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Tip of the Iceberg: Mental Health Support for Students

Posted on Friday, January 3rd, 2020

As we all know, being in school can get pretty intense and strain your mental health. Here are some ways to support your mental health during the school year. There’s something on this list for everyone!

Mind & Body: Physical and Mental Self-Care


  • Mood Walks: Weekly outdoor walks (yes, even in the winter) are an opportunity to explore your community, meet new friends, and walk your way to greater mental and physical wellness.
  • Sleep: a module with tips and strategies to get more and/or better sleep.
  • Stress Management: Tips and videos on coping with stress, check out the workshop to learn more!
  • Peer Support – Big White Wall: A free online mental health and wellbeing service offering self-help programs, creative outlets, and a community that cares.

Self-Help Apps & Tools

CBT-based apps for mood tracking and mood management:

  • WellTrack: For stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • Mindshift: For worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety, and phobias.

Workbooks

Modules

  • Resilience: Strategies to improve your ability to recover after setbacks.
  • TAO Self-Help: Educational modules with interactive activities to help you learn coping strategies for stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, anger management, problem-solving, and communication.

More apps and other online tools.

Guided Self-Help Tools

  • TAO: You can also use TAO with the help of an AC Counsellor to motivate you and structure your progress.
  • Bounce Back: A free skill-building program to help manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress, or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will receive access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.

Reach Out: Counselling

  • Good2Talk: A free, confidential helpline providing professional counselling, and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to post-secondary students in Ontario, 24/7/365
  • AC Counselling: Access confidential support through a walk-in consultation, where a counsellor will meet with you and help you develop a plan to address your concerns.
  • AC Group Counselling: Boosts your skills, coping strategies, and support system by providing a safe, supportive environment where you can share your experiences. It enhances your connection to others and provides you with a variety of approaches and perspectives to help you deal with challenges.

 

Crisis Support

Good luck,

Eliza Brown, Counsellor at Algonquin College

Discover Your Potential: Tap Into Academic Resources!

Posted on Friday, December 13th, 2019

Each new term may present its own academic challenges. We want you to succeed! Student Support Services offers a variety of resources to help students excel during their time at Algonquin College. Whether it’s your first-term or you are close to graduating, check out these supports to help you achieve your goals!

Read more >

School-Life Blend: Finding Balance

Posted on Friday, December 13th, 2019

Happy new year! Can you believe it is already 2020? The start of another year and the start of another semester – and we are especially excited about this one!

You may have heard of the phrase “work-life balance” or “school-life balance”, but this term is a little dated now. With the accessibility of laptops, availability of wifi, the Brightspace App, and emails coming into our phones, the various facets of our lives have never been more integrated. Introducing the updated phrase: “school-life blend”. Wondering what’s available on campus to enhance your school-life blend? Student Support Services has got your back! Read more >

Tip of the Iceberg: Dealing with Holiday Homesickness

Posted on Monday, November 25th, 2019

 

Many students won’t be going home over the Christmas holidays. Even though it’s a celebratory time, it can also be a lonely time, whether you’re from Montreal, Mumbai, or somewhere in between. Without your studies to distract you, how can you ward off holiday homesickness?

Preventing Holiday Homesickness

Sometimes, students are so focused on getting through exams that holiday homesickness isn’t on their radar at all. You may be surprised if you find yourself feeling low after a couple of days.

  • Try to plan things to look forward to over vacation– make yourself a bucket list. There’s so much going on in Ottawa over the holidays that you can find fun things to get out and do!
  • Message loved ones back home and set-up times to chat.
  • Ask acquaintances in your classes to see if anyone else will be in the same boat and suggest meeting up over the break. It can be a great time to strengthen new connections and bond over shared circumstances.

Coping with Low-Key Holiday Homesickness

Mild homesickness can involve feeling nostalgic about things that remind you of your community, often thinking of home, being more easily irritated, and feeling more sad or anxious than usual.

Remember that it’s normal to feel homesick, especially if you come from a close-knit family or have many close friends back home, so give yourself time to adjust.

  • Keep in touch with the people you miss
  • Explore Ottawa
  • Cook or eat comforting food from home
  • Look for light gifts to mail back home.

Practice self-care by doing activities or hobbies you enjoy and that were part of your old routine.

Coping with Intense Holiday Homesickness

Intense homesickness can manifest as constant thoughts of home, feeling hopeless and distressed, and avoiding activities and other people. Unlike mild homesickness, it’s hard to distract yourself from, and it can interfere with your daily functioning.

Ask yourself the question, ‘if things were better, what would that look like?’.

  • Write a list of positive moments and things you like about your new home.
  • Take every opportunity to connect with others, but try not to talk constantly to people back home, and don’t stay in your room all the time.
  • Commit to getting out and trying one new thing each day, such as walking around a new neighbourhood or trying a new takeout place, and take pictures to share with the people you miss.
  • If you feel really low or it lasts into the new semester, don’t ignore it. Take action by telling others that you’re feeling homesick. Good2Talk provides professional counselling to students 24/7.
  • Remind yourself that holiday homesickness is temporary.

Check out these apps and online tools for additional support.

Good luck,

– Eliza Brown, Counsellor at Algonquin College