Maine Medical Center

Read the latest "Wellness Times" newsletter!

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Graduate Medical Education Wellness Resources

Sometimes, wellness can be challenging during the rigors of post-graduate training. It is very important to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally, so you can fully fully participate in your education and patient care. The MaineHealth Department of Medical Education is committed to the well-being of our employees, residents and fellows. Below are some helpful wellness resources and support programs.

Donate Now to Resident and Fellow Wellness

Your generous support will ensure that we can continue important wellbeing interventions and programs to help Maine's future physicians to succeed and stay well!

Wellness Grant Application

Thanks to the generosity of the Department of Medical Education, grant funds for wellness activities are available to MHMMC residency and fellowship programs, trainee clubs and interest groups. Typical grant amounts are $200 - $500 dollars. We may consider larger grants based on project merit. Complete this form to apply now.

We are here for you.

Do you have a resident/fellow wellness program question, suggestion or concern? Contact the GME Wellness Subcommittee at GMEResidentWellness@mainehealth.org.

Wellness Resources

The wellness subcommittee has designated funds to award MHMMC residency and fellowship programs to support wellness initiatives. Grants are usually between $200 and $500 dollars, but larger amounts may be considered based on project merit. Complete this form to submit a grant application.

Examples of items that have been funded:
 

• Development of a free store for residents and fellows that is eventually self-funded through recycling
• Building and implementing programmatic wellbeing curriculum (ex. Culinary medicine curriculum) 
• Efforts that enhance mindfulness or resiliency (ex. retreats, courses, podcasts, speakers, workshops)
• Lessons that expand learners’ knowledge or outdoor skills (ex. Skiing and Kayaking)
• Community based interventions that focus on enhancing wellness through philanthropic efforts and volunteerism (collaborating with Maine needs to assemble community kits) 
• Physical fitness programs or classes that are focused on the health and wellness of a team and have the potential to continue after grant cycle has ended (starting a cycling or running club)

Examples of items that are out of scope of wellness funds:

• Equipment or upgrades for call rooms and work rooms such as cables, monitors, bedding, chairs)
• Individual clothing or swag
• One-time social events without a skill building, team building, or mentorship component (ex. One night out for the residents or fellows)
• Personal equipment such as apples watches, fitbits, or other tracking devices
• Lack of sustainability moving forward (ex. Paying for one month membership, but lack of plan for future funding)

Each quarter the wellness subcommittee prepares a newsletter highlighting resident accomplishments and providing important wellness resources within MHMMC and the community.

View our latest issue!

Consider using one of these anonymous self-assessment tools if you are wondering about your behavioral health. Use of these tools is completely anonymous and never tracked. If you are concerned about your results, please contact your primary care provider or call Resources for Living Employee Assistance Program at 833-657-2104.

Alcohol Use

Learn about the symptoms of alcohol use disorder and how to rethink drinking.

Burnout

This confidential questionnaire can help you screen yourself for symptoms of burnout. It will help you identify feelings and experiences you have about your work, so that you can get a feel for whether you might be vulnerable to burnout. 

Depression

Use this online tool to screen for depression.  

Self-compassion

Are you being kind and loving toward yourself? Learn more with this online self-compassion assessment

Stress

Understand how stress can hurt, and take an online stress online assessment

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

If you are struggling with overuse of opioids or other substances, consider using this tool to assess yourself.

Suicide

Are you experiencing suicidal ideation? Use this online tool to assess your risk.

 

MaineHealth offers many excellent resources for resident and fellows, as well as all employees (and often family members too).

Free Counseling Services for all Residents, Fellows and Faculty

Talkspace is a virtual service that connects care team members with licensed mental health providers for counseling and therapy. Talkspace supports a wide range of needs including: stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorder, sleep, identity struggles, chronic issues, trauma and grief, relationships, healthy living and more. Get started today by going to resourcesforliving.com (user name: MaineHealth, password: MaineHealth) or call toll-free 833-657-2104.

Resource for Living offers a robust therapy benefit - 12 sessions per issue, per year - either in person or via Talkspace.

How does Talkspace work?

1. Tell Talkspace what you're looking for. First, you'll indicate your needs and preferences for therapy. Keep in mind that Talkspace is confidential, secure and private.

2. Get matched. You'll be matched with a therapist within 48 hours. 

3. Message with your therapist — on your schedule. Once matched, you can begin to send text messages to your therapist, who will check in daily, five days per week. You'll always connect with the same therapist, unless you request to switch. Each week of chat therapy counts as one of your free sessions.

4. Meet with your therapist virtually. You also have the option to meet with your therapist online for 30-minute televideo sessions. Each meeting counts as one of your free sessions.

Get started at https://www.resourcesforliving.com/ml/2133?txtUserName=mainehealth&txtPassword=mainehealth

Talkspace: Self-Guided

MaineHealth care team members and dependents have unlimited access to Talkspace: Self-Guided, helping you thrive at home and at work. This tool offers clinically supported programs that utilize the most effective therapeutic approaches on topics like stress, sleep, focus, burnout, anxiety, parenting and building resiliency. You have free access to over 400 guided programs; join a live therapist-led virtual class or explore hundreds of hours of on-demand sessions. Learn more about Talkspace: Self-Guided.

Employee Assistance Program

 

The MaineHealth Resources for Living Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is free and available to all MaineHealth care team members and household family members, whether or not they participate in our health plan. Children living away from home are covered up to age 26. Services are confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This program is designed to support your health, well-being and daily life assistance especially during challenging times

Psychology and Psychiatry Support

MaineHealth is committed to ensuring confidential mental health care is available to residents and fellows. While there are several ways to establish such care in the Portland area, including the MaineHealth Employee Assistance Program, our Department of Graduate Medical Education has also provided for free confidential care here on our campus.

  • If you need to access services, a physician or medication, contact: Daniel Price, MD, Psychiatry Residency Training Director at priced@mmc.org.

Peer-to-Peer 

The MHMMC Peer support program is designed to pair residents or fellows with one of the peer supporters to facilitate free, friendly, and confidential discussion. This program was started in 2021 to support providers during times of emotional stress, including but not limited to adverse patient events, critical incidences, and personal or professional events. Individuals may refer themselves to the program or may be referred by a concerned colleague. Several residents have completed the training and are active peer to peer support volunteers.

Lactation Rooms

Lactation rooms are available throughout the Coulombe Family Tower, where our Family Birth Center is located.

Portland Nannies

Portland Nannies can pair your family with a nanny. They also have a roster of vetted babysitters for emergency childcare needs. 
 

Healthy Payback Wellness Reimbursement

MaineHealth wants to help you explore new and different ways to get excited about wellness, movement, to thrive, and to nourish outside the clinical setting. All MaineHealth employees are eligible for the WOW Healthy Payback Program, which puts dollars back in your pocket for participating in health and wellness activities. You are eligible for up to $100 reimbursement per payback session for participating in qualified wellness programs. Learn more.

Free Gym Membership

We are pleased to announce that we have continued our gym membership with Workout Anytime for the 23-24 academic year (7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024). Workout Anytime has two Portland locations, both open 24/7:

Workout Anytime Portland
1100 Brighton Ave, Suite 12

Workout Anytime Portland Downtown
511 Congress Street, Suite 12

Additionally, membership to Workout Anytime, grants you access to any Workout Anytime location nationwide! To sign up for a membership, bring your MaineHealth ID badge, and visit either location. The gym has a list of all current MHMMC residents/fellows, and will compare your ID badge to the list. Please reach out to GMEResidentWellness@mainehealth.org with any questions.

Provider stress & burnout is no myth. DocExecutive has developed a program of support for you that addresses your feelings of imbalance, stress, confusion, and frustration. In the confidential sessions, the agenda is set by you. Our roles are to guide you through the most troubling aspects of issues in order to restore resilience and balance. 

We understand the unique stressors that medicine introduces and know how easy it is to feel discomfort. When you choose the support we offer, you can be assured that, however many sessions you attend, each one is confidential. MaineHealth has provided up to 4 sessions at no cost to you. But, whatever number of sessions you have or what your agenda includes, they are all meant to support you and your personal and professional growth. You can find more information on their website at docexecutive.com.

Please contact Christine.Hein@mainehealth.org, Kristen.Sciacca@mainehealth.org or GMEMedEd@mainehealth.org for a referral. Self-referrals are also available by calling 207-926-4117.

Student Loan Assistance

MaineHealth has partnered with Tuition.io, a platform that enables education assistance benefits. Tuition.io is free and available to all care team members and their families. Learn more about the MaineHealth Student Loan Assistance program.

Meditation

We offer a meditation room in the Coulombe Family Tower on the 1st floor. 

Chaplain Services

Our chapel is located in the Maine General Building on the 1st floor.

Perks List

There are several perks, conveniences, and discounts available to MHMMC care team members. View the current list of available perks.

MaineHealth Well-being Tools and Resources

Well-being is different for everyone, whether it's becoming more active, focusing on work/life balance, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, practicing meditation or mindfulness, working towards a balanced eating patterns or spending time with family. As we work towards prioritizing well-being, this can become the first step to living your best life at home and at work. 

The MaineHealth Works on Wellness (WOW) mission is to support you on your well-being journey by implementing tools and programs designed to meet your needs at different points in your life. Click here to access a number of free well-being tools and resources.

Well-being Education Sessions

Check out educational sessions and events that can support you on your well-being journey and help meet your needs at different life stages.

I need help now!

Resources for Living
833-657-2104

National Suicide Helpline
(800) 273-TALK 

Cumberland County Crisis Response
(207) 774-HELP

Maine Behavioral Health Care
(207) 874-0111

Sexual Assault Response Service of Southern Maine
(800) 313-9900