May is Mental Health Awareness Month
This May, we are joining the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for the 75th annual Mental Health Week (May 4 to 10). This year’s theme, "Come Together, Canada," highlights that social connection is essential to our well-being.
Connection doesn't have to be a big gesture; it can be as simple as:
- Checking in with a quick text to a colleague or friend.
- Grabbing a coffee or sharing a meal together.
- Starting an honest conversation about how you're really doing.
We encourage everyone to take small, everyday actions to strengthen belonging within the VIU Community.
Workplace Boundaries: Types, Challenges & Impact (Webinar)
Struggling to say no or manage your workload? This session explores what healthy workplace boundaries look like, why they matter for your mental well-being, and how to strengthen them. Learn to recognize when boundaries are slipping and gain practical tools to reset them.
May 7 at 8:00 am (part 1 of a 2-part series)
Self-Care and Workplace Wellness (Webinar)
Looking for simple ways to manage stress and stay energized at work? This session explores practical self-care strategies you can build into your day, along with tips for setting boundaries and navigating demanding schedules.
May 13 at 8:00 am
SafeTALK Workshop
This workshop will help you recognize when someone may need support with thoughts of suicide and how to respond with confidence and care. FREE for all VIU employees!
May 27, 9:00 am to 1:00pm
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.
Upcoming 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
May 21, 4 to 5:15 pm
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.
May 14, 6 to 7:15 pm
May 19, 10 to 11:15 am
May 29, 2 to 3:15 pm
Join waiting list for Approaching Retirement webinars
Municipal Pension Plan - Choosing your pension option
May 14, 1 to 1:45 pm
May 26, 10 to 10:45 am
Sign up for Choosing y our Pension Option webinar
Municipal Pension Plan - Making the most of your pension webinar
May 29, 10 to 11:15 am
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.