University-Wide Initiatives

Dreams are powerful! Dreams provide drive, direction, and purpose. They can even be life changing. Healthy IU realizes pursing your dreams can sometimes be daunting, especially when life is happening all around you.  

The Dream BIG! program is designed to assist IU staff and faculty with attaining their dreams through monthly individual and group coaching support. This program will begin Spring 2026 and is a 6-month commitment. Space is limited. Learn more about the Dream Big program here.

If you are interested, please complete the Dream Big Interest form now and we will reach out to you closer to the date with more details. 

Mondays, starting August 25, 2025 
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Roehm Family Art-Making Studio (2nd floor) 

Bookmark this calendar to find Mindful Mondays HERE. 

Join us at the museum and mentally prepare for the week by making art or journaling and make some time to check in with yourself!  

The art studio will be open and equipped with art activities meant to help you feel more balanced and in control, while the nearby Martin Commons will have some yoga mats available for light stretching (when space allows.)  

Hosted by Keaton Evans-Black, Arts-Based Wellness Experiences Manager

Tuesdays, August 26 – December 16 (taking off Thanksgiving week)
Noon -12:30 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Registration for “Why We Sleep Book Club” is Closed. 

Join Registered Dietitian, Steven Lalevich, for a weekly book club via Zoom. We’ll be reading and discussing “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams”  by Matthew Walker, PhD. The first 30 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of the book.

Thursdays, August 28 - December 11 (skip Thanksgiving)
12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. (ET)
Online

No registration required! Join live, online HERE on Thursdays.
https://iu.zoom.us/j/99813946997?pwd=SWdnYkQreXNiKzBpejd1WWlNeFhnZz09

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. 

Instructor: Linda F. Brown, Ph.D., HSPP; clinical health psychologist and certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor

2 Dates Offered: 

Wednesday, September 3, 2025
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (ET)
In-Person University Library UL 1126

Register for the September 3rd Chinese Exercise class HERE  

OR

Wednesday, September 17, 2025
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (ET)
In-Person University Library UL 1126

Register for the September 17th Chinese Exercise class HERE  

These two sessions feature simple whole-body movements drawn from traditional Chinese exercises and incorporate principles of traditional Chinese medicine.

Instructor: Jing Wang Associate Professor IUI, World Languages and Cultures 

Wednesday, September 17, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (ET)
Online 

Registration is closed.

This is a professional development workshop designed to foster inclusive, supportive, and empowering work environments for neurodivergent individuals. Led by Dr. Rebecca S. Martinez and hosted by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, the session will emphasize the strengths of neurodiverse employees and provide actionable strategies for human resource practices, workplace design, and interpersonal relationships. The workshop will equip participants with tools to build a workplace culture where neurodivergent individuals can thrive authentically and meaningfully. 

Instructor: Rebecca Martinez, PhD, HSPP

Monday, September 22, 2025
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Registration is closed

Tobacco use has evolved, and young people (and adults) today are using products you might not even know about—like vapes, heat-not-burn devices, and nicotine pouches (e.g., Zyn). Led by a tobacco expert, this workshop will dive into what these products are, how they work, and why they’re so addictive. You’ll learn about the serious health risks, the cost of addiction, and the growing popularity of these products among youth, and why ongoing legislation matters so much in this space. This session will arm you with knowledge to know what/how to ask about or listen for regarding modern tobacco and how to have conversations with young people (or others) in your life about it. 

Instructor: Deborah Hudson Buckles, CPAHA, NCNTT; Tobacco Control Branch Lead; Office of Community Outreach and Engagement Project; Director, Rethink Tobacco Indiana; Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Wednesday, September 24, 2025
9:00 a.m. - Noon (ET)
Online 

Registration is closed

This training is recommended for people leaders. This training will help leaders create an emotionally safe place to work and build a resilient work culture for their teams. Participants 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 illustrate how everyone at all levels can work together to build an environment that fosters camaraderie, productivity, and calm. 

Those who attend the session can receive a free copy of the book "Anxiety at Work: 8 Strategies to Help Teams Build Resilience, Handle Uncertainty, and Get Stuff Done" by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton through campus mail after the training. Limited number of books remain, and information will be collected after the training. The books will be distrubuted on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.

This training will not be recorded to allow for a more comfortable environment for attendees to engage with the content. 

Instructors: Catherine Matthews, JD, Ph.D., Sr. Consultant, Talent and Organization Development, IU Human Resources; Sara Kinder, MSW, LCSW, Work + Life Coordinator for Healthy IU, IU Human Resources

Friday, September 26, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online

Register for Good Sleep Practices HERE.  

This presentation covers essential sleep practices to improve sleep quality and health. It explores tips for creating a sleep-friendly environment, establishing consistent routines, improving daily habits that affect sleep, and addressing common sleep challenges.  

Instructor: Stephanie Stahl, MD   

Dr. Stephanie Stahl is a sleep medicine physician and neurologist at Indiana University Health and an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Clinical Medicine at Indiana University. She serves in several other roles, including the Program Director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship program at Indiana University School of Medicine and the Vice Chair of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Education Committee. 

Wednesday, September 29, 2025
Noon - 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online

Register for Motivate, Recognize, and Energize Employees HERE. 

This EAP presentation discusses how motivation and recognition lead to increased productivity and will provide techniques to motivate employees and managers. Topics covered include self-care, positive psychology, resiliency, laughter and more.  

Provided by Supportlinc EAP

Tuesday, September 30, 2025
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for QPR HERE.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. 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. What will you learn? 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 a live, virtual Zoom session led by an IUB Prevention Insights instructor. 

Wednesdays, October 1 – November 19, 2025 (8 weeks)
Noon-1:00 p.m. (ET) 

Register for Mindful Way to Stress Reduction HERE. 

This 8-week online course introduces mindfulness to effectively manage stress, improve relationship quality, and build capacity for healthy habits. It is an adaption of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a program established through research as the gold standard in mindfulness training created by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. 

This program focuses on: 

• Recognizing and addressing stressful situations effectively “on the spot”
• Managing chronic stress
• Improving focus and communication
• Enhancing mind-body wellness

The first session on Oct 1 is an orientation during which participants get a taste of what the course is like before committing to continue with the remaining seven sessions. The class is free to employees who are willing to commit to attend the weekly sessions. Spouses on an IU medical plan are also eligible. 

Facilitator: Linda F. Brown, PhD, HSPP, clinical psychologist and certified MBSR instructor 

Monday, October 6, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online

Register for Sleep and Work HERE.  

Employees across the globe report getting less than the recommended eight hours of sleep, and we’re becoming increasingly sleep-deprived over the years. In 1942, getting eight hours of sleep was the norm. Today, the global average is just 6 hours and 45 minutes. But employees and managers are supposed to burn the midnight oil, right? Join us to learn more about the impact of sleep deprivation on work and leadership. 

Instructor:  Cristiano Guarana, PhD  

Cristiano L. Guarana is an Associate Professor of Business Administration and Arthur M. Weimer Faculty Fellow in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship at Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. He received his PhD in Management in 2015 from the University of Washington and worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Virginia for two years. Prof. Guarana’s research examines how leaders and followers limited attentional resources affect decisions, relationships, and behaviors in complex organizational contexts.

Friday, October 10, 2025
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for QPR Training HERE.  

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) is an evidenced-based skills training program to reduce suicide. This is an online, 2-hour training to help recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. The skills in this program can be applied to prevent suicide deaths within your work and larger community and amongst family and friends. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Learn data and statistics regarding suicide data 
• Understand the common myths and facts surrounding suicidal behavior 
• Understand risk factors of suicide and knowledge of protective factors 
• Recognize and identify warning signs that someone is at risk for suicide 
• Increase knowledge of referral sources and how to refer someone for help 
• Demonstrate implementation of the progressive QPR steps 

Those who attend the full training and complete a survey with their campus mailing address after will receive a QPR booklet and additional materials through campus mail. This training will not be recorded. 

Instructor: Sara Kinder, MSW, LCSW, Work + Life Coordinator for Healthy IU, IU Human Resources 

Thursday, October 16, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for “Are You Really Driving to Florida Alone??” HERE.

In this session, we will discuss how to communicate with and for our aging loved one. 

1. Brief explanation of aging process and its impact
2. Factors that indicate parents are in need of additional help or there is a need to pursue evaluation for dementia, anxiety, depression, etc.
3. Common issues that arise for discussion- having difficult conversations

Instructor: Marcy Carlson has a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) 

Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Noon – 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for Intro to Macros HERE.   

Low fat or low carb?  How much protein do I really need? We’ll tackle these questions and more, as we unpack what macronutrients are and why they matter for your health and energy.   

Instructor: Steven Lalevich, RD

Thursday, October 23, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for “Improv” Your Autumn HERE  

As the seasons shift, it’s the perfect time to slow down, let go, and reset. This fall, try a few playful exercises from the world of improv—a practice that offers more than just laughs. In this supportive, no-pressure session, you’ll explore simple techniques to quiet your inner critic, release tension, and reconnect with joy. No acting experience needed—just come as you are and leave feeling refreshed. 

Instructor: Dawn Wisher, Teaching Professor and General Mills Distinguished Teaching Professor

Monday, October 27, 2025
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ET) 

In-Person:
IUB Wellness House, Large Conference Room
625 N. Eagleson Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47405

Register for MHFA HERE.   

This 8-hour certification course teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. 

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. 

Note: This is a full-day, in-person training. Partial attendance is not an option. Plan to pack a lunch or purchase something on campus. 

Offered by the IUB Health Center in partnership with Healthy IU and Public Safety. 

Instructors: Peyton Jeffers and Rebecca Gilbert 

Monday, October 27, 2025
Noon - 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for Effective Communication Skills for Supervisors HERE. 

This EAP presentation will explore different communication styles and critical communication skills, including reflective listening and providing feedback.  

Presented by Supportlinc EAP 

Wednesday, October 29, 2025
11:00 a.m. – Noon (ET)
Online 

Register for Honoring the Birth Experience HERE. 

Childbirth is often portrayed as a joyful and empowering event—but for many, it can also be deeply overwhelming, unexpected, or traumatic. This workshop creates a supportive space to explore expectations and experiences that can come with the emotional and mental health impacts of birth, including experiences of trauma that can affect both birthing people and their partners. 

Together, we will: 

• Learn about the range of normal birth experiences and why birth can sometimes feel traumatic 
• Recognize how witnessing complications during labor and delivery can impact partners and support people 
• Discuss perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and how they may show up in the postpartum period 
• Explore tools for emotional healing, including how to write a healing birth story 
• Connect with a variety of resources, including national support through Postpartum Support International (PSI), self-guided recovery tools, and mental health resources available through IUSM 

Whether you're expecting, a new parent, a partner, a support person, or someone who has given birth (no matter when it was), this workshop offers education, validation, and connection as you navigate your birth story and the transition into parenthood. The session will close with small breakout groups—offering space for reflection and optional connection with others who may relate to your journey. 

Instructor: Michelle L. Miller, PhD, HSPP; Department of Psychiatry; Indiana University School of Medicine 

Tuesday, November 18, 2025
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Online 

Register for Blue Winter: Time for Grief & Pain with the Holidays HERE. 

The holidays do not bring a season of joy for everyone. For many, this time can bring additional pain and: serve as a reminder of grief for someone or something that has gone or changed, elevate family dysfunction or difficulty, increase loneliness, bring additional stress and/or financial hardship, increase seasonal depression, and much more. If this resonates with you, we invite you to join us to honor and give space to the pain, grief, and sadness ahead of the holidays, in community together.  

This service will be pluralistic with the intent to be inclusive and welcoming to all. Tips for coping with grief and pain during the holidays will be shared and there will be an opportunity at the end to connect in smaller groups to reduce the isolation of this grief, pain, and sadness.  

There will be opportunities for sharing and turning on cameras, without any pressure to do so. You can participate to whatever degree is most comfortable to you; however, due to the vulnerable nature of this session, it will not be recorded. This service will last up to but no longer than one hour. 

Instructors:  

- Lynel A Beaty, DMin., MDiv. BCC - Certified Grief Coach and Advanced Grief Recovery Specialist 

- Sara Kinder, MSW, LCSW - Work + Life Coordinator, Healthy IU 

Monday, December 1, 2025
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (ET)

In-Person:
Ott Building Conference Room 215
992 Indiana Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202 

Register for MHFA HERE. 

This 8-hour certification course teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. 

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. 

Note: This is a full-day, in-person training. Partial attendance is not an option. Plan to pack a lunch or purchase something on campus. 

Offered by the IUB Health Center in partnership with Healthy IU and Public Safety. 

Instructors: Peyton Jeffers and Rebecca Gilbert 

Friday, December 5, 2025
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Online 

If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for the December 5^th Adult Virtual Mental Health First Aid Training, please follow this link: 

https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eExhPq68j1hjd0W

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour certification course that provides information on how to assist someone experiencing a mental health concern and practices how to approach a crisis until professional help can arrive.  

This training is a live, virtual Zoom session led by IUB Prevention Insights instructors. Prior to attending the live training, participants must complete a two hour, online, self-paced course.  

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. 

Instructor:  IUB Prevention Insights

Care Talks, by Care.com, provide advice and guidance from expert speakers to help you better care for yourself and your family. You must first create a free premium care.com account in order to register for these webinars.

There are seven monthly Care Talks on the following themes:

1. Child Care and Parenting
2. Disability and Neurodiversity
3. Aging and Adult Care
4. Financial Wellness
5. Your healthy Lifestyle
6. Emotional Wellness
7. Succeed at Work

Click to see the monthly Care Talks

Watch these free, pre-recorded sessions of EAP’s most popular topics. 

Sign up to receive access to the recordings.

• New Year's Resolutions

• Motivate, Recognize and Energize Employees

• Emotional Eating

• Benefits of Exercise

• Mental Health First Aid and R U OK?: Overview for the Workplace

• Sleep Basics

• Life-Blend

• Healthy Relationships: Developing Supportive Connections

• Building Resilience for Optimal Performance

• Stress Management

• Holiday Survival Guide

• Building Better Mental Health

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.

Access the learning library here.

Looking for ways to develop your career path, improve communication, or supervise your team more effectively? We work to inspire employees, develop leaders, and build organizational effectiveness across all IU campuses. Unique virtual and in-person learning events are held throughout the academic year.

SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP), administered by CuraLinc Healthcare, is a confidential resource that provides 24/7 access to professional counseling and referrals.

Learn more about EAP here.

Offered throughout the year, excluding June & July. Sessions last approximately 1 hour.

Learn more about 1:1 Nutrition Counseling here.

Whether you have pre-diabetes, diabetes, or simply want to focus on prevention, there are resources at every stage.

Learn more about Diabetes Management here.

These webinars are designed to increase financial literacy while focusing on actionable steps to develop healthier financial habits. Open to all ages and career stages.

Learn more about the financial wellness series here.

These webinars are targeted to IU faculty and staff who are ready to learn how to prepare for the years and months leading up to retirement and navigate the transition from employee to retiree.

Learn more about Road to Retirement series here.

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!

Learn more about tobacco cessation here.

The IU Police Department’s two-hour self-defense training is available in-person to any group at any IU campus. 

Complete this online form to request a training for your group.

Save a life with the Heartsaver First Aid, CPR/AED level for Adult, Child, and Infant training. Training is in-person and approximately 7 hours. There is a $20.25 fee for the class. If you have questions or would like to request a training for your specific campus/group, please email the instructor, Amanda Owens.

The Citizen Opioid Responders (COR) program is designed for all Indiana University campuses and adjacent communities. This program offers a brief, free online training for individuals interested in learning how to safely and effectively administer naloxone/Narcan. If you’re interested in becoming a lifesaver, visit go.iu.edu/stopoverdose.