University-Wide Programs & Services
The IU Culture of Connection Challenge is now closed. Hope you can join next time!
Purpose
The U.S. Surgeon General Advisory Report has declared loneliness and social isolation an epidemic. Social connections are a fundamental human need and directly impact well-being. When positive social connections improve on an individual level, it also has a positive effect in our workplace and communities. Join the IU Culture of Connection challenge and improve your wellbeing while also making the world a little brighter!
Learn more about the IU Culture of Connection Challenge now.
Offered throughout the year, excluding June & July
Sessions last approx. 1 hour
E-mail askanrd@indiana.edu to schedule an appointment
If you have questions about food, we have answers. Our wonderful registered dietitian (RD) can help you develop a plan to achieve your health goals. Sessions include personalized nutrition education on any topic of interest, including weight loss, heart-healthy eating, digestive health, and more. One-on-one nutritional counseling is available at no charge for all IU employees, their spouses on an IU-sponsored medical plan, and IU retirees by appointment.
2 Options Available!
Mondays, January 8-April 29, 2024 (skipping MLK Day and the week of Spring break March 11th )
12:30-1:00 p.m. (ET) / 11:30-Noon (CT)
Live online at: https://iu.zoom.us/j/4827247576
Facilitator: Leslie Flowers
These sessions practice the relaxation tools of conscious breathing, meditation, and chair yoga.
Thursdays, January 11-May 2, 2024 (skipping week of March 11 for Spring Break)
12:15-12:45 p.m. (ET) / 11:15–11:45 a.m. (CT)
Live online at https://iu.zoom.us/j/99813946997?pwd=SWdnYkQreXNiKzBpejd1WWlNeFhnZz09
Facilitator: Linda F. Brown, PhD, HSPP; clinical health psychologist and certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor
You are warmly welcome to participate in these 30-minute sessions that include 15 to 20 minutes of guided mindfulness meditation practice plus a short reading about mindfulness. This is offered on a drop-in basis; you can join us whenever it fits your needs and/or circumstances, no advance notice required. We hope you will benefit from this span of stillness to relax and refocus in the midst of your workday. Participants are muted throughout the session; we encourage you to have cameras on to create a sense of community.
Tuesdays, January 23-April 30, 2024
Noon-12:30 p.m. (ET)
Online
Register for Nutrition Nuggets Now
Join Registered Dietitian Steven Lalevich on Tuesdays for a nutrition conversation via Zoom. Each week, we’ll explore a nutrition topic and open up the dialogue for Q&A. No need to attend every session; join us when you can.
Wednesdays, January 24-February 28
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET) / 10:00-11:00 a.m. (CT)
Online
This class is full.
We are all good at attending to the needs of those around us, but we are often very hard on ourselves. And that is a set up for things like burnout, stress, and resentment. Research shows that people who adopt self-compassion practices have less depression and anxiety and are more likely to experience positive mind states like happiness and life satisfaction. Mindful Self-Compassion is a training developed by Kristen Neff, Ph.D., of the University of Texas at Austin, and Christopher Germer, Ph.D., of Harvard. Please join us for this chance to re-learn how to include yourself in your own circle of caring.
The course provides a number of ways to bring self-compassion into even the most stressful moments. Here is a breakdown of the sessions:
- Session 1: Exploring what self-compassion is and seeing how it does or does not show up for us, and then looking at ways to cultivate it.
- Session 2: Seeing how to bring more self-compassion into our lives with simple, easy to implement practices that can be done in the moment.
- Session 3: Looking at ways to work with the inner critic and to find our inner compassionate voice.
- Session 4: Using self-compassion to work with difficult emotions.
- Session 5: Investigating caregiver fatigue and burnout, and how self-compassion can remind us to offer care to ourselves as we attend to the needs of others.
- Session 6: Exploring the importance of our core values, and how self-compassion can help when we can’t completely live in alignment with those values. We will also look at the resources available to maintain a self-compassion practice.
Facilitator: Jonathan Walker, MD; Clinical Assistant Professor, Indiana University School of Medicine, Fort Wayne; Certified Mindfulness Facilitator, International Mindfulness Teacher's Association
Thursday, January 25, 2024
10:30 a.m – 11:30 a.m. (ET)
Online
This class is full.
Join us for an interactive session where we explore improvisation techniques, borrowed from the world of acting and comedy, to enhance social connections in both work and life.
Meet new people, practice active listening, build community—all while having fun! No performance pressure; just authentic connections and a chance to hone valuable people skills in a supportive environment. Come and cultivate connections with us!
Instructor:
Dawn Wisher is a Senior Lecturer in Business Communication for the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington. She teaches Business Presentations in the undergraduate program and an Applied Improvisation class in IU’s Hutton Honors College. Dawn is a member of the Association of Business Communicators and the Applied Improvisation Network.
Thursdays, January 25 – May 9, 2024
11:00 a.m. – Noon (ET)
Online
This class is currently full. For more information or to be added to the waitlist, please email Betty Klein bkklein@iupui.edu.
"Prevent Type 2 Diabetes" is a proven program to prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. If you're looking for guidance and support with making small lifestyle changes to prevent Type 2 diabetes, this program is for you!
In this program, you will learn strategies that fit YOUR life in an expert-led, confidential, small-group setting. Examples of sessions in this 16-week program:
Simple lifestyle changes resulting in a healthy you
Food choices that energize you and meet your goals
Group motivation and individual mentoring
Note: This program is intended for those with pre-diabetes or those at high risk. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, learn more about the diabetes management program available through IU's prescription benefit. Find additional resources for living with diabetes on the CDC website.
Instructor: Klein, Betty, CCWS,
Health and Wellness Specialist
Orientation
Friday, January 26
Noon.-1:00 p.m. (ET) / 11:00-Noon (CT)
Online
Classes
Fridays, February 2-March 8
Noon.-1:00 p.m. (ET) / 11:00-Noon (CT)
Online
This class is full.
A growing body of research has shown that mindfulness meditation practice improves concentration and focus and may lead to greater well-being, less reactivity to stress, and fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.
IU staff and faculty who attended this class have said:
- “The class is absolutely wonderful—and for me, life-changing.”
- “I can find inner peace through the techniques learned in this class that brings me a renewed sense of energy!”
- “This course has helped me realize what is most important and foremost in my life. All the other things are very small in comparison.”
- “I am so grateful for this opportunity—expert guidance, supportive work environmentWhat I am learning extends way beyond my work at IU; this class is giving me the tools I need to be a calmer, more focused and aware wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend—a calmer, more focused and aware me.”
This program focuses on:
- Recognizing and addressing stressful situations effectively “on the spot”
- Managing chronic stress
- Improving focus and communication
- Enhancing mind-body wellness
Employees are invited to the orientation, which is the first session, to assess if this class meets their needs. The class is free to IU employees committed to attending the weekly sessions. The class is an adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, the program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts.
Facilitator: Leslie Flowers
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
11:00 a.m.- Noon (ET)
Online
Register for the Sex Talk for Families Now
For many parents, thinking through how and when to talk with their children about puberty, bodies, and sexuality can feel daunting especially in today’s world, when so much has changed in terms of technology, sexuality, and gender. Fortunately, we can all learn to be askable, approachable parents/caregivers when it comes to these conversations even if our own parents did not talk with us about sexuality.
Instructors: Debra Herbenick, PhD.; Deb Getz, Re.D.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Online
OR
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
9:00 a.m. – Noon (ET)
Online
Register for the Building a Resilient Team Webinar Now
This virtual training shares strategies and resources for building an emotionally safe workplace and a resilient team. Leaders will learn how to spot rising anxiety levels among their team members; ease the concerns of employees who are overwhelmed or worried about the future and engage in effective conversations about emotions in uncertain times. This training will also illustrate how team members at all levels can work together to build an environment that fosters camaraderie, productivity, and calm. Each participant will receive a complimentary copy of the book, "Anxiety in the Workplace," by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. NOTE: To attend this 3-hour training, please select ONE scheduled date when registering.
Presented by: Betty Klein, CCWS, Health & Wellness Specialist, Healthy IU &
Catherine Matthews, JD, Ph.D., Sr. Consultant, Talent and Organization Development, IU Human Resources
Tuesdays: February 27 -April 23
Noon – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online - Register for the Tuesday Gratitude Sessions Now
Wednesdays: February 28 -April 24
Noon – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online - Register for the Wednesday Gratitude Sessions Now
Thursdays: February 29 -April 25
Noon – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online - Register for the Thursday Gratitude Sessions Now
*Note this is a partnership for an IU research program.
Gratitude is positively associated with better physical health, improved relationships, and greater life satisfaction. Although most people believe that it’s important to be grateful, practicing gratitude consistently is considerably harder for many of us.
The Gratitude Group Program was developed by Dr. Joel Wong, an IU professor of counseling psychology, to address the how of gratitude – practical strategies to cultivate gratitude in our lives. The program is conducted entirely via Zoom in small groups of about 8-10 members. Group activities include brief lectures, experiential activities, group sharing, and journaling. Each group consists of about 8-10 members. Homework includes daily gratitude journaling. Groups will be facilitated by graduate students from the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology.
Guidelines for participation:
- Open to IU staff and student academic appointees. (Note that IU undergraduate and graduate students may also be invited to participate in these groups.)
- Commit to attending all 8 group sessions.
- Commit to online group-based daily gratitude journaling homework.
- We encourage participants to keep their video cameras on during the duration of the meetings.
- Research participation: Dr. Wong and his research team will be conducting research on the group program: this will involve completing a few brief online surveys before the first group meeting and after each group session.
In addition, all sessions will be video recorded. Group members will need to consent to participating in this research study (completing the brief surveys and video recording) to join the Gratitude Group Program.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Online
Register for the Momentum Webinar Now
We tend to think that making changes to how we eat or move requires a lot of motivation. So when we’re not feeling motivated … what are we supposed to do? Are we just stuck until we somehow “find” motivation?
This webinar will introduce a new way to think about making changes: rather than relying on motivation, we should focus on building momentum. Join us to learn more!
Hosted by WW Weight Watchers
Many people don't understand that substance and alcohol use disorder are complex medical conditions that can change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, they are treatable, and access to the appropriate resources can facilitate support and recovery. This EAP training is designed to guide you in seeking help for yourself, a colleague, or a loved one facing such challenges.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
11:30 am - 12:30 pm (ET) / 10:30 am-11:30 am (CT)
Online
Register for EAP Webinar Now to receive your link.
Instructor:
Suzy Clausen, MS, LPC, SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Online
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying “Yes” to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor.
What will you learn?
- How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
- How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
- The common causes of suicidal behavior
- The warning signs of suicide
- How to get help for someone in crisis
This training is offered by IU Prevention Insights.
Friday, March 1, 2024
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET)
Online
What is Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)? MHFA is an 8-hour course that provides information on how to assist someone experiencing a mental health concern and practices how to approach a crisis in the appropriate manner until professional help can arrive.
What will you learn?
- Signs and symptoms of mental health disorders. How to reduce stigma
- The impact of trauma and addiction
- How to support a person with a mental health disorder and connect them to care
- How to recognize, react and respond to mental health issues and crisis
Who should attend? This training is tailored for individuals that live or work in Allen, Boone, Carroll, Clinton, Fayette, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Scott, Tippecanoe, and/ or White County and interacts with adults in the general population.
This training is a live, virtual Zoom session. Prior to attending the live training, participants must complete a two – hour, online, self-paced course.
This training is provided by IU Prevention Insights.
Wednesday, March 6
11:00 a.m. – Noon
Indiana Memorial Union – State Room East
Register for Self-Defense Now
Eligibility: IU faculty & staff.
Join us for this interactive self-defense class! Learn how you can protect yourself and others around you. This class will focus on mindset, situational awareness, as well as how to avoid being a victim by using physical tactics to defend yourself if attacked. Please wear comfortable shoes for practice.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (ET) (1/2 hour lunch break included)
Ott Building, 992 Indiana Ave, Room
This class is Full
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an 8-hour course that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Much like Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency lifesaving training, MHFA training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
This training is provided by IU Public Safety and Institutional Assurance (PSIA).
Instructors: Laury Flint and James Vastag
Questions: Please contact PSIA at 812-855-2004.
Other Programs
Care Talks, by Care.com, provide advice and guidance from expert speakers to help you better care for yourself and your family.
There are four (4) Care Talks per month across seven themes:
- Confident Parenting
- Raising Children with Disabilities
- Caring for Aging Loved Ones
- Financial Wellness
- Your healthy Lifestyle
- Emotional Wellness
- Succeed at Work
Watch these free, pre-recorded sessions of EAP’s most popular topics.
Sign up to receive access to the recordings.
January - Healthy Habits: New Year's Resolutions
February - Resiliency: Building Resilience for Optimal Performance
March - Addiction Awareness: Understanding Addiction
April - Empathy: Compassion Fatigue
May - Mental Health 101: R U OK Overview for the Workplace
June - Understanding Diversity: Understanding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: What They Really Mean
July - Workplace Stress: Dealing with Difficult People
August - School-Life Balance: Navigating Return to School
September - Grief and Loss: Coping with Grief
October - Depression: Understanding Depression
November - Holiday Mental Health: Holiday Survival Guide
December - Boundaries: Healthy Workplace Relationships & Developing Supportive Connection
Learning to provide current IU staff, faculty, and students with access to an online library of more than 15,000 expert-led video tutorial and courses. Expand and improve your business, technology and creative skills on your schedule, from any device, anywhere.
If you are interested in accessing pre-recorded webinars on one of the following topics, please contact Healthy IU at healthyu@iu.edu.
Topics include:
- Parenting
- Breastfeeding and Maternal Health
- Aging and Caregiving Support
- Mental Health and Substance Use
- Belonging
- Work + Life Navigation
- Menopause
- Compassion Culture and Self-Compassion
Year Round Programs
SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP), administered by CuraLinc Healthcare, is a confidential resource that provides 24/7 access to professional counseling and referrals.
IU is excited to offer WW as a covered benefit, year-round, at no cost to you! Core and Premium options are available.
Offered throughout the year, excluding June & July. Sessions last approximately 1 hour.
Whether you have pre-diabetes, diabetes, or simply want to focus on prevention, there are resources at every stage.
Livongo, available at no cost to IU medical plan members, helps you manage hypertension using a smart blood pressure monitor, personalized action plan, and expert coaching.
Learn more Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Management here
Tobacco Quitline
As many tobacco users know, kicking the habit is not easy. But success rates increase with every attempt to quit. There are resources and support systems to help you quit tobacco!
Check out our events calendar!
Explore upcoming programs from Healthy IU, IU Human Resources, and our benefits vendors on our Events Calendar.