MindSpring webinars
Aging & Mental Health: Understanding Emotional Well-Being, Connection, and Support in Later Life
Aging brings meaningful strengths—wisdom, perspective, and resilience—but it can also introduce emotional challenges that are often misunderstood or overlooked. Explore how mental health changes across the lifespan, how aging-related transitions can affect emotional well-being, and how individuals, families, and communities can respond with awareness, compassion, and practical support. Participants will learn how mental health conditions may look different in older adults, why concerns such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, and grief are frequently under-recognized, and how physical health, social connection, and generational attitudes all influence emotional well-being. The course emphasizes realistic expectations, respectful communication, and early support strategies that promote dignity, independence, and quality of life.
July 1 at 8 am
Understanding Hoarding: Beyond Clutter
Hoarding disorder is a complex mental health condition rooted in anxiety, distorted thinking, and difficulty making decisions. Explore why letting go can feel overwhelming, how hoarding affects safety and relationships, and what effective treatment involves. We’ll also cover animal hoarding and its unique challenges. Participants will learn the key signs of hoarding disorder in easy-to-understand terms & discuss ways for loved ones to support without making things worse. Gain a clearer, more compassionate understanding of hoarding disorder – and practical insights to help reduce frustration & promote safety.
July 1 at 10 am
Navigating Divorce: Key Considerations and Communicating with Kids
While staying together for the sake of the children may seem like the right choice, research shows that an unhealthy or unhappy marriage can negatively impact children’s emotional health. Discuss the implications of staying together for the kids, trial separation, addressing blame, and how to tell your children about the divorce with a licensed therapist. Part 1 in a 4-part series.
July 13 at 10 am
Understanding Toxic Relationships
Toxic relationships are characterized by controlling, manipulative, or abusive behaviors that slowly wear away at a person's self-worth, self-esteem, and overall happiness. Learn to recognize the signs of a toxic relationship and discuss communication skills, accountability, and personal boundaries with a licensed therapist.
July 14 at 10 am
Responding to Difficult Behaviour with Confidence
Understanding why difficult behaviour is on the rise and what’s really happening beneath the surface changes the way we respond to challenging customers. Discuss the causes and types of difficult behavior in the workplace and learn practical tools for emotional regulation and boundary setting using real-life examples, so you’ll feel confident knowing what to say and how to say it. This course offers actionable insights and strategies to help you navigate challenging interactions with greater ease and resilience.
July 15 at 8 am
Setting Healthy Boundaries in Relationships
Maintaining a balance between caring for loved ones and setting healthy boundaries for yourself can be challenging. Learn how to express your own needs without guilt, strike a healthy balance between caregiving and self-care, and tips for negotiating compromises with a licensed therapist.
July 15 at 10 am
MindWell webinars
Well-being self-assessment
New on MindWell platform
This interactive tool provides individuals with a personal snapshot of their well-being across 12 key dimensions, including physical activity, nutrition, mood, thoughts, and social connection.
Participants can retake the Self-Assessment over time to track progress and see how their well-being evolves. We’ll be in touch soon with customized resources to help you share the tool across your organization and maximize its impact.
The Better Brain Diet: Eating for Mental Health and Peak Performance
Renowned Canadian mental health pioneer Dr. Bonnie Kaplan and MindWell Founder, Dr. Geoff Soloway, walk you through simple, science-backed nutrition strategies that support mental clarity, lower stress, and improve performance.
Pension Plan Webinars
An overview of the retirement process. Explore the decisions ahead, maximize your health coverage and manage your pension application.
College Pension Plan - Approaching retirement webinar
There are currently no upcoming dates for this event. Check back soon.
Sign up for Approaching Retirement webinar
Municipal Pension Plan - Approaching retirement webinar
Explore key insights on retirement decisions, such as pension calculation, eligibility, choosing the best pension option, and more in this 75-minute webinar. Webinars are hosted using Zoom. Learn about your pension in a live, instructor-led session. Select the date and time below to register.
June 29, 10 to 11:15 am
July 7, 1 to 2:15 pm
July 20, 10 to 11:15 am
August 11, 12 to 1:15 pm
Sign up for Approaching Retirement webinars
Municipal Pension Plan - Choosing your pension option
July 16, 2 to 2:45 pm
August 7, 10 to 10:45 am
Sign up for Choosing your Pension Option webinar
Municipal Pension Plan - Making the most of your pension webinar
July 21, 1 to 2:15 pm
August 20, 2 to 3:15 pm
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?
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.