What the Month Encourages:

  • Awareness: Understanding the signs of mental health challenges and recognizing that they’re common, not personal failures.
  • Education: Learning about resources, coping strategies, and the science behind mental health.
  • Connection: Checking in on friends, family, and colleagues.
  • Self‑reflection: Taking stock of your own well‑being and noticing where you might need rest, boundaries, or support.

Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t meant to be a one‑month fix. It’s more like a reset button—a reminder that mental health is ongoing and deserves consistent attention. The hope is that it is easier for people to seek help early, support one another, and build environments where emotional well‑being is part of everyday life. Just like physical fitness, mental fitness is something that needs ongoing attention and practice.

At Local 4, we encourage you to prioritize your mental health and the mental health of your loved ones. It’s time that we de-stigmatize mental health and stop looking at it differently from physical health. There are several resources available so that you can find the type of care that suits you best and to learn more about mental health. There is no shame in needing help.

  • Our Employee Assistance Program, Lyra Health, offers therapy, coaching, and a library of resources. Eligible Local 4 Health & Welfare participants and their covered dependents get eight no-cost coaching or therapy sessions per plan year. Sessions beyond eight are covered with a copayment through Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Not everyone needs coaching or counseling, but everyone may benefit from meditations, articles, and webinars on topics such as managing stress, parenting, and coping with crises. Lyra offers Lyra Renew for those looking for support with substance use, and Lyra Complex Care is for those who have severe mental health disorders, substance use issues, and/or recent mental health hospitalizations. Contact Lyra at 844-926-2482 or Lyra Health. See the attached flyers for more information.

  • Our health insurance plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, can help you find a mental health provider. Sign into MyBlue Healthcare Insurance Plan | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Click on “Care Options” and select “Mental Health Care Options.” From there, you can find therapy, medication management, specialty care, and virtual care options. If you want to speak to someone at Blue Cross Blue Shield for assistance in finding help, call 888-389-7764 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also request a mental health advocate or a mental health care manager when you call.
  • The attached flyer describes some of the substance use programs that are available to Local 4 members covered by the Health & Welfare Plan

  • Anyone, regardless of insurance status, can contact the 988 Lifeline for immediate support.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.