Mental Health of School Personnel Amidst a Pandemic/COVID-19
Cherri Lindquist, BSN, RM, CCM
Clinical Nurse Manager, Company Nurse
Paula Allen
Global Leader, Research and Total Wellbeing and a Senior Vice- President, Morneau Shepell
Cherri Lindquist and Paula Allen describe the unique experience of school personnel and how the repercussions of the pandemic have impacted their professional and personal lives. School personnel face a multi-faceted situation - each department faces a different experience in keeping students and colleagues safe while upholding new protocols.
Cherri and Paula explain the many reasons why employee assistant programs are invaluable for school personnel, how to implement them successfully and how to utilize effective support for school personnel during the crisis of COVID-19.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Cherri Lindquist, BSN, RM, CCM
Clinical Nurse Manager, Company Nurse
Summary of Qualifications
Cherri holds over 20 years experience working in healthcare in a variety of specialties including family practice, internal medicine, dermatology, endocrinology, home health and occupational health.
Responsibilities
Cherri manages Company Nurse's 24/7 contact center focusing on workplace injuries. Duties include development of new triage algorithms and modifications of current ones as evidenced best practice changes, providing education to registered nurses on processes, identifying client needs to improve triage outcomes including appropriate education that can be given on-site prior to calling into contact center, managing all aspects of staffing nursing department including hiring, payroll, etc; and providing clinical guidance for internal COVID-19 operating procedures.
Business Experience
Company Nurse- Clinical Nurse Manager (Feb 2019-Present)
Honor Health- Clinical Case Manager Home Health (2014-2019)
Honor Health- Lead Medical Assistant/Supervisor NOAH Clinics (2009-2014)
Education
Grand Canyon University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Paula Allen
Global Leader, Research and Total Wellbeing and a Senior Vice- President, Morneau Shepell
Summary of Qualifications
Paula is the global leader, research and total wellbeing and a senior vice- president at Morneau Shepell. In this role, she manages the research agenda for Morneau Shepell, which includes primary research conducted by Morneau Shepell, exploratory data science, research collaborations and meta-analyses. Given her focus on industry leading research, Paula also leads Morneau Shepell’s thought leadership and is co-chair of the organization’s product and innovation strategy.
She has more than 20 years of experience relating to workplace research, product development and operational leadership that spans the range of EFAP, workplace learning, attendance and disability management, and health and benefits consulting.
Paula is a sought-after speaker by organizations, national media and at conferences for her knowledge and expertise in current issues and the future direction of health, wellbeing, productivity and related risk management.
Responsibilities
Paula is focused on the current and emerging issues that impact health and productivity and related costs. Her scope includes all areas of wellbeing – social, physical, financial and mental. She is also a well-recognized expert in all areas of workplace mental health, learning strategies, disability management and drug plan management. She designed and led the most comprehensive employer response to the H1N1 pandemic and is currently Morneau Shepell’s business response and resource lead for the COVID-19 pandemic. She also works directly with many of Canada’s leading organizations.
Professional Affiliations
Paula is a member of the Women’s College Hospital’s Board of Directors, a member of the Virtual Learning Advisory Board consulting to the public sector’s post-secondary on-line learning strategy, a member of the International Women’s Forum, was co-chair of Civic Action’s Champions Council on workplace mental health, was part of the Income Security Working Group providing advice to the Ontario Government on issues relating to disability and income support, and sits on several research and strategy advisory boards that address issues ranging from e-mental health solutions to substance abuse in the workplace.
Education
Paula completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Toronto in psychological research and neuropsychological testing and clinical intervention.
