North Texas economics professor Dr. Jared Pickens considers himself a people person who thrives when he’s around colleagues and other people.
“I’m a very outgoing person and I enjoy working with people. So when I wasn’t in the classroom anymore and I didn’t really have time with my students and my peers, that time was very, very challenging for me,” Pickens said.
However, when he returned to campus, the workplace was not the same.
“I had envisioned it the way it used to be, but when I came back to campus, not everyone went back to the workplace. So for me, it was really a challenge, because I quickly found out that what I’ve experienced in the past, I may not come back for more.” time, and that was very difficult,” Pickens said.
“I finally broke down one night and I just need help, you know, I have to get help here. My anxiety got so high because I didn’t enjoy what I was doing anymore. Number two, I didn’t like where I was,” she added.
found help through Medical City Green Oaks WorkReturns Outpatient Program.
The program helps people manage the psychological stressors of returning to work under a new norm, whether that means staffing shortages, fear of contracting COVID-19, or a new balance between work and family life.
“We’re seeing a lot of burnout, anxiety, depression, frustration, distress, fear, those kinds of negative emotions that are really wearing down the workforce right now,” said Diane Partin, managing director of outpatient behavioral health services at Medical City Green. Oaks.
During the pandemic, administrators say they have seen high demand. They have expanded telemedicine services to help meet it.
“A lot of our people who come into the program have never experienced a mental health problem before. So we’re helping them navigate, not only their mental health problem, but also as far as going back to work,” Partin said.
Treatment plans may include group therapy, family therapy, and/or individual consultations.
The WorkReturns program is offered in Dallas and Plano. There are face-to-face and virtual options available. It’s the only one like it in North Texas.
The help provided coping strategies for Pickens, who said he now realizes he’s not alone when it comes to the unseen challenges of returning to the workplace.
“Today, I’m not perfect. But now I understand that I don’t have to be perfect. I’m back in the classroom, right now teaching a little bit remotely. I’m going back to what I do for a living. And it’s not the same as it used to be, but I’m approaching it in a very different way.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting the word “Home” to 741741..
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