May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds has launched a Mental Health Resources web page. The web page addresses how employees may be able to assess mental health concerns and provides links to the state’s Employee Assistance Program, the Well Wisconsin wellness program, and Group Health Insurance Program provider contact information. ETF’s Mental Health Resources webpage is available here.
Since 2003, the State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Court System have offered employee assistance programs (EAP) to court employees and judicial officials at no charge. All employees, including judges and justices, are eligible to access confidential wellness, management consultation, financial and legal referral services through Kepro, the state’s employee assistance provider. EAP services are available to all employees, any household member and dependents, and offer comprehensive, confidential consulting in the areas of stress and mental health, family and relationship concerns, and substance abuse dependency.
All employees, including justice and judges, can reach the employee assistance program by calling 833-539-7285 or 877-334-0489 (TTY) to speak to a trained crisis counselor or by visiting the website at https://sowi.mylifeexpert.com and reviewing the instructions to navigate the site and create an account. The “company code” is SOWI.
In addition to the services provided by Kepro, justices, judges and legal professionals can also utilize the Wisconsin State Bar of Wisconsin’s Lawyer Assistance Program (WisLAP). WisLAP offers assistance in the areas of well-being, substance abuse disorders, mental health trainings, continuing education, and peer-to-peer support.
Legal professionals can reach WisLAP at (800) 543-2625 or callwislap@wisbar.org. More information on WisLAP and related resources is available here.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov