Public Employee Press

Benefits News
PSU: Caring help in difficult times

The stress and worry of tough economic times can have a serious impact on our personal lives and relationships. This month the wise old owl focuses on DC 37’s Personal Service Unit, where counselors are always ready to help you cope with troubles.

Everyone has problems from time to time, and it’s all right to seek help. Many members need assistance in dealing with personal and family concerns, alcoholism and drug abuse, financial hardships, physical illness and difficulties with children.

To help you deal with problems like these, the DC 37 Health and Security Plan established the Personal Service Unit, a confidential service. The unit’s counselors are professionally trained New York State Licensed Social Workers. They may be able to help you directly with short-term counseling, provide information about private or public social services that you may be entitled to or refer you to the proper community agency to resolve your difficulties.

Remember, you don’t have to wait until a problem becomes a crisis to call a counselor at the Personal Service Unit. Call 212-815-1260 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. if you have a question or would like help to prevent a problem from developing for you or family members.

When do you need PSU?

1. Job Jeopardy: Problems at work can result in disciplinary action. If you have received an oral or written warning, were brought up on charges or are scheduled for a hearing, you or your union rep should contact PSU. It is to your advantage to contact PSU at the earliest signs of trouble.
   
   
2. Personal and Family Problems: Personal or family difficulties can lead to problems at work, increase stress and impair your physical and mental health. PSU can help you to understand and manage such problems.
   
   
3. Other problems PSU can help with alcoholism, anxiety, birth of a child, career issues, depression, domestic violence, drug abuse, major life changes, mental illness, prolonged illness affecting you or a family member; relationship troubles, stress and parenting, single parenting and grandparenting.

What services does PSU offer?

PSU staff will help you and your family with referrals for health and mental health needs, family problems and social services, offer a list of available resources in the community for members and dependents who need information and provide short-term counseling for emotional and family problems, alcoholism and drug abuse, stress or other problems of a personal nature.

The staff also organize small, informal group counseling sessions for members with similar needs and publicize these in the union newspaper as well as offering participatory workshops and conferences, such as the Pre-Retirement Planning and Stress Management workshops. In the Outreach Program, PSU staff and retiree volunteers assist workers preparing for retirement, retirees dealing with their change of status, members on short-term disability in need of assistance and members at risk of becoming disabled.

How do I contact PSU?

Call the Personal Service Unit at 212-815-1260, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If counselors are busy providing services to other union members, an answering machine will advise you that all the lines are busy. Due to the large volume of calls coming into the unit, you may have to call a number of times before getting a Social Worker.

You may also contact PSU by going there in person, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

What should I expect?

Be prepared to give a brief description of your problem and tell the Social Worker who referred you to PSU and if the problem is job-related. The Social Worker will ask questions about the job, family and income to help in planning services. Please understand that the Health and Security Plan may not cover certain services that PSU may refer you to.

All contact with the Personal Service Unit is confidential and no information will be shared with anyone outside the office unless you give written permission.