World Mental Health Day 2022

Oct 7th, 2022

Student Mental Health Resources & Services Available through Student Wellness Services

Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, is World Mental Health Day, a day focused on raising awareness of mental health issues worldwide, and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health (from the WHO).

Many aspects of mental health are already challenging for university students, not to mention the added stressors of returning to school during another "new normal". Assisting students on their mental health journey is a priority for Student Wellness and why we offer numerous programs and resources designed to help, in many different capacities. Below are just a few of the ways in which our Wellness teams can help you as a UofG student. 

What is mental health? What does it look like to support your mental health?

Everyone has mental health – it's just the combination of your psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Everyone has good mental health days and not-so-good mental health days. For 1 in 5 Canadians, our mental health is also impacted by mental illness, but a diagnosed mental illness doesn’t exclude you from having good mental health.

Supporting your mental health includes a lot of different things, including eating well, sleeping, moving your body, building relationships, letting go of unrealistic expectations and negative influences, and making time for things you love.

Mental Health Supports from Student Wellness Services

Sometimes we need help to support our mental health. A lot of the time, we think of professional counselling as the option, which is often the case. However, Student Wellness Services offers several different programs and resources outside of Counselling Services to help you build better mental health.

Student Support Network (SSN)

  • Drop-in peer support is provided by extensively trained student volunteers who provide confidential, non-judgmental listening and support to other students. Drop-in peer support is offered between noon and 10 pm, Monday through Friday. More info at: wellness.uoguelph.ca/ssn

USHINE & WeSHINE

  • USHINE is a peer mentoring program that empowers students to develop lifelong successful habits to boost well-being. Students can meet one-to-one with a USHINE Peer Mentor to identify wellness goals and create a personalized wellness plan to meet these goals. Topics include sleep, nutrition, exercise, and much more.
  • WeSHINE is our online group where students can connect about shared well-being goals, get new resources, and build community. Students can be a part of WeSHINE without being enrolled in USHINE. Email us at ushine@uoguelph.ca to sign up.

Gryphons Empowered by Movement (GEM)

  • GEM is a referral-only program that is a collaboration between Student Wellness and Athletics. Program participants will be paired with a GEM Buddy, who helps them experience different ways of incorporating physical activity into their lives as a means of improving mental health. Talk with a Student Wellness Navigator, Counsellor, SAS Advisor, or the SSN to be referred to the program!

Grad Student Support Circles (GSSC)

  • A confidential peer support group for grad students across all faculties. GSSC offers a supportive group environment where grad students can talk about their unique experiences, hear others’ perspectives, & discuss life in general. A support group is also available for student-parents. Sign up at grad.circle@uoguelph.ca

Peer Wellness Educators

  • Our team of Peer Helpers runs regular events and workshops to support students in managing their stress, building connections, and overall improving their well-being. They also create educational content for social media on a variety of topics. Keep an eye out at @wellness_uofg on Instagram and our GryphLife page for upcoming events.

Thriving in Action

  • This workshop series will help you move from languishing to flourishing throughout your time in university. Build motivation, optimism and resilience, and learn how to integrate those skills into your work as a student. In each workshop, you will learn and practice both wellness and learning strategies that will help you be the student you want to be. Come to one workshop or all of them. This workshop series is a collaboration between Learning Services and Student Wellness. Students can register for upcoming sessions via Gryphlife.

Stress Management Programs

  • Learn guided relaxation techniques for test anxiety, sleep, & general stress. This drop-in group is provided by Kathy Somers from the Stress Management & High Performance Clinic. Students can register for upcoming sessions via Gryphlife. More programs can be found at www.selfregulationskills.ca

Shine This Year

  • Shine This Year is our one-stop-shop for mental health resources both on and off campus. There you can find links to services, helpful tips, listen to our podcast The Shine Cast, and hear about how other students succeeded in university by watching our series of Student Transition Stories.

International & ELP Student Counselling Options

  • Keep.meSAFE is a mental wellness student support program available to all U of G International Students whether they are still studying in Guelph/Ontario or back in their homes internationally. It is free and confidential for international students with availability day or night. This service provides access to counsellors that speak their language and understand their culture via phone or chat.

Individual and Same-Day Counselling

  • Counselling Services offers individual counselling at the University of Guelph Student Wellness Services offers you the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a counsellor to explore, understand, and work through personal issues.
  • Call 519-824-4120 x 53244 (M-F 8:30am-4:30pm) to book an appointment.

Same Day Drop-In Counselling

  • Available via phone, virtual or in-person.
  • Drop-in Counselling for Black Students and Students of Colour (Fall 2022: Wednesdays 1-3:30 pm. Sessions can be booked the same day or in advance through Student Experience) 
  • The drop-in service is available to provide support, information and referrals to students dealing with a variety of same-day, emerging or crisis situations.

Academic Supports

  • Depending on your situation, there may be specific academic supports that can be considered.

Additional Mental Health Resouces: 

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