Mental Health Resources

Students:

COVID-19 may be impacting your life in significant ways, contributing to increased feelings of stress and anxiety. This is a normal and justified response to the changing realities that we are all facing. Perhaps more now than ever, it’s important to take care of ourselves mentally and physically in order to cope with and reduce feelings of anxiety. How do we do this? Here are 10 tips that may be helpful.

Counselling Services provides professional, confidential support for mental health, academic, and career concerns. To make an appointment, please call 613.727.4723 ext. 7200 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.or email welcomecentre@algonquincollege.com. If you are on campus, you can also stop by the Welcome Centre on the third floor of the Student Commons.

Employees:

Full time employees who are experiencing stress or are in need of emotional support can call the College’s confidential Employee Family Assistance Program at 1-800-461-9722. There is access to a wide range of services, including counselling via telephone, in person, or online sessions, as well as a variety of wellness resources.

Although, live/chat consultations and counselling portion of our EFAP program is only available for full time employees part time employees do have access to the resources/support materials on the EFAP site. This includes many articles and supportive information on a variety on topics including career advice, grieving, relationship concerns and family issues to name a few. Should a part time employee require additional support please reach out to your manager or the wellness and abilities team to find out what other options may be available.

Direct access to the site can be found here Lifeworks and for more information on the program can be found on our HR website.

Students & Employees:

  • City of Ottawa Mental Health: You can find additional mental health resources from the City of Ottawa here.
  • Distress and Crisis Lines: If it is an urgent need, call the Distress Line – 613-722-6914 or 1-866-966-0991 or go online at https://crisisline.ca/.
  • Spiritual Counselling: This is a type of counselling that focuses on a person’s spiritual side. If you would like to schedule spiritual counselling, please contact Yuriy Derkach at derkacy@algonquincollege.com. In Spiritual Counselling, the emphasis is on dealing with the whole person, assisting the person work towards inner balance and the integration of all dimensions. Spiritual Counselling has an expanded view of life, acknowledges the mystery of this complex world and takes different belief systems, faiths, religions, subconscious and superconscious states of awareness into account, metaphysical experiences, spiritual theology, spiritual presence and higher-self cosmic connections. People may consider spiritual counselling if they would like to explore or solidify their own personal spiritual beliefs or bring a spiritual element into solving problems in their lives. During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to become stressed, anxious, fearful, agitated and doubtful. Turning to spirituality can help to find peace, harmony, stability and hope. It can also help to ground oneself, to focus on positive things, to connect to inner self, to look for ways to help others, to be creative, pro-active, and to practice compassion and self-care.
  • Big White Wall is a safe peer-to-peer mental health community that is accessible online 24/7. It’s FREE to all students and staff. In a time in which social isolation, loneliness and anxiety are already increasing mental health issues, COVID-19 is creating additional challenges. Members can share feelings and concerns with each other while underpinned by their team of clinicians who are experienced in and prepared to provide health anxiety support. During uncertain times, we must come together as a community. Find support right now at bigwhitewall.ca.
  • BounceBack® is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ 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 get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. bouncebackontario.ca</a
  • First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Hotline (services available in Cree, Ojibwe, Inuktitut, English, French) 1-855-242-3310