2018 Mental Illness Awareness Week
2018 Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW)
Mental Illness affects 1 in 5 Canadians any given year while directly and indirectly affecting millions across the country (Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health).
This week marks Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) from October 1 through October 7, 2018. In support of MIAW, we continue to encourage all employees to make mental health a priority and draw your attention to your own mental health and well-being.
Try out these Mental Health Assessment Resources using the following tools below:
To learn more about MIAW please click here.
What are we doing on campus?
The Mental Health Framework Committee has been working on the following initiatives relating to Mental Health:
- Margo Nelson, Instructor in the Social Service Worker department prepared a report on Mental Health and Langara College.
- The Mental Health Framework will be launched at the Health and Wellness Fair on November 14, 2018. In addition, the signing of The Okanagan Charter, an International Charter for health promoting Universities and Colleges will take place during the fair.
- The Mental Health Initiative Consultant, Tanya Miller will start on October 22, 2018.
Wellness Promotion on Campus:
We encourage our employees to maintain a balanced lifestyle and do our best to provide support for them through our Wellness Promotion Initiatives. These include:
- On-campus wellness classes
- Subsidized participation in the Santa Shuffle, Vancouver Sun Run and BMO Marathon
- Walking Challenge
- Mental Health First Aid Basic course
- Annual Health and Wellness Fair
- And more…
Resources available to Langara Employees:
In conjunction with MIAW, our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, Morneau Shepell has launched its new microsite Mental Illness and Relationships. Here you will find resources that explore how to build and maintain healthy relationships, the benefits of support systems and relationships, how to create a support system, and the role of self-care.
For more information on Langara’s Employee and Family Assistance Program, please visit the Payroll and Benefits tab and click on EFAP.
2018 Mental Health Day
October 10 is World Mental Health Day 2018. This year’s theme highlights Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World. Adolescence and the early years of adulthood are a time of life when many changes occur. Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, many cases going untreated. Growing mental health recognition and focusing on building mental resilience in young people is crucial. For more information about this year’s Mental Health Day, please click here.
I am concerned for a student, what do I do?
At Langara we care and support our students. If you witness or are approached by a student in distress or if a student exhibits concerning behavior, please use the following guidelines:
- If the student is behaving in a way that threatens the safety of you or another person, you should contact Security by calling 4444 from an internal phone or calling 604.374.2373. Security staff are all first-aid trained and should be called for emergency health and/or mental health crises.
- You can contact the Counselling Department if you would like to a) consult with a Counsellor about the well-being of a student, or b) if you would like to refer a student in distress by either accompanying them in person to the Counselling Department or providing them with information about Counselling services. Click here to view the After Hours Emergency Resources link on the Counselling website.
- Langara Counsellors are trained mental health professionals who provide a variety of confidential counselling services to students for personal, educational, career, and crisis support. For more information including consultation support, please contact 604.323.5211 or visit room B111.
Employees
If you are experiencing mental health challenges in the workplace, feel free to connect with your supervisor/ manager, a colleague, your union representative or Nav Dhaliwal, Coordinator, Workplace Reintegration and Attendance Promotion, to discuss how you can be best supported.
