Editor’s note: May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Health is important for many people and as an organization, CAP knows good health is not just making physical health a priority, it is also making mental health a priority. Thus, mental health programs are woven into our wellness program, employee benefits, and even our safety program.

Jenn Miller, event specialist, knows the stress of being a caregiver. She spent many years supporting her elderly parents as they transitioned from their own home into independent living and ultimately into a care center. As she traveled this road as a caregiver and advocate, she found an invaluable resource: CAP’s aging parents support group.

“The group provided support and a sense of community as I navigated through that process,” said Miller. “It was great because we talked about a wide range of topics so people could figure out what would work best for their situation. It was also a great opportunity to share my knowledge about what I’d learned along the way and be able to give back.” 

The support group is one of many components of CAP’s robust wellness program that focuses on employees’ emotional well-being.

Kris King, payroll administrator, found the benefits of CAP’s yoga program shortly after joining CAP in 2014. Every Tuesday, she would join co-workers in the weekly onsite class that had a dedicated instructor. When COVID changed everything, the class became virtual and now King can practice in her home when she works remotely, with the same instructor.

“Yoga is one hour that is all about me,” said King. “I am able to log off my computer, enjoy the class and feel a sense of peace.”

Michelle Rohan, wellness program administrator, built the wellness program around her belief that mental health is an important component of overall wellness, specifically calling it out as one of the seven dimensions of wellness.

“Emotional wellness centers around the ability to acknowledge and properly express feelings and the ability to see positives in each day,” said Rohan. “This dimension stresses the importance of seeking help from friends, family or a professional when managing emotions becomes difficult and disrupts daily life.”

She routinely meets with employees one-on-one to discuss their wellness and schedules social wellness events like group hikes and paddleboarding that are open to all employees.

The importance of mental health is also visible in CAP’s benefits package, which offers three different paths for mental health care. Through CAP’s medical plan, employees have six free mental health visits to an in-network provider. Utilizing virtual visits through Teladoc, employees can receive mental health care from the comfort of their home or office. And, by accessing the employee assistance program (EAP), employees and their dependents receive up to six visits annually for each mental health issue they experience.

“Mental health doesn’t just impact one person. It also impacts their co-workers, family friends,” said Mary Ann Ruzich, compensation and benefits administrator. “As an organization, we want to do whatever we can to ensure they have the access and support they need.”

Mental health is such a priority at CAP that our Safety Vision, which was crafted by a group of employees, calls it out:

CAP is a community of empowered people that trust and respect each other and choose to care about each other’s safety, health and emotional well‐being in all aspects of their lives.  

Prioritizing mental health, another way to ensure reliable water deliveries.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.