This Week @ York Mental Health & Wellness Special Edition - Nov 19
While taking care of our mental health is always important, this time of global pandemic response brings added complications to our lives and with that, an increased need to know how and where we can access support. We also recognize that we’re approaching exam season, which can be a stressful time for students.
With that in mind, This Week @ York is bringing you this special edition focused on supporting your mental health and wellbeing. All posted event times are in Eastern Standard Time.
During this period of COVID-19 response, when York University buildings are closed, we are still here to support you and provide services through online, telephone, video and email channels.
Here are some important items to keep in mind and check out as we approach exam season.
| 1 | Try out one of these Health Education Workshops:
Self-Care Series: Passive & Active Leisure for Exam Season. Join this workshop and learn about the benefits of passive and active leisure and create your own leisure plan, which will include practical ways to engage in self-care and enhance your energy levels. Monday, November 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration Required. Self-Care Series: Mindful Movement for Those Who Can’t Meditate. Get moving with this physically active workshop and explore mindful movement that supports nervous system regulation and provides a way to sooth and calm your stress responses. This workshop is based on dance/movement psychotherapy, but no movement experience is required. Bonus: attendees will be included in a draw for a $10 to $25 gift certificate! Wednesday, November 25, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Registration required. |
| 2 | Mindful Meditation Session workshops are happening every week! Join these meditation sessions every other week facilitated by Psychologist Scott Pope from Student Counselling & Development. These sessions will help you to de-stress, decrease loneliness and increase positivity. |
| 3 | Free Virtual MUV Classes are still happening this Winter! Continue to stay healthy and active while maintaining physical distancing. Check out the schedule at the link above and follow @yorkulions and @yorkurecreation for class updates. |
| 4 | Your YU Blog is also thinking about your mental health and wellness. Check out these blog posts: DIY Self-Care Kit; Stay Healthy This Exam Season and Five Tips for Staying Motivated and Productive. |
| 5 | If you’re looking for some mobile apps to help you relax, meditate or play, check Osgoode Hall Law School’s Wellness Support during COVID-19 web page. |
| 6 | These York units have online and remote services available to you throughout the year.
Recognizing that mental health is connected to physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing as well as your academic and financial wellbeing, Student Community & Leadership Development has curated a suite of COVID-19 resources to help you adjust to the new norms of physical distancing and online learning from home. The web page includes a variety of fitness and nutrition resources to help you keep your body in good health. Also take a look at some of their resources for creating a study space in your room, meditation and relaxation. Student Counselling & Development is continuing to offer individual single-session counselling and telephone support at 416-736-5297, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. They have also provided a suite of COVID-19 mental health resources to help you prioritize your mental health and wellbeing and access additional community supports. Glendon Campus students can access individual counselling through Glendon’s Accessibility, Well-Being and Counselling. The Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education (The Centre) coordinates support and resources for all members of the community that have experienced sexual violence and assists survivors through the complaint process. They can be reached by phone and email. The Office of Student Community Relations (OSCR) is also available by phone and email to provide support to students impacted by critical incidents or personal crises, and to help with referrals. |
| 7 | As a York student you also have access to these community services:
The Big White Wall is a free online mental health and wellbeing service offering self-guided programs and creative outlets to anonymously express yourself, connect and learn. BounceBack Ontario is a free program that offers telephone coaching sessions and online videos to help you build skills to overcome mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression and regain positive mental health. |
| 8 | SCLD Game Nights. Unwind, take a break from schoolwork and meet new people by dropping into Student Community & Leadership Development's weekly game nights! They'll be offering a variety of games such as Among us, Scribbl.io and Jackbox games. These game nights will be led by students on the Student Engagement Ambassador Team. Feel free to bring a friend or come meet a new one! Thursday, November 19, 6 to 8 p.m. Registration required. |
| 9 | Vanier College Productions: Jingle Bell Fiesta. Celebrate the end of term and upcoming winter break by learning some choreography with a fun and spicy Latin Dance warmup led by Kristen Pepper, Associate Producer for Vanier College Productions and VCP’s choreographer. Wednesday, December 2, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. |
| 10 | Speed Painting Workshop. Strong and Calumet Colleges are offering a workshop to help you take a break, decompress and partake in self-care while learning how to paint deer in their natural environment. Thursday, December 10, 3 to 4 p.m. |
| 11 | Mature Student Event Schedule. Are you a mature student interested in meditation or attending a casual, drop-in café hour to meet other mature students or a mature student peer mentor? Check the schedule at the link above and attend any session you wish, via Zoom. |
| 12 | Drop by the new virtual Learning Commons Welcome Desk at the top right of the Learning Commons website! It is an instant chat tool with Zoom integration for screen-sharing option and is available Monday to Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. Outside these hours, you can always check out the Learning Commons website for more information. The web site also now offers a Learning Commons FAQ page to answer popular questions for those who prefer anytime support. |
| 13 | Learning Skills Services has a suite of online learning resources, as well as workshops like YU Got This! Academic Tips & Tools for End of Term. Log in to this workshop hosted by the Learning Commons and learn practical tips and tools that you can use to prepare for end of term assignment and exams. Thursday, November 19, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration required. |
| 14 | View the York International Events Calendar for the full Virtual Coffee Break weekly schedule, including some exam readiness workshops. YI’s daily Virtual Coffee Breaks are an online space for international and domestic students from across programs, Faculties, countries and cultures to connect and get to know each other! Student Leaders are on Zoom every weekday with different fun and interesting topics. When you sign up, a confirmation email with the zoom link will be sent to you upon registration. |
| 15 | York’s faculty, staff and students are all doing amazing things to mobilize and contribute to a better outcome of the COVID-19 global crisis. Check out some of the stories and videos that capture how our community is creating positive change and making #YUBetterTogether. |
Every edition of TW@Y can be found on the This Week @ York Archive web page.
Note: any information related to changes due to COVID-19 found in this newsletter has already been communicated to the community and can be found at York’s YU Better Together website. All this information is accurate at the newsletter’s time of publication