Welcome to the Local 4 Funds Office Wellbeing Hub.
We’re glad you’re here!
We’re glad you’re here!
“Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”
– Noam Shpancer
Karen Larsen
Social Worker and Care Coordinator
2026 Local 4 Life $250 Incentive
Enroll with our health coaching partner, TrestleTree, in 2026 and complete five appointments by December 11, 2026, to earn a $250 gift card*. TrestleTree coaches will work with you to develop SMART goals to help you manage chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma, or help you work on a healthy lifestyle, such as nutrition, weight management, tobacco cessation, and exercise. This program is available at no cost to those who are enrolled in the Local 4 Health & Welfare Plan and their dependents. Contact TrestleTree at 866-523-8185 or IUOE Local 4 | TrestleTree.
*Open to new enrollees in 2026, enrollment must be started by 8/1/26.
Check out the Mental Health Support Page at Mental Health Support – Local 4 Funds. Here you will find resources available to anyone, regardless of insurance coverage, as well as for eligible members of the Local 4 Health & Welfare Plan. The page is now also available on the Local 4 Funds Office app.
This Month’s Featured Partners
Mental Health Resources with Nema Health
Nema Health treats Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using an intensive therapeutic approach on a virtual platform. PTSD doesn’t only arise from combat situations, but from other traumas as well, including domestic violence, childhood abuse, gun violence, and more. PTSD symptoms include nightmares and flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, insomnia, low self-esteem, and negative alterations in thought and mood. Nema is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and works with patients ages 18+ who reside in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Copayments, deductibles, and co-insurance apply. For more information, contact Nema at 475-255-6163 or visit their website at Nema Health: Online Trauma Therapy from PTSD Experts. Below is a description from Nema of what someone seeking services could expect.
At Nema, we start with a 75-minute Clinical Evaluation to determine if you have PTSD. If you receive a PTSD diagnosis, the next step is Intensive Care. Intensive Care includes one-hour therapy sessions, generally two to five times per week, online practice assignments that can take one to two hours to complete, and peer mentorship. Research shows that intensive therapy leads to faster improvement, so we use this approach to help you get better as quickly as possible. Intensive treatment is designed to be short-term — you should expect to complete around 12 sessions in approximately three to four weeks. In addition to therapy, you will be paired with a Peer Navigator who has personal experience with PTSD and recovery. Navigators provide valuable support via care coordinator and mentorship to help you along your path to recovery. Upon completing Intensive Care, you’ll gain access to any of the services in our Nema Rise program. Nema Rise is all about building upon what you gained during Intensive Care, connecting with Nema’s community, and helping you live the life you deserve. This phase of treatment includes Peer Navigator sessions and groups with other survivors in our community.
Wellness Updates
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
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.