The Employee Assistance Program offers eight support groups for NIU employees. Each support group communicates with its members through a listserv and face-to-face meetings. An Employee Assistance Professional serves as a moderator for each group. As you are coping with your difficult situation, you may find the “Coping Series” helpful.
Privacy is important in all support groups. It is up to you how much you choose to share on the listserv and in face-to-face meetings. Confidentiality will be discussed at the beginning of each semester. As each NIU employee joins the listserv you are encouraged to have a discussion on confidentiality.
All of the support groups, except weight watchers, are offered only to NIU employees. New members will be accepted into the listserv support group by an Employee Assistance moderator. The weight watchers support group is open to the NIU community.
The coping series has additional information related to these support groups and other life challenges.
The Cancer Support Group meets on the third Thursday of every month in the Holmes Student Center room 703. A cancer diagnosis triggers many fears and at the same time you immediately are making multiple decisions about your treatment. A support group is a place to talk with others about the types of treatment they considered and chose as well as the experiences that they had at different treatment centers. As you go through treatment, sharing your responses with others and hearing others experiences helps with coping during a challenging time. Cancer is a part of your life experience and everyone continues to have responses to follow-up treatment and other experiences that may trigger the initial fears and concerns you had when you were first diagnosed. In addition to group meeting discussions, presentations will be offered as determined by the group.
Information about the cancer listserv support group:
http://essmail.ess.niu.edu/mailman/listinfo/cancer
The Elder Care Support Group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the Holmes Student Center room 703. Caring for your aging loved one as their ability to care for themselves declines is very difficult for both of you. Facing these on going changes increases the need for the elder loved one to let go and for you to begin to take on more responsibility. Finding the right resources and making the necessary decisions for your situation can be overwhelming and challenging. A support group is a place to share your challenges and to learn about resources from others and community providers of services. In addition to group meeting discussions, presentations will be offered as determined by the group.
Information about the elder care listserv support group:
http://essmail.ess.niu.edu/mailman/listinfo/eldercare
The Grief Support Group meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Holmes Student Center room 703. Any significant life loss through the death of a loved one, divorce, separation, loss of your health, a job, or a pet causes grief for the person who experienced the loss. Each person’s loss is different and each person’s grief journey is unique, yet the process of grieving is similar regardless of what you have lost. Grieving a significant loss does not happen quickly. It takes time to accept the loss and the many feelings related to your loss. As you grieve you experience different phases as you move forward. Our culture does not understand that any loss triggers grief and that grief, regardless of what you lost does not end quickly. After a few months, people will expect you to be over your grief. A simple grief takes at least three years although the intensity of your response does begin to lessen. A Grief Support Group is a place to go to share your experiences with people who understand that dealing with your grief takes time. In addition to group meeting discussions, presentations will be offered as determined by the group.
Information about the grief support listserv support group:
http://essmail.ess.niu.edu/mailman/listinfo/grief
The NIU EAP Losing Weight Support Group is offered primarily on the EAP listserv and is moderated by an Employee Assistance professional. All NIU employees and retirees who have any experience losing weight or who have experience with the challenges of losing weight are invited to join this listserv. This listserv support group provides support to assist you in following your weight loss plan. New research on losing weight has found that having a computer support group helps increase your commitment to losing weight and individuals lose more weight. This listserv becomes a place to share your struggles and sharing your struggles on the listserv may encourage you to maintain your eating plan.
This support group listserv is separate from Weight Watchers computer weight loss program and the Weight Watchers at Work meeting at NIU. Throughout the year you may receive information about when the Weight Watchers at Work program is forming a new session.
Information about the loosing weight listserv support group:
http://essmail.ess.niu.edu/mailman/listinfo/wgtwatchers
