OCTOBER 2023

Momentum

Live Webinar—Join us Wednesday, October 11 for Leading an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle, a 

webinar on how your diet affects your mood and impacts inflammation in the body. Register here.

Connecting your diet and mood 

Did you know that certain foods help your brain produce chemicals that boost your mood, attention and 

focus—while other foods sap your energy? The medical field increasingly acknowledges the connection 

between food and mood, and you can make food choices that support better mental health.

• Mood-boosting meals combine complex carbohydrates 

with lean proteins and colorful produce. Whole foods 

(like sweet potatoes, rolled oats, beans and quinoa) 

increase the feel-good chemical serotonin in your brain.

• The Mediterranean-style diet has been noted for 

lessening symptoms of depression. It features 

increased intake of vegetables, fruit, omega-3-rich fish, 

nuts, legumes and olive oil.

• Foods with low nutritional value can provide a quick 

energy boost but later saddle you with low energy and 

mood. These include refined flour-based foods such as 

breads, crackers, baked goods and cookies, plus sugarsweetened beverages.

• If you plan dietary changes, be patient; it can take two 

to three weeks to see mood improvement.

Work-Life Services*

When you’re just too busy to juggle everything, remember to access your program for help. 

Whether it’s arranging child or elder care, getting legal help or choosing a pet sitter, WorkLife Services can save you time and money. Visit your member website to get started.

*Eligibility based on your specific program benefits

Contact your Employee Assistance Program at 1-866-580-9046 (TTY 711) or go online to

MagellanAscend.com for confidential, no cost help available 24/7/365 for you and your household

members.
B-MN1023E (6/23) ©2023 Magellan Health, Inc.

Working on Wellbeing

Physical wellbeing

• Physical wellbeing is about managing your health so that you have the energy to do all the things you want to do. 

Your physical wellbeing is of vital importance. Without physical wellbeing, you cannot have mental wellbeing, and 

your relationships, career and finances can be negatively impacted.

• The short-term choices we make can have a long-term effect on our overall physical health. Manage your physical 

health well by exercising regularly and making good dietary choices that keep your energy high and your thinking 

sharp. Also, get enough sleep so your body and mind are rested and help you get a good start the next day.

Money Matters

October 2023 financial webinars

Understanding Medicare 

Tuesday, October 10 

Register here: 9 a.m. PT | 12 p.m. PT

This class will review how your out-of-pocket healthcare 

costs could be higher or lower depending on when you 

retire and start receiving Medicare benefits.

Estate Planning: Financial Basics

Thursday, October 26

Register here: 9 a.m. PT | 12 p.m. PT

Review common estate plan components and how your 

plan may change over time, plus learn the pros and cons 

of hiring an attorney versus doing your own planning.

Mind Your Mental Health

October is National Depression and Mental Health Awareness and 

Screening Month

This observance emphasizes the importance of recognizing and treating depression and other mental health 

problems. When not treated, they can become debilitating and keep people from engaging in important 

activities of daily life. A dangerous effect of severe depression is that it can contribute to self-harm or suicide.

• A confidential, anonymous mental health screening is a brief set of questions that calculates how many common 

depression symptoms you’ve had over the past two weeks, and suggests where you might be on a scale from “not 

depressed” to “depressed” based on your answers.

• You can take a screening yourself or have a medical professional administer one. (A screening by itself does not result 

in a diagnosis.)

• Go online to MagellanHealthcare.com/Mental-Health-Screening to answer behavioral health questions and total your 

own score—confidentially.

• Depression can be treated in various ways, including psychotherapy, antidepressant medicines and healthy lifestyle 

changes.

Visit MagellanHealthcare.com/about/bh-resources/mymh or call your program for confidential mental 

health resources.