Campus Wellness offers a broad range of mental health training programs. Our goals are to raise campus mental health awareness, reduce mental health stigma, and support early intervention for those in need within our Waterloo campus community.
Training Opportunities for Students
Recognizing and Responding to a Person in Distress
Mental health impacts us all. Each of us has a role in supporting the mental health of those within our communities. In this workshop, Recognizing and Responding to a Person in Distress, we aim to give the University of Waterloo students and employees the skills and confidence to support others (students and colleagues) who may be in distress. We will focus on recognizing the signals of a person in distress, effectively responding with care and empathy and understand how to refer to resources within the community. It can be challenging to find the words to support a person in distress. This workshop aims to equip participants with tools, strategies, and resources that increase our capacity to help in challenging situations.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural reactions that signal a person in distress
- Assess personal strengths and limitations when supporting others in distress
- Identify and practice key elements of being a helpful responder including the most effective and supportive responses
- Identify resources and networks of support available within the University and the broader community
Time Commitment: 2.5 hours
Upcoming dates:
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | 1:30pm – 4:00 pm | Microsoft Teams | Register on Portal
More Feet on the Ground | Self-guided
This is a free online mental health education program that teaches participants to Recognize, Respond, and Refer individuals experiencing mental health problems on campus. The program was developed by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) in partnership with Brock University and the Ontario Government’s Mental Health Innovation Fund and has been adapted and branded for all participating post-secondary institutions across Ontario.
Training content:
- Comprehensive information about common mental health and addiction concerns
- Overview of signs/symptoms, treatment options, mental health stigma
- Facts, statistics, and stories of lived experience
- Campus and community resource information
- Opportunity to receive a certificate following successful completion of a brief on-line assessment of learning
Training dates:
- Anytime, anywhere at More Feet on the Ground.
Training Opportunities for Employees
Mental Health Literacy Program | Virtual
The Mental Health Literacy Program is designed to support and address mental health within the University of Waterloo community. It is a five-module program with synchronous and asynchronous components that encourages discussions and reflections of mental health through an equity-focused lens. Its purpose is to create employees who see themselves as natural helpers, within a supportive community of care, concern and compassion.
For any questions related to the Mental Health Literacy Program, please contact Robbyn Hesch.
Program Outline:
- Module 1: Mental Health Language and Anti-Stigma
- Module 2: Equity and Mental Health
- Module 3: Recognizing and Responding to a Person in Distress
- Module 4: Reframing Resiliency
- Module 5: Compassionate Care: Caring for Self While Caring for Others
Time Commitment: 10.5 hours synchronous on Microsoft Teams. Participation in all 5 modules is required to receive the Mental Health Literacy Certificate.
Upcoming dates:
Spring Cohort 1 | Register on Portal
- Module 1: Thursday, May 2, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:00pm
- Module 2: Thursday, May 9, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:00pm
- Module 3: Thursday, May 16, 2024 | 1:30 – 4:00pm
- Module 4: Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:00pm
- Module 5: Thursday, May 30, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:00pm
Spring Cohort 2 | Register on Portal
- Module 1: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Module 2: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Module 3: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 | 9:30am – 12:00pm
- Module 4: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
- Module 5: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 | 10:00am – 12:00pm
To be notified about upcoming Mental Health Literacy Certificate dates, please provide your contact information here.
Recognizing and Responding to a Person in Distress
Mental health impacts us all. Each of us has a role in supporting the mental health of those within our communities. In this workshop, Recognizing and Responding to a Person in Distress, we aim to give the University of Waterloo students and employees the skills and confidence to support others (students and colleagues) who may be in distress. We will focus on recognizing the signals of a person in distress, effectively responding with care and empathy and understand how to refer to resources within the community. It can be challenging to find the words to support a person in distress. This workshop aims to equip participants with tools, strategies, and resources that increase our capacity to help in challenging situations.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural reactions that signal a person in distress
- Assess personal strengths and limitations when supporting others in distress
- Identify and practice key elements of being a helpful responder including the most effective and supportive responses
- Identify resources and networks of support available within the University and broader community
Time Commitment: 2.5 hours
Upcoming dates for Employees:
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | 1:30pm – 4:00 pm | Microsoft Teams | Register on Portal
Thursday, June 27, 2024 | 1:30pm – 4:00pm | Microsoft Teams | Register on Portal
More Feet on the Ground | Self-guided
This is a free online mental health education program that teaches participants to Recognize, Respond, and Refer individuals experiencing mental health problems on campus. The program was developed by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) in partnership with Brock University and the Ontario Government’s Mental Health Innovation Fund and has been adapted and branded for all participating post-secondary institutions across Ontario.
Training content:
- Comprehensive information about common mental health and addiction concerns
- Overview of signs/symptoms, treatment options, mental health stigma
- Facts, statistics, and stories of lived experience
- Campus and community resource information
- Opportunity to receive a certificate following successful completion of a brief on-line assessment of learning
Training dates:
- Anytime, anywhere at More Feet on the Ground.
Self-cancellation
Log into Portal and select your profile picture at the top right. Under 'My registered events', select the event you wish to cancel. Scroll to the bottom and click the red button that says 'Cancel registration'.
Registering for future trainings: If you have unregistered and wish to re-enroll at a later date, please revisit this page for the training schedule. This page will be updated once a new schedule is available.
If you have any questions, please contact Victoria Alderson.
