Story submitted by Caryn Langstaff, Director of Wellness, Accessibility & Student Success, and Mary Gauthier, Wellness & AltMedia Advisor
From May 3-9, 2021, #GetReal about how you feel and celebrate Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) 70th annual Mental Health Week.
Every May, people in Canadian communities, schools, workplaces and legislatures rally around CMHA Mental Health Week. The objective of Mental Health Week is to shift societal beliefs and perceptions about mental health. It helps promote behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health and create a culture of understanding and acceptance.
Good mental health isn’t about being happy all the time. In fact, a mentally healthy life includes the full range of human emotions -- even the uncomfortable ones like sadness, fear and anger. Relying on others and sharing our very normal feelings of sadness, fear and worry is hugely important during this unusual time of stress, uncertainty and loss.
Visit mentalhealthweek.ca for info, helpful articles, and free tools to support your well-being and to help you celebrate CMHA Mental Health Week.
Mental Health Resources
Student Wellness and Accessibility at SLC
Student Wellness and Accessibility offers free individual and group counselling and many other resources and supports to assist students with whatever may be challenging or troubling. Our team helps to build personal strategies that support students' mental health that is unique to their own unique personality and circumstances. Students can reach out to wellness@sl.on.ca
Spiritual Care Facilitator
SLC's Spiritual Care Facilitator, Kathy Doering, offers one-on-one and group support to students, particularly those who are looking to address life’s challenges through a spiritual and/or faith-based lens. Students can connect with the Spiritual Care Facilitator at SpiritualCare@sl.on.ca
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
The EFAP offers all employees and their immediate family members confidential support services to help manage work, health and life concerns. Visit workhealthlife.com, call 1.844.880.9137 or download the mobile app and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Resources Available 24/7/365
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, the following resources are free, confidential, and can be accessed any time:
Good2Talk: A free, confidential service for post-secondary students in Ontario, available 24/7/365. Call 1.866.925.5454 to receive professional counselling and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.
Crisis Text Line: A free, confidential texting service, available 24/7/365, powered by Kids Help Phone. Text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 to be connected to a trained volunteer Crisis Responder who is there to listen and support students with any issue they’re facing.
keep.meSAFE by guard.me: Immediate and free, confidential support for International students, accessible anywhere in the world at any time of day or night.
- International students can speak with counsellors that understand their culture and speak their preferred language.
- Students outside of Canada and the USA: call 001.416.380.6578.
- Students in Canada and the USA: call 1.844.451.9700.
- Through the free MySSP app, students can access a wide variety of multilingual self-help resources, including articles, videos and assessment tools.
TAO: Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) is a digital platform with a mobile app designed to support your well-being. Go to ca.taoconnect.org to register for, or log into, your TAO account.
- SLC students have free, anonymous access to TAO, an online digital resource of educational sessions, videos, interactive exercises, practice tools, to help with learning healthy ways to manage life’s challenges.
- Students can receive support on their time, no appointment needed. With just 15 minutes a day - available 24/7 - on their phone, tablet, or computer, they'll be on their way towards achieving optimum wellness in their life.
- TAO is also available to all SLC staff and faculty. TAO can help you deal with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, substance abuse, chronic pain, and more with effective evidence-based tools. Enroll with your SLC email address at this TAO link created for SLC employees.