Why It Matters
Sooner or later a colleague will share a real struggle, and it helps to know just what to do. Your job is to point them to the right support, not to be the expert or the counselor. By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to do that warmly and within your role.
What to Know
Connect, do not counsel
You do not need to have the answers. You need to know what is available and how to hand someone off to it.
Know the support map
Keep these in mind so you can point someone in the right direction quickly:
- NuStart Blocks. Short, self-paced healthy-living lessons for someone who wants to work on one thing themselves.
- Personal coaching. Guided, ongoing support for someone ready to work toward a goal with a coach.
- The NuStart hotline. Staff can email info@nustarthealth.com to reach a coach or nutritionist with a question.
- District and building resources. The employee assistance program (EAP), counselors, and the health and wellness center.
- Professional and medical help. For anything beyond everyday healthy living.
Everything on this map is for every employee: aides, support staff, custodial staff, food service staff, transportation staff, and office personnel included.
Stay in your lane
Point people to credible, evidence-based NuStart and district resources rather than random online advice. You are not giving medical or mental-health advice. When something sounds beyond everyday wellness, warmly refer the person to a professional or the EAP. That is the caring, responsible move, not a failure to help.
When to gently escalate
If a colleague seems to be struggling in a serious way, do not try to fix it yourself. Kindly point them to the EAP or a professional, and let them know they are not alone. A warm handoff is one of the most helpful things you can do.
Try this · Your turnSave the support list, NuStart Blocks, coaching, the hotline email, and your building's EAP contact, somewhere you can find it in ten seconds, so you are ready the moment a colleague asks.
New to the role? Your INtegrate Champion Manual is your complete guide. Keep it handy.
