Mental Health: a Concordia guide

One in five Canadians can expect to suffer from mental illness in their lifetime. Two out of three of those will do so in silence.

Concordia’s Counselling and Psychological Services is hosting an event that aims to combat the stigma associated with mental illness. 

Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the "One in Five” Mental Health Awareness Fair, taking place January 25, 2017 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the The Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building) on Sir George Williams (SGW) Campus.

At the fair, you can learn which resources at Concordia and the greater Montreal community can help to improve your mood, increase your mental wellbeing and better support you.
 

Let’s talk

The fair is happening in collaboration with national Bell Let’s Talk Day, which aims to raise awareness and build a “stigma-free Canada” regarding mental illness.

You will be invited to sign your support on a giant banner. If you take a photo of yourself and send it to Bell, a contribution will be made on your behalf to the Let’s Talk fundraising initiative.
 

Concordia's proactive approach

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, at least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable to work in any given week due to related problems.

This data struck a chord at Concordia. Thus, as part of the 2013 Thinking Out Loud conversation series at Concordia, Steve Harvey, former dean of the John Molson School of Business, sat down with Mary Deacon, chair of Bell Let’s Talk. They discussed mental health in the workplace, in the context of the Globe and Mail series of national conversations on aging well.

The conversation centred around how organizations are being impacted — financially and operationally — by mental illness and what they can do about it. Watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Here’s what else is going on to spread the word and lift the stigma.
 

In Montreal

The Centre for Clinical Research in Health (CCRH) in the Faculty of Arts and Science takes a highly engaged approach to research, training and the provision of mental-health services.

Undergraduate and graduate students can volunteer as research assistants for the CCRH’s laboratories; most of these are entirely devoted to the study of mental health problems and their treatment.

The Department of Psychology houses the Applied Psychology Center (APC), a full-service mental-health training clinic that is accessible to all of Greater Montreal.
 

On campus

For Concordians, Health Services is a one-stop shop. Know someone who is experiencing symptoms of mental illness? The first step is to see a nurse.

According to the 2013 National College Health Assessment, 30 per cent of Concordia students are adversely affected by stress. With that in mind, Health Services offers advice on how to build good mental health, while Counselling and Psychological Services also provides counselling services for students. You can drop-in for a free triage appointment at the Counselling offices at either campus — H-440 at Sir George Williams and AD-103 at Loyola — to be referred to the most appropriate resources available for your needs on or off campus.

For staff and faculty, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  provides voluntary, strictly confidential counselling, as well as information and referrals.
 

Therapy groups

Interested in working with a psychologist to overcome shyness, your inner critic, or even how you can introduce therapy into your everyday lifestyle?

Therapy groups like SOS Your Emotional Health held at the Loyola Campus and Everyday Therapy at S.G.W. Campus provide proven tools, skills and techniques that psychologists use. Check out the list of Counselling and Psychological Services’ therapy groups and workshops and links for online registration.
 

Relaxing lunch hours

Starting Thursday January 19, 2017, there will be four lunch-hour events from 12 to 1 p.m. in H-440, S.G.W Campus for students called Building your Buddha Nature. Participants will get a chance to practice various mindfulness and self-compassion exercises to bring more presence into their everyday lives. Register through the MyConcordia portal.

VIDEO: Watch Concordia student Alexis Lahorra's testimonial
 

"One in Five” Mental Health Awareness Fair is taking place January 25 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the The Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building) on Sir George Williams (SGW) Campus. 

Bell Let’s Talk Day also takes place on January 25. Join the conversation by using #BellLetsTalk; Bell donates 5¢ per Tweet, Facebook share, text and call to mental-health initiatives.

Are you worried that your symptoms of sadness or stress are outside the normal realm? Contact Health Services to schedule an appointment or attend a counselling walk-in triage appointment at either SGW or Loyola campus.

Staff and faculty can reach out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential counselling.