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Your health includes both mental and physical health. There are ways to improve your mental health and well-being.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health in 2025, the average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. Delaying treatment can lead to more severe symptoms, and earlier intervention can promote better outcomes.
Take this EAP Mental Health Quiz to test your knowledge.
There are many factors that can lead to a physical health condition, and the same is true for mental health. Some of these elements can increase a person’s risk of mental health concerns, while others can help protect against them.
Knowing what factors -- biological, psychological, and social -- is an important step toward getting the right kind of support.
This webpage contains information to improve mental wellness, including:
Activities to Improve Mental Health
Activities to Improve Mental Health
Having a healthy routine can improve mental and physical health. People with more daily routines had lower levels of distress when facing problems with their health or negative life events.
Invest in yourself and look into the activities below.
MHCalendar.pdfFind daily activities you can incorporate to improve your mental health.
Adding an activity such as calling a friend you have not spoken to in a while, reading a book, or participating in a guided visualization can make a difference in your overall well-being.
Emotional Wellness is one of the 8 dimensions of Wellness, focused on coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.
Learn more about Emotional Wellness or check out some of the Emotional Wellness tips shared in the HR Weekly Newsletter.
Mental Health America has over 10 (ten) online screenings you can take to determine whether you or a child is experiencing a mental health condition.
There are screenings for anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, eating disorders, addiction, ADHD, and more.
BeAwareOfYourThoughts_Infographic.pdfAnts are automatic negative thoughts.
This handout from our EAP Resources for Living has tips and exercises to help change and overcome automatic negative thinking and help you practicing thoughts of "things can get better".
Learn more about different exercises you can do, such as:
Breathing exercises like box breathing or the 5-finger technique
Grounding exercises like body scans or the 5-4-3-2-1 method
Connecting with others can improve your mental health and increase your resilience, making it easier to overcome everyday challenges.
Check in with a colleague today! It benefits the mental and physical health of you and the colleague you connected with.
Seeking Support for Mental Health
Seeking Support for Mental Health
Mental health struggles can affect anyone at any point in life.
The more you know about recognizing the signs in yourself and others, the more quickly and effectively you can reach out — whether that’s to get help for yourself or give help to someone else.
Read about talking with friends and family about mental health issues to learn how you can be both sensitive and helpful in a situation.
This helpful R U Ok handout breaks down the conversation into 4 easy steps: Ask, Listen, Encourage Action, Check In.
Check out the 8 different free mental health support groups from Mental Health Arizona
Mental health issues can impact people differently, depending on their stage of life. What may be
clear signs and symptoms of a mental health concern for one person may not be so clear in someone of
a different age. Listen to a podcast on mental health concerns for children or older adults.
Supportive friends or family
Primary Care Provider
Mental Health Counselor
Crisis text line: Text HELLO to 741741
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 to connect with a crisis counselor
Central Arizona Warm Line 24/7 free and confidential support: Call (602) 347-1100
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is provided through Aetna, and it is designed to help you resolve concerns or issues affecting your life. Our EAP focuses on a broad range of issues such as child or elder care, relationship challenges, financial or legal problems, wellness matters, and traumatic events like workplace violence.
EAP services are offered via phone, tele-video, online chatting, via e-mail, and in-person and are available at no cost to MCCCD employees. EAP benefits are available to all MCCCD employees (including part-time and adjunct), their dependents up to age 26, even if they live out of the home, and anyone in the employee's household (regardless of their relationship, age, or health insurance coverage). For example, roommates or if you live with and care for an elderly family member are also eligible for services.
Please contact wellness.maricopa@domail.maricopa.edu for more information or if you have additional questions.
Behavioral Health Care Through the MCCCD Medical Plan
Behavioral Health Care Through the MCCCD Medical Plan
If you need additional time or treatment beyond what our EAP can provide, our behavioral health benefit offers mental health resources when a more long-term relationship with a provider needs to be established.
These services include concerns around
Emotional health
Substance misuse
Depression
Anxiety
And more.
Take a look at your 2025 Aetna Medical Plan ID card for more information about behavioral health services. Also, view your explanation of the benefits for behavioral health alongside your medical EOB.
Please take a look at the adjacent PDF for more information or reach out to rx.maricopa@domail.maricopa.edu if you have additional questions.
When to use EAP or Behavoral Health Benefit.pdfMental Health Resources
Mental Health Resources
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