Upcoming mental health webinars
MindWell presents: The Better Brain Diet. Eating for Mental Health & Peak Performance
Date: Tuesday October 7 at 10 am PT.
Discover the science behind eating for better mental well-being in this expert-led webinar with renowned Canadian mental health pioneer Dr. Bonnie Kaplan, author of The Better Brain.
As part of World Mental Health Day, join us on Tuesday, October 7 to explore how nutrition impacts your mind, and learn practical strategies to support mental clarity, reduce stress, and boost performance at work and beyond.
Wellness Wednesday: The Social Side of Aging: Why Relationships Matter for Health
Date: Wednesday, October 8 from 12 to 1 pm on Zoom
As we grow older, the quality of our social relationships plays a critical role in shaping our physical and mental well-being. Dr. Theresa Pauly's talk will explore how social isolation and loneliness affect health in later life—potentially disrupting stress regulation systems—and highlights the importance of fostering connection for healthy aging.
Sign up with BC Brain Wellness
Understanding Loneliness and Building Social Connections
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 10 am PT
Feeling connected is vital to our well-being - but loneliness can affect anyone, even in the company of others. Join this one-hour seminar to explore what causes loneliness, how it impacts our health, and how we can build stronger, more meaningful relationships. Don't miss this opportunity to learn practical strategies for fostering genuine social connections and improving overall well-being.
Hosted by: United Way
Sign up with Mindspring Mental Health Alliance
The Fundamentals of Change and Transition
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 12:30 to 1:30 pm PT
Change is a natural part of life but navigating it isn't always easy. Join us for a one-hour virtual session hosted by VIU and Homewood Health, VIU's Employee and Family Assistant Program (EFAP) provider, to learn how to manage change with greater confidence and resilience. In this session, you'll explore strategies, frameworks, and self-care tools to help you move through transitions more smoothly - both at work and beyond.
Space is limited! Sign up for Fundamentals of Change to receive your Teams link and secure your spot.
Mental Health Awareness Training for Leaders
VIU is offering training to support leaders in fostering a psychologically safe and healthy workplace during the months of October and November. This session will provide practical tools to recognize mental health challenges, respond with empathy, and connect employees to the right resources.
If you’re a leader interested in attending, please contact Jenny Gomes, Manager, Health, Well-Being and Benefits (jenny.gomes@viu.ca) for details and to sign up.
On demand webinar: Diabetes: The Basics
According to the Statistics Canada, nearly 1 in 10 Canadians aged 20 years and older has been diagnosed with diabetes. Join Dr. Serena Natale in this webinar to gain a foundational understanding of diabetes, its types, causes, and management strategies. Learn about:
- The different types of diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes)
- Symptoms and risk factors associated with diabetes
- Effective management strategies, including diet, exercise, and medication
Play recording (56 mins)
Recording password: uDwzie9?
Coming up in April
Managing Your Career
More information to come.
Well-Being Dimension: Intellectual & Career
Upcoming well-being learning opportunities
Learning opportunities will be presented on a monthly basis through the Well-Being Speakers Series. These sessions are organized to align with each aspect of personal well-being. Here is what you can look forward to in the coming months:
May's session will focus on the Mental/Emotional aspect of well-being and information will be presented on Trauma Informed Workplaces.
Self-paced wellness sessions
From Homewood Health: You’ve heard about the monthly live wellness sessions under our Speaker Series for Employee Well-Being. Now some of Homewood Health’s most popular Wellness Sessions have been condensed and made available as a self-directed service! Jam-packed days? These sessions are 15-30 minutes, and you can stop and start as desired. To find the sessions:
- Log into Homeweb, using VIU’s invitation code: BCI714 (note: 3 capital letters, 3 numbers).
- Then navigate your Dashboard:
- Browse Homeweb:
- Then click on the Wellness Sessions button online to find the following sessions:
- The Science of Happiness
- The Journey to Wellness: One Step at a Time
- The Fundamentals of Change and Transition
- The Art of Relaxation
- Managing your Time and Energy
- Improving Workplace communication
- Building Working Relationships
- Building Resilience
- Beyond Stigma
Physiotherapy services at VIU
Need help getting back to feeling your best? VIU offers physiotherapy services to students and employees, including education, exercise programs, and manual therapy. Book an appointment at the Health & Wellness Centre (Nanaimo campus, building 200, Floor 3) or call 250.740.6416 to learn more.
Your wellness, your voice!
Your voice matters! VIU is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our employees, and we want to hear from you.
Please take a few minutes to complete the Employee Wellness Survey, designed to better understand how you're engaging with current wellness initiatives and where we can do more. Your feedback is anonymous and will directly help shape future wellness programming, services, and supports.
Let’s work together to create a healthier, more connected workplace.
For more information on this and other well-being events, visit the RENEW pages. Questions? Email Benefits@viu.ca.