Mental Health Benefits Help Associates Cope With Loss

When associates at Club 8289 in Oklahoma City needed support, our mental health resource, provided by Lyra, was there for them.

This article contains mention of suicide, which can bring up difficult thoughts and feelings. If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide or are in need of support, you can contact Lyra's 24/7 care line (1-800-825-3555) or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988).

Justin Garcia had been manager at Club 8289 for only four months when he and his team faced devastating news: one of their teammates had died by suicide.

Justin, who was off work and on the road when he heard, immediately turned his truck around to get to the club and do whatever he could. “I wanted to show them that I cared,” he recalls. “I just had to be strong for the team.”

After talking with his People Partner about ways to help, Justin called our mental health resource, Lyra. To Justin’s relief, an on-site grief counselor arrived the next day.  

Support in hard times

The counselor set up a private space at the club and welcomed associates in, alone or in groups.

“We were able to go in there and talk to him as many times as we wanted,” Tania Gramajo says. Tania, a team lead who has been with Sam’s Club for six years, says the loss hit her hard. 

“The counselor really helped us,” she says, adding that he left his contact information. “So even after he left, he was still available to us.”

Member Services Lead Patricia Jackson shares, “I just felt like my world shattered because of how close we were. Having the on-site counselor really helped me deal with my grief.”

Patricia also recalls how Justin helped that day. “The first thing he did when he saw me was give me a big hug. For him being a new club manager and for him to get right on it and check on us and reach out to her mom — I really respect him for that.”

Justin even coordinated with associates from nearby clubs to arrange for coverage when his team attended memorial services. He also reached out to the associate’s mother, offering whatever support he could.

Spreading the word

Since those difficult days, the bond between associates at Club 8289 has grown even stronger. Another thing that’s grown? Their understanding of the importance of mental health awareness.

Just ask Monicea Smith, a member specialist and market volunteer coordinator. “Since I do orientation, Lyra is one of the main things I talk about. I tell new associates that therapy is not just for people going through things, it’s a good way to be able to express yourself freely and help yourself.”

“Everybody's gonna have tough times,” Monicea adds. “We are not exempt from tough times and tough situations. None of us are. So, I feel like it’s a benefit that everybody needs.”

Starting on day one of working at Walmart and Sam’s Club, associates and their eligible family members can access 20 therapy or mental health coaching sessions, per person, per year — all at no cost to them. There are no other eligibility requirements and associates do not need to be enrolled in a medical plan to participate.

Tania and Monicea say they’ve both told associates who seem down or are struggling that Lyra is available.

“I always remind them, like, ‘Hey, there's help out there,’” Tania says. “‘You don't have to tell us your business, but we do have counselors available. So, if you guys need to talk to them, they're available at any time.’”

Sharing their story

Talking about their friend and the days after her passing is emotional for Patricia, Tania and Monicea. But they know that sharing their story is an important way to remind others that help is in reach.

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