Niagara College wants students to stay connected and #getreal about their mental health, especially during these unprecedented times.
May 4 to 10 marks Mental Health Week, a country-wide initiative led by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Over the course of the week, NC will highlight the virtual supports in place for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ways they can connect with and find support at NC and in the Niagara Region during these times of crisis.
“Our students’ wellness is always the focus of our department, and now, more than ever there are ways we can support NC students,” said Michelle Macintosh, counsellor in Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services (HWAS), who will support the week’s activities alongside Student Engagement and Leadership, International, and NCSAC. “Mental Health Week is an opportunity to reduce the stigma of mental illness and offer support to students who are struggling, and also celebrate the ways our students are building resiliency through this challenging time.”
Macintosh explains that counselling continues to be offered by NC counsellors, now virtually, and many of their other services have gone online. This includes mindfulness and meditation classes throughout the Spring Term, Zoom hangouts with NC’s International Division, and telephone sessions with doctors and nurses. The HWAS website lists the services offered by the College, locally in Niagara, and province-wide.
“This week will highlight that #NCTogether and our NC DNA has never been stronger as we offer students support from departments across the College,” said Macintosh.
Daily themes and activities
The College’s many divisions have put together daily themes and activities for students throughout that week:
- Monday, May 4: The mental health and wellness continuum
- Tuesday, May 5: Meditation/Mindfulness/Movement
- Wednesday, May 6: Keeping structure in your life during upheaval
- Thursday, May 7: Loneliness – talk about it, find ways to connect
- Friday, May 8: Mental Illness & Resources
Activities include live meditation sessions, Instagram Q & A’s, giveaways, Zoom hangouts, and more. For a full list of activities, see the calendar: niagaracollege.ca/counselling-services/mentalhealthweek/
Students can use the hashtags #AloneNCtogether, #NCTogether, and #getreal as they share and interact on social media. Watch NC’s social channels for details.
About this year’s Mental Health Week theme
CMHA explains that our mental health is always a point on a continuum that varies from cheerful and optimistic to sad, anxious, and depressed. During this year’s pandemic, our point on that continuum may change often, from good days to bad days and anywhere in between. According to CMHA, we often say that we’re fine without sharing what’s really going through our minds. Every time we just go through the motions, we miss out on the chance to connect for real. In times of crisis like this, we need each other more than ever.
Community resources
Community resources include Good2Talk, a free mental health line for college students which provides professional counselling, mental health information, and connections to local resources. Good2Talk is a province-wide service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In addition to supports offered by Niagara College, students who are concerned about student life, health or mental well-being can call Good2Talk. Call Good2Talk at 1-866-925-5454. Good2Talk has also partnered with the Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone, which provides 24/7 support via text by texting GOOD2TALKON to 686868.
For a list of local Niagara resources, visit the HWAS website: niagaracollege.ca/counselling-services/mental-health-and-crisis-support/
