UNC Charlotte Expanding Mental Health Support through Employee Assistance Program

September 25, 2025
Categories: General News

The UNC System is not renewing its contract with Headspace Care (formerly Ginger). Effective Tuesday, Sept. 30, UNC Charlotte employees will no longer have free access to Headspace, which offered confidential mental healthcare through coaching via text-based chats, self-guided activities and video-based therapy and psychiatry.

Employees currently using Headspace therapy or psychiatric services can
stay with Headspace at their own cost or may choose a new provider outside of Headspace and ask Headspace to transfer their medical records. Employees will have seven days of limited access after September 30, 2025, to reach out to Headspace to determine if you’d like to continue access.

In light of this change, UNC Charlotte is expanding its mental health support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Provided by ComPsych Guidance Resources, the EAP offers confidential help, resources and guidance for personal and work-life challenges.

EAP Enhancements

Effective Wednesday, Oct. 1, the following enhancements will be offered, at no charge, to permanent UNC Charlotte faculty, staff and their dependents.

  • Upgrade: Confidential Counseling has increased from six (6) free visits per issue to twelve (12) free visits per issue with highly trained master’s and doctoral level clinicians
  • New: Health and Well-being Coaching
    • Practical, Goal-oriented: Coaches help members with everyday challenges like stress management, time management, and healthy habit-building.
    • Accessible Alternative to Counseling: Engages those who may not need or be ready for therapy but still want live, guided support.
    • Empowers Long-term Change: supports sustainable lifestyle improvements that enhance both personal well-being and workplace productivity.
  • New: Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CCBT):
    • Private and Self-paced: Members can work through modules at their own pace, anytime, anywhere.
    • Early Intervention: provides clinically validated support for stress, anxiety, and mood concerns before they escalate.
    • Cost-Effective and Scalable: Extends mental health resources broadly, without the same cost structure as traditional counseling.
  • New: Huddles
    • Single session online groups: various wellness topics such as mood management, everyday mindfulness, improving sleep and nutrition 101
    • Small, interactive sessions: facilitated by ComPsych counselors and coaches
  • On-demand Training
  • Mental Health Awareness Toolkit
  • Lunch and Learns

These additions will provide meaningful support and resources for employee well-being; providing additional access points for care meeting our employees where they are, whether they prefer self-guided digital tools or live, goal-focused support.

For more information on these programs, please visit guidanceresources.com. The University’s company web ID is “UNCC.”

Please reach out to hr-engagement@charlotte.edu or employee-relations@charlotte.edu with any questions.