mySupport Program

Who can help?
The university recognizes that the current events around racial justice, diversity, and civil unrest may be stressful for members of the Johns Hopkins Community, especially those with family and friends who are impacted. MySupport counselors are available to faculty, staff, and their household family members at 443-997-7000, option #2, 24/7/365 to assist with emotional support and daily life assistance.

What resources are available to me, my family, my co-workers, and my team?

• Racial Justice, Diversity and Mental Health Resources. Click here to receive additional information on advocacy organizations and black mental health resources.
• A Difficult But Necessary Conversation. Click here to learn how to navigate sensitive discussions about race and discrimination on myStrength. To create a myStrength login, use access code JHU ( for university employees) or JHHS (for health system employees).
• Coping and Thriving Webinar Series. Click here to discover upcoming webinars to help you to cope and adjust to these overwhelming and difficult times. Topics include Talking to Kids about Race & Racism, Racial Justice Dialogue-Allyship & Advocacy, Navigating Working While/With Black, Cultural Differences & Mental Health Treatment, and Understanding & Overcoming Unconscious Bias.
• Talking with kids about injustice. Click here for a guide on how to talk to young children about injustices that they may already be aware of. This document will help with talking to kids about injustice and offers suggestions on responding to injustice.
• Civil Unrest Resources. Click here for response resources for civil unrest. These resources include hotlines to help those in need of crisis counseling, crisis response for parents, and resources specific to Major Metropolitan Cities such as Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, St. Louis, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
• Additional Racial Discussion Resources. Click here for additional resources provided by the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Health Equity. These resources include support resources for black individuals and communities such as Black Mental Health Alliance, Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, and Racial Trauma is Real information.
• Tips for Managers in the Workplace. Click here for information on the three common missteps for managers to avoid and three ways for managers to take meaningful action.
• Coping with civil unrest resources for managers:
  • Click here for an employee toolkit with information on coping with distress from current events.
  • Click here for information on supporting your staff after distressing world events.
  • Click here for information on how to prevent burnout and fatigue for managers.
  • Click here for information on how to identify and support employees in difficult situations.

How can I get emotional support for myself or a family member immediately?
To receive emotional support in the moment, call 443-997-7000, press option #2. You will be connected to a clinician in the moment, who will provide free, confidential, emotional support, and can help you to identify resources and next steps.

What if I am a manager concerned about a member of my team or my whole team related to race and emotional well-being?
Click here for more information on consulting with a mySupport OnSite clinician, referring employees to mySupport directly, making a referral, informal referrals, and crisis response services.

What is Coping and Thriving?

As crises arise, we have to change our way of coping and adjusting. Change can sometimes feel overwhelming and difficult to navigate. mySupport has partnered with the Family and Caregiving Programs & Wellness Programs to bring you the Coping & Thriving Webinar Series. Through webinars on various topics, we hope to provide tips, tricks, and techniques to help you cope, heal and thrive through the crises we face. These webinars are offered live, reoccurring, and on-demand. Click here to learn more.

Who can help?
The university recognizes that the situation with COVID-19 may be stressful for members of the Johns Hopkins Community, especially those with family and friends who are affected. MySupport counselors are available to faculty, staff, and their household family members at 443-997-7000, option #2, 24/7/365 to assist with emotional support and daily life assistance.

What resources are available to me, my family, my co-workers, and my team?

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Preparedness Guide. Click here to receive additional information on national health resources, emotional support resources, grocery & meal delivery apps, prescription delivery resources, financial assistance resources, temporary housing needs resources, and resources & articles for remote fitness & health.
• Coping with COVID-19 Webinar Series. Click here to discover upcoming webinars to help you navigate during these challenges times. Topics include Staying CALM to cope during COVID-19, Challenges for parents during COVID-19, Ways to stay connected during COVID-19, and Ways to relieve stress during COVID-19.
• Financial Webinar Series. Click here to sign up for two weekly webinar series. Topics include: Budgeting When Income Is Uncertain & Investment Strategies in Volatile Markets.
• Coping with Coronavirus Fears. It’s normal to feel worried about safety when facing an unknown threat like the COVID-19 virus. Click here for articles on overcoming those fears, ways to stay connected while home, and more.
• Ways to Stay CALM. Click here for an infographic that gives tips on how to stay calm. You can print for yourself or share with your family, friends, and co-workers.

What about the Calm app?
JHU students, faculty, and staff have free access to the Calm app through August 2020. Members of the JHU community started getting free premium access to the Calm app last year, and 4,000 users have taken advantage of its meditation instruction, sleep assistance, videos on mindful movement and stretching, and relaxing music. Current users can continue their free access uninterrupted. New users will need to create an account at calm.com/jhu and follow these steps:

• Use an @jhu.edu or @jhmi.edu email to create the account
• Click on the confirmation email that is sent to your inbox
• Download the Calm app from Apple App storeor Google Play, or go to calm.com
• Log in with the email you used to create the account and Calm Premium will be available for free

How can I get emotional support for myself or a family member immediately?
To receive emotional support in the moment, call 443-997-7000, press option #2. You will be connected to a clinician in the moment, who will provide free, confidential, emotional support, and can help you to identify resources and next steps.

If I do not need immediate assistance, what other options do I have for receiving emotional support?

• Referrals to a licensed clinician in your community for you and your household family members. By calling 443-997-7000, option #2, you can request referrals to licensed clinicians in your area whom you or your family member may see for up to five visits per concern. During COVID-19, sessions are being conducted by televideo or telephonically.
• Sessions with the mySupport on-site clinical team (previously known as the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP)). You can fill out our request form to request an appointment or by calling 443-997-7000, option #2, you can request to be transferred to the on-site clinical team. This team is made up of licensed clinicians that are also employees of the Hopkins community. Sessions with the on-site team can usually be scheduled within a week, most of the times, sooner. During COVID-19, sessions are being conducted by televideo or telephonically.

What if I am a manager and I am concerned about an employee’s emotional well-being during COVID-19?

• Consult with mySupport Clinician. The mySupport On-site Clinical Team is the best place to talk about your concerns so that you can receive professional guidance on how to proceed. To consult a mySupport on-site clinician, call 443-997-7000, option #2, 8:30a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. When you call, please clarify that you are a supervisor calling to consult about an employee concern. A member of the mySupport OnSite Clinical Team will hear your concerns and provide recommendations.
• Refer Employee Directly to MySupport. Managers can direct employees to reach mySupport at 443-997-7000, option #2 or employees can fill out a form to request an appointment.

What if I am a manager and I am concerned about the emotional well-being of my team during COVID-19?
mySupport On-Site Clinical team offers crisis response services. Crisis Response Services available through mySupport, via televideo or telephonically, can help you and your department provide an appropriate response during the COVID-19 crisis and other difficult workplace events that may occur. mySupport provides the following services:

• Consultations with managers and supervisors to plan a response to staff who are coping with this crisis
• Staff briefings and tips for coping with the event
• Small group interventions
• Virtual outreach to provide initial support and psychological first aid
• Same-day appointments for crisis victims
• Individual assessment and referral for emotional problems related to this crisis
• Virtual departmental briefings for supervisors and tips for supporting employees
• Resource materials for individuals impacted by this crisis