Outreach
Hokie Wellness acknowledges that healthy living is more than just your physical body. We are here to create new and unique ways of reaching out to all employees. We strive to educate all areas of wellness and provide every employee with resources her or she needs to achieve healthy living.
If you would like to join the Hokie Wellness google group, which receives monthly updates on programming, events, and more, please email your interest to hokiewellness@vt.edu
Healthy Minds Survey
The Healthy Minds Study, is designed to understand the mental health and well-being of campus employees, their perceptions of the school environment, and their experiences supporting students in distress.
On March 22, all employees with a Virginia Tech email account should receive an email from healthyminds-VirginiaTech@umich.edu inviting them to complete a mental health survey by April 18. Check your email for this message, which contains a personalized link to the confidential survey. This link should not be forwarded to others, as it is your personalized link. Completing the survey will take approximately 15 minutes.
Your responses will help improve understanding of how campuses can better support faculty, staff, and students nationally and at Virginia Tech. It will help inform decisions Virginia Tech makes about resources it provides for employees. At the end of the survey, all respondents will receive a list of local mental health resources. Responses are confidential and protected. Names and identifiers are removed, and only aggregated data will be reported.
Annual Health and Benefits Fair
As part of the university's commitment to maintaining healthy lifestyles, all employees are encouraged to start the year off right by attending the Hokie Wellness Health & Benefits Fair.
The event is free and employees are encouraged to bring their Hokie Passport to check-in. A variety of recreational activities, classes, and programs are available. Please wear comfortable clothing.
The fair's schedule includes health, wellness, and benefits exhibitors, yoga and HIIT classes, interactive activities, flu, and various other vaccinations, a bloodmobile, dental and orthodontic screenings, and much, much, more.
Exercise areas will be open to employees for use during the fair.
Koru Retreat: Half Day Mindfulness Experience
Employees and students are invited to a half-day Koru mindfulness and meditation retreat. The retreat is open to beginners and those with more experience. Future retreats will be offered in either a virtual/hybrid format or small in-person gatherings this year. Look for more information to come.
This half-day retreat is the perfect opportunity for individuals to reconnect at a time of year that is often hectic. Participants will practice meditation, yoga, and mind/body skills for relaxation and wellness, and learn skills that can enhance their immune system, concentration, energy, and ability to enjoy life.
Flu and Other Vaccination Clinics
A healthy work environment is important to Virginia Tech, and as a service to employees, the university makes it as easy as possible for employees to get flu vaccinations every year by holding flu vaccination clinics across campus, and at other Virginia Tech locations as well.
Employees just need to register for a clinic of their choice and bring their insurance card with them to the clinic. In addition to flu vaccinations, employees may also receive any of a variety of vaccinations available at the time.
Individuals who have not received a flu vaccination are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against influenza virus to develop in the body, it is best to be vaccinated before influenza begins spreading in the community.
Vaccinations are also available at most pharmacies across the state. Employees who choose to get a flu vaccination at a participating pharmacy are encouraged to call ahead to be sure that the pharmacy is participating in the Commonwealth of Virginia's flu vaccination program and that flu vaccinations are available. An appointment may be required. Flu vaccination claims must be processed by the pharmacy.
Get Vaccinated. Talk to your health care provider about annual vaccinations and immunizations. Vaccination is the best protection against contracting the flu. Everyone six months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu each year.
Take these everyday steps to protect your health and your loved ones:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100°F or 37.8°C) or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®).
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
If you do contract the flu, talk to your doctor about antivirals. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines that are used for the treatment of flu viruses; antiviral drugs can make the symptoms of the illness milder.
Other Vaccinations Clinics
Hokie Wellness will be holding clinics that offer other vaccinations when possible. The vaccinations that may be offered at one of these clinics include Shingrix, dTAP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), pneumonia, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and Hepatitis A.
Information about the clinic dates and registration will be provided via VT News campus notices.