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• PAR pays it forward, donates to Mental Health America

  

  Each year, PAR donates to a charity selected by its Customers as a way to say thank you and to give back as part of our Pay It Forward campaign. “PAR has been incredibly fortunate as a company,” said Kristin Greco, chief executive officer. “Rather than send our Customers an end-of-year gift, we decided a few years ago to make a charitable contribution on their behalf instead. This is the sixth year of our Pay It Forward campaign, and each year, our Customers select a different charity to honor.” In November, PAR mailed an end-of-year communication to select Customers, thanking them for their business and asking them to choose their favorite organization from a list of three deserving charities. Results have been tallied, and PAR is proud to announce that on behalf of its Customers, a $5,000 donation will be made to Mental Health America. “We are so inspired by the work our Customers do, and Mental Health America is doing work that is important to our Customers and to PAR,” Greco said. “It is an honor to be able to pay ...

• Understanding Stress in America

  

  This is part of PAR’s Mental Health Awareness Month series, in which we will be focusing on the multifaceted issue of mental health in the U.S. Come back each week for more insight.  The last few years have seen a global pandemic, international conflicts, civil unrest, increased inflation, and many natural disasters. The American Psychological Association (APA) Stress in America survey takes a closer look at what Americans have been experiencing and provides insight into recent trends. This data provides better understanding of how Americans are handling a multitude of stressors and helps to show us what is going on in the minds of Americans of different ages.  Collective trauma and post-pandemic effects  The survey starts with the idea of collective trauma, understanding that everyone has been deeply affected by difficult events collectively. Even though COVID-19 may not be a national emergency anymore, it has left mental and emotional effects on most Americans.  Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the APA, points out that although many people seem to be moving on from the pandemic, we are still dealing with ...

• PAR Pays It Forward!

  

  PAR has announced that Feeding America is the recipient of its annual Pay It Forward program! “PAR has been incredibly fortunate as a company,” stated Kristin Greco, CEO. “A few years ago, we decided to make a charitable contribution on behalf of our Customers to an organization chosen by those we serve. Each year, we select a new charity to honor.” PAR surveyed its Customers throughout the month of November, asking them to choose their favorite organization from a list. Now that results have been tallied, PAR is proud to announce that on behalf of its Customers, a $5,000 donation will be made to Feeding America. “We are so inspired by the work our Customers do, and Feeding America is doing work that is important to them,” said Greco. “It is an honor to be able to pay it forward to such a worthy organization.” View a video of CEO Kristin Greco announcing this year's recipient here.

• PAR Named One of the Healthiest Companies in America

  Earlier this year, PAR received national recognition as one of the 2014 “Healthiest Companies in America” by Interactive Health, the country’s leading provider of health management solutions. PAR was one of 158 honorees from across the United States recognized for embracing the mission of implementing life-changing preventive health care in the workplace. The Healthiest Companies in America award is given to select organizations across the nation that have helped transform—and even save—the lives of employees by offering wellness programs that combine thorough health evaluations with fast, personalized results. With the help of these strategic, flexible initiatives, winning organizations like PAR have accomplished tremendous success in moving employees from high-risk health status to lower risk, achieving remarkably high employee participation. “We are honored to be named as one of the healthiest companies in America,” said R. Bob Smith III, PhD, CEO of PAR. “The health and wellness of our employees is a high priority, and we will remain committed to helping them improve their quality of life.” In 2005, PAR created the Swellness Committee, which is charged with creating programs and events that ...

• Bullying Declines Among American Teens

  A recent study from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development shows a significant decline in the rates of both physical and verbal bullying reported by American teenagers since 1998. Study author Jessamyn Perlus and her colleagues conducted a series of four surveys of a nationally representative sample of students in grades 6 through 10 (averaging approximately 12,500 students per survey) over a 12-year period beginning in 1998. Students were asked about the frequency with which they had been either the perpetrator or the victim of bullying behaviors in school, such as teasing, insulting, or excluding classmates; spreading negative rumors; sexual harassment; and physical abuse. The study did not include bullying activities outside of school, such as cyberbullying. The results of the study, published in the June 2014 issue of the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), suggest that bullying declined steadily from nearly 14 percent of students reporting incidents in 1998 to just over 10 percent in 2010. Declines were especially strong among boys and among middle school students; smaller but still significant declines were ...

• Back-to-School: Tips for a Healthy Start from Mental Health America

  As the new school year approaches, children and teenagers can experience a range of emotions, from the normal excitement associated with new teachers and activities to more serious or long-term anxiety about school.  Mental Health America, a national advocacy organization that addresses mental health and substance abuse conditions, offers tips to help children and teens adjust as they return to school.  Their suggestions include the following. Know that your child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. Start the conversation! Talk to your child about your expectations as well as his/her expectations for the upcoming school year. Take time to listen to your child and discuss aspects of the new school year that he or she is worried about. Remember to let your child know that it’s normal to feel nervous about the start of school. Spend time each day talking to your child about what happened in school. Be open to ...