A number of events and programs took place Nov. 3-7 as part of “Thrive Week” a new initiative at Carleton aimed at helping students and staff foster positive mental health.
The idea of the week comes from the University of British Columbia (UBC) where it was well received. Carleton officials said they hope that it will “thrive” at Carleton as well.
Thrive is described as a community “mindset” on UBC’s website.
“Our overall goal for Thrive Week is to promote positive mental health for all staff, faculty and students,” said Samantha Munro, Healthy Workplace Assistant at Carleton. “We hope to do so by getting people out to try something new, meet new people, and to have fun.”
Events on campus included open recreational sports events, seminars on healthy eating, learning strategies, and mindfulness, and a therapy dogs visitation.
Carleton developed a mental health framework four years ago that outlines procedures and resources for improving the mental health of students, faculty, and other members of the Carleton community.
“Carleton has a strong student mental health framework, however the workplace mental health initiative is still quite new, so it’s also about creating a dialogue about mental health with faculty and staff,” said Vicki Boman, case manager for students-at-risk at the Student Affairs office who was on the planning committee for Thrive Week.
“Participating in Thrive allows us a way to promote the many services, activities and programs available to our community,” she said.
Both students and staff were a focus of the campaign. Carleton University Students’ Association president Folarin Odunayo was on the planning committee for the week.
“I think it’s a fantastic effort and endeavour,” he said. “If you look at the effect it’s had on other campuses, especially at the University of British Columbia, it’s fantastic.”
The incorporation of staff is something Odunayo said he enjoyed about the campaign.
“Often times as students we don’t recognize that there are other people here—the adults, the staff—they have family issues, they have mental health issues as well,” he said.
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