What’s ReThink Mental Health?

Mental health is fundamental to student success and well-being, but it is ignored and stigmatized by many. To combat these issues, the ReThink Mental Health campaign works to create a university culture in which individuals feel safe seeking support from counselling and peers, while making students aware of the resources available to combat stress, anxiety, and depression. Utilizing workshops, videos, and myth-busting, the campaign aims to de-stigmatize mental health and advocate for students to get the help and resources that they need.

Workshops: ReThink Your Mental Health Toolkit

The Peer Support Centre and UVSS ReThink Mental Health campaign are partnering to bring you a monthly workshop series to help add tools to your mental health toolkit!

These workshops are led by fellow students on topics chosen by students.

Join us in the SUB Upper Lounge, on the following Fridays from 3-4pm:

  • September 24 – Boundary setting
  • October 15 – Helping friends who are dealing with mental illness
    • Do you ever struggle with the words to say when your friend is having a bad day? Do you also search on google for ways to make your family feel better through rough times? Do you ever just wish that you knew what the right thing to do is to make your loved ones know that you are there for them? If you answered Yes to any of these then come and join our workshop “How to be a good bystander for someone struggling with mental health” and we can provide you with some tools for support.
  • November 19 – Overcoming imposter syndrome
    • Have you ever felt like an imposter at university? Join the ReThink Mental Health Campaign and the Peer Support Centre for a peer-led workshop exploring Imposter Syndrome. We will discuss where imposter syndrome comes from, signs to look out for, and what you can do about it.
  • December 3 – Stress buster
    • Mental Health workshop stress buster versions! Come and hang out, eat food, learn about ways to manage your stress and chat to peers. Bring your homework if you want, or just take a well deserved break to decompress.

You can expect food, conversation, and skill-building in a peer-led environment. Hope to see you there!

The UVSS encourages our members to learn, get support, or find out how to best support others by taking advantage of the following free resources.

UVic Supports

UVSS Peer Support Centre – Whether you are struggling with or have questions regarding mental health, are concerned for a friend, or need help accessing resources on or off campus, you can seek a first-point-of-contact at the Peer Support Centre. Our trained student volunteers are here to listen, offering non-judgmental, empathetic and confidential support while helping fellow students navigate next-step resources and student life at UVic.

UVic Wellness Centre – The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) aims to provide holistic care to support UVic students’ wellbeing: emotionally, physically and spiritually. The SWC team includes counsellors, doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, administrative staff, chaplains and other practitioners.

Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) – The CAL works with faculty and students to promote educational equity and accessibility for students with disabilities. They help create academic accommodations for students with learning disabilities, mental health issues or long-term recurring physical or sensory disabilities, among others. Due to the current pandemic, you will not need a medical or psychological documentation and signed consent form to register.

Learn Anywhere – Learn Anywhere was launched May 2020 in response to COVID-19 and offers a central starting point for information about resources and services that you can access remotely to support your academic journey.

StudentCare – Undergrad students are automatically enrolled in a UVSS health and dental plan with StudentCare. The health plan provides for 80% coverage for external counselling.

Local Supports

Victoria Native Friendship Centre – VNFC is available to help all Aboriginal people living in the southern Vancouver Island, or those accessing health services of the Vancouver Island Health Authority. VNFC offers mental health and addictions counselling, mental health liaison support, and physical health support

Vancouver Island Crisis Line – 24 hour support line for emergency mental health services: 1‑888‑494‑3888. Text services available from 6-10pm Pacific Time: 250-800-3806.

Youthspace.ca – an online crisis & emotional support chat, through mobile text or online.  Text: 778-783-0177. Online chat here.

NEED2 – Suicide prevention education & support. They offer workshops and resources, including a Suicide Loss Peer Support Group.

Provincial/Federal supports

Here2Talk – Here2Talk connects students with mental health support when they need it. Through this program, all students currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to free, confidential counselling and community referral services, conveniently available 24/7 via app, phone and web.

Foundry – Foundry offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in communities across BC.

Jack.org  –  A Canadian mental health charity, designed to help create leaders & provide resources surrounding mental wellness. Their website contains information about summits and conferences, as well as critical mental health information, such as how to be there for others, anti-racism resources, and information on how to find support.

Earlypsychosis.ca – Earlypsychosis.ca connects individuals to early psychosis intervention resources. This includes guidance about seeking a diagnosis, talking with loved ones about psychosis, and information about treatment options.

Wellness Together Canada – This government-funded site was created as a response to the mental distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It contains information and help regarding isolation, physical health concerns, substance use concerns, financial and employment uncertainty, and racial inequality.

Canadian Mental Health Association – Nation-wide organization with Victoria office, offering general resources and events.

BC Schizophrenia Society – Services for people with mental illness.

Here2Talk app – Here2Talk is a provincial initiative that provides confidential and free mental health support to post-secondary students. This initiative offers 24/7 access to registered therapists.

HeadSpace – A sleep-related app that assists with mental health through sleep hygiene, guided meditations, and information regarding stress. HeadSpace Plus is free for an entire year for those who are unemployed during Covid-19.

MoodFit –  A mental health app that includes a gratitude journal, mood and habit tracker, and reinforcing positive messages. It also features breathing exercises, meditation lessons, and information about sleep hygiene.

Calm – The Calm app focuses on improving relaxation, focus, and sleep. This is offered through guided and unguided meditations, sleep aids, gentle stretching, and calming music. There is a free version, and the premium version is $95.04/year ($7.92/month).

MoodMission – MoodMission helps with stress, low moods, and anxiety. Upon entering your current mood, it offers 5 quick, evidence-based options of how to improve your mood. The scientific research behind these strategies is available on the app, which means you can learn exactly how what you’re doing helps your mental health.

Clue – Offers support for folks who menstruate. Helps you track your cycle, moods, & habits.  It also offers information about what hormones could be affecting your mood and health, including information about the interaction of birth control and other medications, and your mental health.

Intersectionality & Mental Health– Discusses the issues that arise in being both BIPOC and struggling with your mental health.

ReThink Mental Health recommends

Check out the following for some resources that have helped us to rethink mental health! Click here to find all the videos on our YouTube playlist.

What We Do

Outreach

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Throughout the year, the UVSS will be out around campus engaging students on the topics of mental health. We want to encourage students to think about stress, not how to avoid it – but how to manage it.

This year, our in-person outreach has been suspended due to COVID, but keep tuned to UVSS social media for online engagement and events!

Wellness Week

In partnership with the amazing UVic Office of Student Life and over 15 other UVic departments, the UVSS and ReThink Mental Health partner in UVic’s annual Wellness Week, which takes place each January.