September is National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month Suicide is a complex public health problem that tragically impacts everyone. Confidential help is available, and together, we can get help for ourselves and others to prevent suicide. Learn about this highly stigmatized topic from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
Cornell Community Response Team (CRT) - Provides urgent support weekdays for those located on the Ithaca campus who are in crisis. Call Cornell Police at 255-1111 to request CRT.
Bree Health Confidential Counseling Services - Provides benefits eligible Cornell employees and spouses/partners up to three free counseling visits per year. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In this episode of On the Mind, the promise and peril of artificial intelligence in mental health care is discussed with Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a hospitalist and Associate Professor of Population Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Move Your Body, Still Your Mind with Cornell Wellness Cornell Wellness staff are available to provide this workshop in person or via Zoom to your department, unit or division by request. Experience the quieting effect movement can have on the mind with this gentle and effective session.
Physical Wellbeing
On-campus Flu Vaccine Clinics Getting vaccinated each year is one of the best ways to protect yourself – and others – against seasonal influenza. Sign up to get your annual flu shot at one of Cornell’s flu vaccine clinics, scheduled at various campus locations through mid-November. Free for Cornell staff, faculty, and retirees.
Chronic Migraine Treatment Options for Now and Later (Weill Cornell Medicine) Thanks to ongoing medical advances, a number of therapies are available to help reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of your migraine attacks. Learn more from Dr. Moises Dominguez, Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology and Director of the Headache Medicine Fellowship program at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Relationships
Cornell Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) Grief Support Group The aim of this group, led by Jennelle Liljestrand, LCSW, FSAP counselor, is to provide a space for you to further grieve and actualize your loss, as well as connect with others in a similar situation. Each participant will have the chance to process through discussion, poetry, writing, and sharing of memories and photos.
This group will run October 7 – December 16, (no session on November 25 and have a total of 10 sessions) Wednesdays, 11:30am-12:50pm for 80 minutes on Zoom. If interested, email Jennelle at jl4775@cornell.edu.
Annual Campus and Community Connection Event September 23, 9-11am, Day Hall Main Suite 130/150. Making social connections at work may help support your health, wellbeing, job engagement, and success. Join fellow employees for an informal networking opportunity and to learn about ways to find connection at Cornell beyond your job. Come for as little or as long as you’d like!
Staff Stories: Cyrus Hamilton-Ferguson
After years of anticipation and preparation, Cyrus Hamilton-Ferguson finalized the adoption of his second child, supported by employee benefits resources such as Cornell's Adoption Assistance Program.
Helping an Aging Parent Who Refuses Care (Care.com) Getting an aging loved one to accept the care they need isn't always easy. This article outlines what to do when an older parent refuses help.
Financial Wellbeing
Understanding Your Utility Bill October 21, 12-1:30pm, virtual. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Tompkins Community Energy Advisors Mary Keefe & Leigh Miller for a virtual presentation that will demystify the charges on your electricity bill and share ways to reduce your energy costs. Have your recent electricity bills handy to refer to during the workshop.
This workshop is brought to you by Smart Energy Choices, a program of CCE-Tompkins serving 8 counties in the Southern Tier.
Check out these upcoming financial webinars designed specifically for Cornell employees:
Top Things to Do Before You Retire (Fidelity)
September 22, 10-11am, virtual. Learn how to get your financial house in order and other important considerations that can impact your decisions.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Retirement Income (TIAA)
September 29, 10-11am, virtual. Learn how to plan ahead and create income that lasts the rest of your lifetime. Develop a diversified income strategy that helps you manage risk and protects your financial security in retirement.
First-Time Homebuyer Webinar (Tompkins Trust)
September 22, 12-1pm, virtual. Learn from Tompkins mortgage professionals about various programs and services available to first-time homebuyers.
Cultural Wellbeing
NeurodiversiTea Wednesdays, 12-2pm, 2nd floor Atrium of CCC Building. NeurodiversiTea is a weekly in-person space for neurodivergent Cornellians and their allies to build community and engage in a neurodiversity-affirming space. Contact neurodiversity@cornell.edu for more information.
Second Annual "Freedom Party" to Celebrate Joy, Freedom, and Learning
September 19, 1-4pm, Greater Ithaca Activities Center. Organized by Cornell’s Center for Racial Justice and Equitable Futures and co-sponsored by the Africana Studies & Research Center, the event will feature live music and DJ sets, a knowledge corner with free books for adults and kids, a resources fair that connects community members to critical social services, activities for all ages, and face painting.
National Hispanic Heritage Month Each year, from September 15 to October 15, Americans celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Learn more about this month at the Cornell DEI Celebrations page.
Occupational Wellbeing
Cornell Team & Leadership Center Bring your group together through team-building activities, leadership workshops, and outdoor adventures. Custom programs range from short energizer sessions to multi-day trainings that combine dynamic, experiential learning with models that work best for you and your team.
Food Scraps Recycling Tompkins County makes it easy for residents to help reduce the amount of food sent to landfills with a robust network of free, easy-to-access Food Scraps Drop Spots. Click here to find other locations in NY.
Just For Fun
Cat Video Fest October 3 and 4, 2026, various times. Join Cornell Cinema for an afternoon of laughter in service of our feline friends! Cat Video Fest is a joyous communal experience, only in theaters, that raises money for local cats in need through partnerships with cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters.
Leading Your Team Through Change
October 7, 9am-4pm, 102 East Hill Office Building. This session helps people leaders understand their role in change and become effective change leaders using the Prosci ADKAR Model. Master the CLARC roles and become the change champion your team didn't know they needed.
About the Wellbeing Update:
Information curated by Cornell Work/Life, Cornell Wellness, and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program with campus and community resources, programs, events, and informative articles. Explore past editions or email to ask questions or suggest a resource. Published twice per month. Information shared does not indicate Cornell endorsement.
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