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Well-Being at Northwestern

The term “well-being” encompasses overall health, happiness, and prosperity. It is affected by many aspects of one’s life. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs encourages all postdoctoral fellows to make their mental, physical, and emotional well-being a priority. Our hope is for postdocs to feel better equipped when attending to all aspects of their well-being during their time at Northwestern and beyond. 

Key campus resources to help support you in this endeavor during your time at Northwestern can be found below. To find additional well-being resources available to you as a postdoc at Northwestern, please use the tool found on the Professional Development webpage to search and sort all campus opportunities. Those looking for supportive community environments can also find more information on the Affinity Groups page of this website.

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs organizes regular workshops and events to support the well-being of the postdoctoral community at Northwestern. Details about these events can be found in the OPA Wire and on the Announcements page of this site.

Employee Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program provides all Northwestern postdoctoral fellows and their families with a network of service including short-term counseling with a local, licensed counselor and unlimited, 24/7 telephonic counseling. This service is free of charge.

YourLife wellness programs

YourLife, sponsored by Northwestern Human Relations, provides a variety of programs, services, discounts, and resources to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

NU Cares

For faculty and staff, Northwestern is not just a workplace, it is a community. In times of crisis, a community offers support. NU Cares is a fund that allows faculty and staff an opportunity to help a colleague experiencing financial hardship due to a medical or catastrophic event. Faculty and staff in need may apply for up to $1,000 in NU Cares support.

Crisis support and pastoral care

Northwestern University chaplains and campus ministers are trained religious professionals with
counseling experience on campus to serve the needs of the Northwestern community of any or no religious affiliation. They are available to discuss any issues, including relationships, feelings of guilt, and vocation and career choice.

Weekly drop-in meditation groups

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life organizes weekly drop-in meditation groups on both the Chicago and Evanston Campuses. Find more information.