pediatric Oncology. *Pediatric Clinics of North America*, 62(1), 1-13.
  – Military OneSource – Resources` for Military Families: https://www.militaryonesource.mil/family-relationships/mental-health/ 

• **Empowerment and Collaboration with Families**
  – Saleebey, D. (2012). *The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice*. Pearson.
  – National Military Family Association – Support and Resources: https://www.militaryfamily.org/ 

About the Author 

Cindee Oswald, BSW, MSW, LCSW, Military Family Life Counselor currently serving overseas in School Aged Care and Teen Center. Cindee obtained her bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s in social work with a concentration in Mental Health of Military Veterans and their families. Her professional background includes community mental health, child welfare, and adolescent support services. As a military spouse living in Italy with her veteran husband and three children, she brings firsthand understanding to her deep commitment to serving military families.