Dear Rutgers Colleagues,
As we head into the summer months, we encourage you to take some time to invest in your mental health and overall well-being. To support that effort, the Office of Workplace Culture is pleased to launch a Summer Mental Health Workshop Series in partnership with Lyra Health.
Fittingly, we are kicking off the series during National Mental Health Awareness Month — an annual initiative dedicated to increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging open conversations about mental health and wellness. Throughout the summer, we will offer workshops focused on practical, everyday topics such as managing stress, setting healthy boundaries, improving focus and productivity, navigating social media’s impact on well-being, and preventing burnout. Whether you are looking for strategies to better manage day-to-day challenges or simply want to learn something new, we hope there will be a session that resonates with you.
These workshops are part of Rutgers University’s ongoing commitment to supporting employee well-being. Through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Lyra Health, employees and their families have access to up to six no-cost mental health therapy sessions, wellness coaching, and a wide range of additional resources designed to support emotional and mental wellness.
We hope you will join us for one — or even several — of the sessions below.
Workshop Title: Minding Your Mental Health: When to Get Support and What to Expect
Date: May 27th, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Description: How do you know when you need help from a mental health professional? And what happens when you get it? For most people, this is a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. This interactive workshop walks people through the process of seeking help. From dealing with the normal stresses of life to addressing mental health difficulties like depression and anxiety, you will know what professional mental health support can look like and how to seek support when you need it.
To attend: Complete registration
Workshop Title: Emotionally Smarter: The Science and Skills of Regulation
Date: June 8, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Description: Emotions aren’t something to fix—they’re built-in signals we can use to help us navigate the world. Yet without the tools to understand and manage them, intense emotions can quickly become overwhelming, which can cause us to react in ways that aren’t always helpful. The key is learning to work with our emotions, instead of letting them decide what you do next. In this workshop, we’ll explore the science and skill of emotion regulation, helping you understand how emotions work and how to respond to them with your goals and well-being in mind. You’ll leave with practical skills you can draw in the day-to-day and a better understanding of when it makes sense to reach out for professional support.
To attend: Complete registration
Workshop Title: Finding Balance: Living Well With Boundaries
Date: June 25, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Description: Boundaries can help you build healthy relationships, maximize your time, increase your productivity, protect your energy, and achieve better work-life balance. But setting boundaries can be really difficult. In this workshop, we’ll cover the main hurdles to setting boundaries, how to overcome those hurdles, and how to identify areas of your work life where boundaries may help. We’ll also discuss ways to communicate your boundaries effectively. With a plan in place, you’ll be ready to set boundaries with yourself and others to best support your well-being.
To attend: Complete registration
Workshop title: Surfing Through Stressful Times
Date: July 8, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Description: Stress is part of life. But when it takes center stage, we become exhausted, irritable, and less productive. We can try to suppress negative thoughts and feelings, but that just makes them worse. So what’s the alternative? You can’t avoid stress, but you can learn more effective ways to cope with it. This workshop offers a counterintuitive yet science-based approach to reducing stress—helping you learn to “surf” the waves of stress.
To attend: Complete registration
Workshop Title: Social Media and Mental Health
Date: July 21, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Description: Social media captures a lot of our time and attention - which is why its important to understand how it can impact our mental health and well-being. Join this workshop to discuss how social media can shape our lives offline in positive and negative ways. We'll discuss everything from the impact of social media on our thought processes and behaviors all the way to our mood and self esteem. In this workshop, you'll also learn tools to help you support your well-being and build healthy habits online.
To attend: Complete registration
Workshop title: Executive Functioning: The Science of Getting Things Done
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM
Description: We’ve all been there—those times when it’s hard to focus, when planning feels impossible, when you just can’t get started on something. Aside from being frustrating, it turns out that these situations all have something else in common. They all rely on our executive functioning, or the set of skills that your brain uses to help you meet goals and solve problems. The good news is you don’t have to navigate challenges like these alone. In this workshop, we’ll cover tactical, science-backed strategies that can help you pay attention, start tasks, manage time, and plan and organize your way to a smoother and more successful work day.
For some neurodivergent folks, executive functioning can be particularly challenging. But no matter your relationship with neurodiversity—whether you know or suspect you’re neurodivergent, know you aren’t, or don’t know what neurodiversity means—this workshop is for you. While it’s not a quick fix or a replacement for professional care, everyone can walk away with practical tools that can make a difference in your everyday life.
To attend: Complete registration
Workshop title: Curbing Burnout: Your Guide to Prevention and Early Intervention
Date: August 24, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Description: Reports of burnout are increasingly common, but there’s a lot we can do to prevent burnout, enhance well-being at work, and ensure that our lives are more well-rounded and enriching. This workshop reviews the individual and organizational factors that can mitigate risk for burnout, as well as specific strategies for communicating more effectively at work, managing job-related stress, and preventing work from intruding at home and in our relationships with loved ones.
To attend: Complete registration
To learn more about Lyra, visit the Lyra Health webpage. Thank you for all that you do for Rutgers University.
Sincerely,
Vivian Fernández
Senior Vice President for Human Resources