UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 20, Page 3
February 18, 1993
Confidential counseling on campus a phone call away

     Cecily Saywer Harmon's office is on Academy Street, in the small,
white labor relations building near Main Street.
     Her responsiblilites are varied- coordinating the Employee Assistance
and Wellness Program, visiting offices where there are  personnel concerns,
offering training sessions, establishing and overseeing on-campus support
groups and providing individual counseling to employees.
     That final responsibility is demanding an increasing amount of her
attention. Each week, employees call her office and set up appointments to
discuss a wide range of serious issues. Many of her clients are concerned
with personal problems in three major areas: substance abuse, marital and
relationship concerns, and stress and depression. A fewer number of staff
are affected by job-related conflicts, whether it's with co-workers or
supervisors.
     The University is supportive of Harmon's programs for two reasons, she
said. It's economically better to have employees meet with her, on campus,
than use their health insurance plan's psychological benefits. In addtion,
campus support groups-dealing with such diverse areas as substance abuse
and family concerns during the Persian Gulf War-have proved to be
beneficial for the participants.
     "Mental health insurance is one of the components of our health
benefits that being used increasingly," Harmon said.
     Also, an employee who can resolve his or her problems will be a better
worker, with higher self-esteem, and the University, the employee and his
or her family will benefit.
     Harmon describes her job as extremely stressful and one that demands a
lot of individual attention. "But," she added, "it's very rewarding."
     For information on programs or assistance available, employees should
call Harmon at 831-2414. All calls are confidential.