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  • How to Get Help: Mental Health Resources

    How to Get Help: Mental Health Resources

    Leading Canadian media organizations such as Maclean’s and the CBC have covered the mental health crisis on Canadian campuses. According to a 2012 article from the CBC, journalist Kate Lunau offers a long list of reasons for this crisis: homesickness, loneliness, the pressure to succeed academically, the fear of not landing a job after graduation. Other causes may be financial woes, housing problems, interpersonal conflicts. There is no question that today’s college and university students are stressed out, feeling depressed, maybe even suicidal. If you are reading this and nodding in agreement, please seek help.

    Use your school’s mental health services

    Most if not all colleges and universities offer mental health services to their students. Larger universities likely offer more services and have more staff. For example, the University of Toronto’s Health and Wellness Centre provides mental health services such as counselling, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Smaller schools may only have a handful of counsellors on staff, but they will be able to refer you for more specialized care if necessary.

    If you are uncertain whether your school provides mental health services, Google the name of your school and the words “mental health services”, “counselling”, or “student health”. Different schools name their mental health services differently. If nothing comes up, email your registrar’s office, your student union representative, or an upper-year student—any one of them should have this information.

    Look for off-campus mental health services

    There are also a variety of off-campus mental health resources available to you. Please note that not all of these services are student-specific.

    Helplines

    Different mental health helplines are available for each Canadian province. In Ontario, for example, post-secondary students may call the Good 2 Talk helpline (1-866-925-5454), a completely free and confidential service available 24/7/365. Callers receive professional counselling, information, and referrals.

    Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Mental Health Helpline also provides free, confidential, and 24/7 help. In addition to the phone line, it allows you to get help via email or web chat. This resource is not specific to students.

    Your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch

    Established in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) broadly speaking provides mental health services. CMHA tailors their services to specific communities, helping individuals with mental illness and their families heal and recover.

    Find your local CMHA branch by going to their website (http://www.cmha.ca/get-involved/find-your-cmha/ ) and searching by city or postal code. You can also find a list of branches per province by selecting that province. After finding your local CMHA branch, look up their services and programs. The Toronto CMHA branch, for example, offers support services in mental health as well as employment, housing, and social justice. Because of the range of stressors that students experience, the variety of programs available may be useful.

    There are two important points to take away: first, your mental health should not be neglected; and second, free and professional resources are available to students. This article is an introduction to finding mental health resources for you, on and off campus. Start with on-campus services because school staff are likely more experienced with student issues and concerns, but if these resources are unavailable, look off campus.

    References:

    1. http://www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/the-mental-health-crisis-on-campus/
    2. http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/offcourse/
    3. https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/services-offered
    4. http://www.good2talk.ca/
    5. http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/Home/About
    6. http://www.cmha.ca/about-cmha/
  • Inclusion in the Workplace: A Perspective

    Inclusion in the Workplace: A Perspective

    After working in a busy newsroom for the past four years, I understand how stressful it can be to get cramped into a room with a bunch of other people. I usually arrive at 10:00 a.m. and leave (on good days) around 9:00 p.m. On bad days I don’t get out of there until midnight. It doesn’t take much to get drained by that time and it’s the same story for a lot of people in other workplaces.

    I also know that it can be difficult to make the accommodations necessary to placate everyone, especially when there’s a larger team involved. But to include everyone is the gateway to making things easier for everyone – you included.

    I’m not just talking about including people on group projects or on decisions that you make. These can be great ways to let your team know that you care about their opinion and want to work with them, sure. But the added benefit is a mutual respect forming because they now know that you appreciate them enough to ask for their opinion. And two heads are better than one in certain situations, which is why it’s good to include others. To include those you work with on other smaller activities as well (even something small as lunch) allows for a stress-free environment when you guys get to know one another.

    But, of course, there are always those who will push your buttons. I’ve had it happen. Everyone knows the story: regardless of what it is sometimes people just don’t click. And that’s okay. But what’s important to remember is that airing dirty laundry in a workplace is unprofessional and a sure fire way to stress you out along with any involved. Many bosses have said it and it is good advice: you don’t have to be best friends but you have to be professional. It may really difficult to include these people in a project or to work with them but it’ll be easier for you to just stick it out because they’re not the only person you work with. If they continue to cause any serious issues, speak to someone.

    With greater issues like those who are struggling with their mental health, any physical ailments, or issues at home, it’s obviously important to include them as well. These are the people that you work with and regardless of whether or not you’re fond of them or understand their struggles; everyone has their own thing to deal with. To respect people’s individual issues and to not get involved in said issues keeps you at an advantage to be able to work with co-workers and to not carry any extra baggage home.

  • Disability Events to Watch Out for this June!

    Disability Events to Watch Out for this June!

    June 3
    Right to Dream—The Disability Action Hall
    Calgary, AB

    Hear stories of perseverance, success and support and perhaps even share your own! Run by self-advocates and allies, the Action Hall seeks to unite the disabled community and its supporters while also having fun.

    June 13-14
    Workplace Mental Health—Conference Board of Canada
    Toronto, ON

    Meet innovators and leaders with both mental health issues and a passion for innovation concerning mental health and learn how they are succeeding. This event has a focus on workplace action on mental health and wellness. Learn how you can create a wellness program in the workplace and how that can have an extremely positive effect on performance, happiness and health among employees.

    June 16-18
    17th Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference
    Kelowna, BC

    Discussing growing ideas in the world of mental health, this Okanagan-based conference is a collaborative and interactive experience available to researchers, consumers and family members, health care professionals, administrators and educators. Anyone who has a passion or interest in mental health and its growing awareness in the Canadian collective community is welcome.

    June 23-25
    IGNITE: Conference on developmental disability and inclusion for all—Inclusion BC
    Prince George, B.C.

    The 60th anniversary of this annual event, Inclusion BC presents a conference that fuels new ideas on trends and issues to advance the opportunities and rights of those with developmental disabilities as well as their families. There will be discussions on innovation, citizenship, inclusion and leadership among a group of over 600 self-advocates, family members, service providers, community leaders and advocates.

  • How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand and are all too common. If you have been wise enough to see a councilor and talk about the issues you deal with, oftentimes this can help to alleviate the symptoms. Nowadays antidepressant and antianxiety medication is prescribed rapidly—some need this, but others may want to look into other ways of dampening their anxiety levels. One sure-fire way that helps combat these things, is getting enough exercise. Never a bad thing to do, exercise holds special powers for those who struggle with depression. All you need is to work up enough motivation to begin. Oftentimes, this is the hardest part—but the more times you exercise, the easier it will be to work up that motivation.

    Chemical changes

    Neurotransmitters, endorphins and cannabinoids are all feel-good brain chemicals that exercise helps to release. These reduce immune system chemicals that make depression worse. Furthermore, increasing your body temperature through exercise will have calming effects on you. Expect less thoughts racing through your head at any given moment.

    Distraction

    Exercise blocks the cycle of negative thoughts and takes you away from your worries. Maybe the distraction is that you are struggling physically or are focusing on the activity itself—either way, this is a focus on something other than stress or sadness, and that is a win. You can see exercise as medicine rather than a chore.

    Gain confidence

    Achieving goals that you have made for yourself and overcoming challenges builds up a sense of self-worth. Oftentimes depression and anxiety are derived from insecurity and self-hatred. Pushing yourself to meet your goals will prove something to the person who matters most…YOU. Also, being in shape can make you feel better about your appearance. While appearance should not be the focus when seeking to overcome depression and anxiety, it can be a side effect of the physical activity.

    Social Interaction

    If you find that a lot of your depression comes from being solitary, join a group exercise program. Being in a social setting can also calm anxiety if it is linked with a goal. Here is a tip: begin your venture into exercise as a means to cope with problems in a healthy way on your own. When you have done it for a few weeks and have experienced its distractive qualities, introduce yourself to a social setting. You may find that your anxiety has begun to deplete, even if only a little.

    Have a plan

    Deciding to exercise is one thing, but those who struggle with depression and anxiety require a plan—a personal expectation—to help the motivation process. Find out what normally stops you from exercising and find an alternative. Speaking to a mental health provider about developing a plan may give you some solid ideas, as they will be able to give some insightful pointers. Also, be prepared for setbacks and DO NOT punish yourself. Understand that setbacks happen because you are imperfect, and there is always the next try.

    Improved sleep

    Physical activity provides you with energy later on, but also wears you out. When you do not exercise, there is a lot of unused energy and that can cause restlessness that leads to depression and anxiety. Using up that energy will clear your mind and relax your body, leading to restful and deep sleeps. Sleep is desperately important to strong mental health.

  • NEADS Events: June 2016

    NEADS Events: June 2016

    Organizer: Mental Health Commission of Canada

    Title: Workplace Mental Health 2016 – Toronto

    Category: Employment

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date: June 13, 2016 – June 14, 2016

    Web site: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/conf/workwellness/default.aspx

    Organizer: National Educational Association of Disabled Students/The National Taskforce on the Experience of Graduate Students With Disabilities

    Title: Launch of UNDERSTANDING ACCESSIBILITY IN GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN CANADA

    Category: Employment

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Date: June 24, 2016

    Web site: https://secure.neads.ca/register/en.php?id=16GP

     

  • NEADS News: June 2016

    NEADS News: June 2016

    Lorne Fraser Educational Fund for British Columbia Students With Mental Illness (apply by June 30th)

    About the bursary:

    Each year, the Lorne Fraser Educational Fund awards several bursaries to people with a mental illness to help further their pursuit of post-secondary education.

    Bursary amounts, $700 each, are based on the annual interest of the fund and are awarded for the fall term of each year. In addition to the bursary program, the scholarship program annually awards $1000 or $2000 to two post-secondary students living with mental illness, whose educational and career goals are related to mental health promotion

    Who can apply:

    Successful applicants for the Lorne Fraser Educational Bursary must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below:

    – experience of a mental illness

    – accessing therapeutic support/mental health services

    – an identified job goal

    – a demonstrated need for financial assistance

    – will be enrolled at a recognized BC post-secondary institution by December 1, 2016

    – at least 20 years of age and

    – a resident of British Columbia

    Successful applicants for the Lorne Fraser Scholarship for Mental Health Promotion must meet the eligibility criteria outlined below: experience of a mental illness accessing therapeutic support/mental health services a demonstrated need for financial assistance at least 20 years of age and a resident of British Columbia entering the second, third or fourth year of an undergraduate or graduate program at a designated British Columbia university or college will be enrolled at a recognized BC post-secondary institution by December 1, 2016 educational and vocational goals related to mental health promotion (see instructions for the 500 word statement of intent)

    Apply online Apply for the Lorne Fraser Educational Bursary online.

    Application deadline:

    Apply for the Lorne Fraser Scholarship for Mental Health Promotion online by June 30, 2016

    Apply through the Canadian Mental Health Association – BC Division website: http://www.cmha.bc.ca/how-we-can-help/campus/lornefraser

    NEADS and DAWN Canada conducting research to determine prevalence of violence related to women with disabilities and Deaf women on campuses

    May 26, 2016 (Montreal) – The DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN) Canada and the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) are conducting collaborative research to determine the prevalence of violence against women with disabilities and Deaf women on college and university campuses in Canada.

    Recent media reports have exposed high rates of sexual assault of women students on campuses across the country.

    “This study is ground-breaking because it will help us to begin to understand the experiences of women students who are Deaf or have a disability, and it will also help us determine if their needs are being met when they seek support from campus programs,” said Frank Smith, NEADS National Coordinator.

    Access to the survey can be found here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNB8BRR  , or from the NEADS or DAWN Canada website or on Twitter @DAWNRAFHCanada #Safecampus.

    Established in 1985, DAWN Canada works to create change at a systemic level in order to directly improve the quality of life for women with disabilities and Deaf women in Canada. Since 1986, NEADS has supported full access to education and employment for post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities across Canada.

    For more information, contact: Hanane Khales Communications Coordinator, DAWN Canada communications@dawncanada.net 514-396-0009 Ext. 2505

    Or Frank Smith National Coordinator, NEADS frank.smith@neads.ca 613-380-8065 Ext. 201

    For full NEADS article, follow this link: http://www.neads.ca/en/about/media/index.php?id=380

  • How to Get Help: Mental Health Resources

    How to Get Help: Mental Health Resources

    Leading Canadian media organizations such as Maclean’s and the CBC have covered the mental health crisis on Canadian campuses. According to a 2012 article from the CBC, journalist Kate Lunau offers a long list of reasons for this crisis: homesickness, loneliness, the pressure to succeed academically, the fear of not landing a job after graduation. Other causes may be financial woes, housing problems, interpersonal conflicts. There is no question that today’s college and university students are stressed out, feeling depressed, maybe even suicidal. If you are reading this and nodding in agreement, please seek help.

    Use your school’s mental health services
    Most if not all colleges and universities offer mental health services to their students. Larger universities likely offer more services and have more staff. For example, the University of Toronto’s Health and Wellness Centre provides mental health services such as counselling, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Smaller schools may only have a handful of counsellors on staff, but they will be able to refer you for more specialized care if necessary.

    If you are uncertain whether your school provides mental health services, Google the name of your school and the words “mental health services”, “counselling”, or “student health”. Different schools name their mental health services differently. If nothing comes up, email your registrar’s office, your student union representative, or an upper-year student—any one of them should have this information.

    Look for off-campus mental health services
    There are also a variety of off-campus mental health resources available to you. Please note that not all of these services are student-specific.

    1. Helplines
    Different mental health helplines are available for each Canadian province. In Ontario, for example, post-secondary students may call the Good 2 Talk helpline (1-866-925-5454), a completely free and confidential service available 24/7/365. Callers receive professional counselling, information, and referrals.
    Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Mental Health Helpline also provides free, confidential, and 24/7 help. In addition to the phone line, it allows you to get help via email or web chat. This resource is not specific to students.

    2. Your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch
    Established in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) broadly speaking provides mental health services. CMHA tailors their services to specific communities, helping individuals with mental illness and their families heal and recover.

    Find your local CMHA branch by going to their website (http://www.cmha.ca/get-involved/find-your-cmha/ ) and searching by city or postal code. You can also find a list of branches per province by selecting that province. After finding your local CMHA branch, look up their services and programs. The Toronto CMHA branch, for example, offers support services in mental health as well as employment, housing, and social justice. Because of the range of stressors that students experience, the variety of programs available may be useful.

    There are two important points to take away: first, your mental health should not be neglected; and second, free and professional resources are available to students. This article is an introduction to finding mental health resources for you, on and off campus. Start with on-campus services because school staff are likely more experienced with student issues and concerns, but if these resources are unavailable, look off campus.

    References:

    http://www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/the-mental-health-crisis-on-campus/
    http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/offcourse/
    https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/services-offered
    http://www.good2talk.ca/
    http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/Home/About
    http://www.cmha.ca/about-cmha/

  • Inclusion in the Workplace: A Perspective

    Inclusion in the Workplace: A Perspective

    After working in a busy newsroom for the past four years, I understand how stressful it can be to get cramped into a room with a bunch of other people. I usually arrive at 10:00 a.m. and leave (on good days) around 9:00 p.m. On bad days I don’t get out of there until midnight. It doesn’t take much to get drained by that time and it’s the same story for a lot of people in other workplaces.

    I also know that it can be difficult to make the accommodations necessary to placate everyone, especially when there’s a larger team involved. But to include everyone is the gateway to making things easier for everyone – you included.

    I’m not just talking about including people on group projects or on decisions that you make. These can be great ways to let your team know that you care about their opinion and want to work with them, sure. But the added benefit is a mutual respect forming because they now know that you appreciate them enough to ask for their opinion. And two heads are better than one in certain situations, which is why it’s good to include others. To include those you work with on other smaller activities as well (even something small as lunch) allows for a stress-free environment when you guys get to know one another.

    But, of course, there are always those who will push your buttons. I’ve had it happen. Everyone knows the story: regardless of what it is sometimes people just don’t click. And that’s okay. But what’s important to remember is that airing dirty laundry in a workplace is unprofessional and a sure fire way to stress you out along with any involved. Many bosses have said it and it is good advice: you don’t have to be best friends but you have to be professional. It may really difficult to include these people in a project or to work with them but it’ll be easier for you to just stick it out because they’re not the only person you work with. If they continue to cause any serious issues, speak to someone.

    With greater issues like those who are struggling with their mental health, any physical ailments, or issues at home, it’s obviously important to include them as well. These are the people that you work with and regardless of whether or not you’re fond of them or understand their struggles; everyone has their own thing to deal with. To respect people’s individual issues and to not get involved in said issues keeps you at an advantage to be able to work with co-workers and to not carry any extra baggage home.

  • How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand and are all too common. If you have been wise enough to see a councilor and talk about the issues you deal with, oftentimes this can help to alleviate the symptoms. Nowadays antidepressant and antianxiety medication is prescribed rapidly—some need this, but others may want to look into other ways of dampening their anxiety levels. One sure-fire way that helps combat these things, is getting enough exercise. Never a bad thing to do, exercise holds special powers for those who struggle with depression. All you need is to work up enough motivation to begin. Oftentimes, this is the hardest part—but the more times you exercise, the easier it will be to work up that motivation.

    Chemical changes

    Neurotransmitters, endorphins and cannabinoids are all feel-good brain chemicals that exercise helps to release. These reduce immune system chemicals that make depression worse. Furthermore, increasing your body temperature through exercise will have calming effects on you. Expect less thoughts racing through your head at any given moment.

    Distraction

    Exercise blocks the cycle of negative thoughts and takes you away from your worries. Maybe the distraction is that you are struggling physically or are focusing on the activity itself—either way, this is a focus on something other than stress or sadness, and that is a win. You can see exercise as medicine rather than a chore.

    Gain confidence

    Achieving goals that you have made for yourself and overcoming challenges builds up a sense of self-worth. Oftentimes depression and anxiety are derived from insecurity and self-hatred. Pushing yourself to meet your goals will prove something to the person who matters most…YOU. Also, being in shape can make you feel better about your appearance. While appearance should not be the focus when seeking to overcome depression and anxiety, it can be a side effect of the physical activity.

    Social Interaction

    If you find that a lot of your depression comes from being solitary, join a group exercise program. Being in a social setting can also calm anxiety if it is linked with a goal. Here is a tip: begin your venture into exercise as a means to cope with problems in a healthy way on your own. When you have done it for a few weeks and have experienced its distractive qualities, introduce yourself to a social setting. You may find that your anxiety has begun to deplete, even if only a little.

    Have a plan

    Deciding to exercise is one thing, but those who struggle with depression and anxiety require a plan—a personal expectation—to help the motivation process. Find out what normally stops you from exercising and find an alternative. Speaking to a mental health provider about developing a plan may give you some solid ideas, as they will be able to give some insightful pointers. Also, be prepared for setbacks and DO NOT punish yourself. Understand that setbacks happen because you are imperfect, and there is always the next try.

    Improved sleep

    Physical activity provides you with energy later on, but also wears you out. When you do not exercise, there is a lot of unused energy and that can cause restlessness that leads to depression and anxiety. Using up that energy will clear your mind and relax your body, leading to restful and deep sleeps. Sleep is desperately important to strong mental health.

  • NEADS NEWS: Seeking Your Financial Aid Stories!

    NEADS NEWS: Seeking Your Financial Aid Stories!

    Do you have stories of challenges you have faced in getting financial aid to support your college or university studies, as a student with a disability?

    If so, we want to hear from you! The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) is collecting student narratives on the difficulties of navigating Canada’s student financial aid system. We are especially interested in your experiences with government grants and loans programs. Your stories will inform our advocacy to improve financial aid in Canada for students with disabilities.

    Please share your story with us by completing the following survey online, which is supported by the Canadian Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and hosted by the University of New Brunswick: http://goo.gl/hj4Ndq

    We ask that surveys be completed by May 30, 2016. Thank you for your help in improving the post-secondary experience of students with disabilities in Canada!

    National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), Rm. 514 Unicentre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6 tel. (613) 380-8065 ext. 201 www.neads.ca

    “Supporting access to post-secondary education and employment for students with disabilities”