The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA)’s Mental Health and Wellness Week aims to promote well-being in students, but also tackle the myths surrounding mental illness, according to CUSA vice-president (student issues) Hayley Dobson.
“I am hoping to de-stigmatize the issue of mental health as well as promote overall wellness for students,” Dobson said via email.
“The activities planned are meant to provide a relief from stress as well as promote a positive attitude toward mental health.”
The week of activities kicked off Nov. 19, with activities aimed at helping de-stress students, but the discussion on student health really began over the weekend.
CUSA offered Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to service centres, co-ordinators, volunteers, and councillors. ASIST is a two-day workshop, which Dobson said she sees as an investment.
“The training is meant to help develop practical skills for immediate suicide intervention,” she said.
“These are practical skills that can really benefit a lot of people and possibly save a life.”
CUSA Live co-ordinator Luke Smith participated in the workshop, and said he learned the skills he would need to prevent a suicide.
“The hope is to never apply it, in an ideal world,” he said.
“However, with depression being so high amongst peers it is likely that should I notice behavior which is out of the norm, or other invitations for attention, and I’ll be able to engage them in the ASIST model.”
The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that 10 to 20 per cent of youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder. Canada has the third-highest youth suicide rate in the industrialized world, according to the association’s website.
Dobson said the prevalence of this problem is why it’s important to address it.
“Mental health is a huge issue on any university campus,” she said.
And the timing of the week is no coincidence. Dobson said she chose the third week of November because it’s a particularly stressful time for students. Final exams are coming up and assignments are due.
“It can really burn you out,” Dobson said.
Smith agreed, saying he personally saw why a week like this is important.
“Through a large number of different stressors, such as multiple jobs, academics and volunteer obligations I’ve had to take note of my own mental health, which recently has been taking a strain,” he said.
“Weeks such as these remind us to also take the time to care for ourselves.”
And while de-stressing is important, Dobson said she is also hoping to address issues of stigmatization around mental illness this week.
Students were asked to sign a declaration “calling BS” on the stigma surrounding mental health.
As part of the campaign organized by Partners for Mental Health, postcards with information on different illnesses were attached to helium balloons, before being released into the atrium.
As they lose air and sink to the ground, it will represent the dying stigma around mental illness, Dobson said.
The week runs from Nov. 19-23, and will also feature workshops on solutions to stress-related illness, massage chairs in the atrium, and visiting therapy dogs.
“Despite all the positive work being done on campus surrounding mental health there is still a stigmatization around the issue. It is important to keep having conversations about mental health and making people aware that it is an issue and it is ok to talk about it,” Dobson said.
