Tuesday, March 6, 2018

A message from the President: The importance of addressing student mental health

On Monday, March 5, our campus lost a student to suicide. In the hours that followed this tragic event, our campus expressed shock, anger and grief at the loss of another young life.

Words cannot express my sadness upon hearing this news. Like many of you I am asking what was going on in this young man’s world where taking his life seemed the only way out. I am thinking about his parents, his family, and his friends and the terrible impact this will have on their lives.

As a community, I believe we need to talk about what happened. We need to talk about this young man and we need to continue to talk about mental health. And we need to turn talk into action to make sure we are doing everything in our power to remove stigma and connect people with the help they need.

Over the past several months, many people have gone to great lengths to start these discussions to give us ideas on where we can improve life at Waterloo for students. In the coming days, I will receive a final report and recommendations from the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health. I plan to share that report broadly with our campus community to hear feedback and to announce how we will move forward in support of student mental health.

We have suffered a terrible loss. As we reflect on what has happened, let us come together as a community to not only share our grief, but to ensure that those who are suffering know that there is a place for them to go, people for them to talk to, and support for them in their time of need.

Counselling Services - 519-888-4567 ext. 32655

Health Services - Student Medical Clinic - 519-888-4096

Grand River Hospital - 519-749-4300

St. Mary's Hospital - 519-744-3311

Good2Talk - 1-866-925-5454

Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247

Crisis Services Canada - 1-833-456-4566 or by text 45645  

Kitchener-Waterloo Sexual Assault Support Centre - 519-741-8633

Pharmacist Awareness Month: Think Community Partners

By: Alana Rigby, School of Pharmacy.

March is Pharmacy Awareness Month and the School of Pharmacy is encouraging others to think about the many roles pharmacists play, including the role of community partner.

What can you do with 80 pounds of potatoes, 100 pounds of ham, and 45 litres of ice cream? On Friday, February 23, a team of faculty, staff, and students from the School of Pharmacy answered that question by preparing a meal for 220 people in need.

The event supported Ray of Hope Community Centre, a local organization that offers hot meals to hungry people. Volunteering groups fundraise, purchase, prepare and serve each meal. They also supported “Coldest Night of the Year,” another Ray of Hope initiative that fundraises for the region’s hungry and homeless.  During the event, pharmacy students welcomed hundreds of participants into the School of Pharmacy for hot chocolate and treats before cheering them on to the finish line.

“Pharmacists are some of the most accessible health care providers in the community, so it’s important that we foster a sense of civic engagement in our students,” said Christine Bird, the school’s community service learning coordinator. “As a school, we are always looking for opportunities to give back to our community, one that has been so giving to us.”

The Think Pharmacists series is issued by the School of Pharmacy for #PAM2018.

Registration open for 11th annual Waterloo Staff Conference

Organizational & Human Development (OHD) is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 11th annual Waterloo Staff Conference taking place on April 5 & 6, 2018.

The two-day event features world-class keynotes as well as workshops (designed by your own campus colleagues) that help to develop personal and professional growth in our employees and further creates a robust, vibrant, and engaged community. The conference keynotes offer talks on leadership and teamwork from an Olympic lens; on how we need to treat our bodies and minds better for healthier and longer lives;  on new ways to look at productivity; and finally on explore the direct correlation between a healthy, productive workplace culture and an organizational wellness.

Workshops are listed online and with descriptions, learning outcomes, and key themes.  Be sure to read the descriptions on all the sessions being offered this year to find the best workshop that work for you. Topics include Are You an “Ambassador” for Waterloo? (Spoiler: yes!); Equitable Conflict Response;  Indigenization at UWaterloo, and Yoga & Mindfulness at Work, just to highlight a few. 

As well, this year’s conference will be hosting a special presentation with guest speaker, Tareq Hadhad. In a follow-up 2016 special session on the Syrian refugee crisis and the documentary film Salam Neighbor, Organizational & Human Development is proud to continue the dialogue on community outreach and engagement.  Come hear Tareq’s story on leaving Syria, being welcoming to Canada, and building community together.

Registration closes March 26^th.  For questions about the conference, please contact:  Mark Lisetto-Smith,  Coordinator, Communications & Events, Organizational & Human Development  mark.lisetto-smith@uwaterloo.ca Ext. 38257

For questions about the conference, please contact:  Mark Lisetto-Smith,  Coordinator, Communications & Events, Organizational & Human Development  mark.lisetto-smith@uwaterloo.ca Ext. 38257

Nutrition Month: Myth vs. Fact

By: Sandra Ace.

Myth:  Certain foods cause acne.

Truth:  While it is a commonly-held belief, eating fried or greasy food does not cause acne. There is some evidence suggesting a low glycemic index (GI) diet may prevent or treat acne and that high GI foods, prevalent in Western diets, may aggravate acne. Low GI foods are generally less-processed carbohydrates such as whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits, while high GI foods contain refined grains and simple sugars. There is certainly no downside in trying this approach, as cutting back on processed, high GI foods, which have limited or no nutritional value, will improve overall nutrition. Limited observational studies suggest that certain food groups, such as meat and dairy products, may increase the severity of acne, while fish intake may decrease the severity. However, before any recommendations can be made about dietary patterns that prevent or treat acne, large randomized controlled trials are needed. Cutting out entire groups of food may mean dietary imbalances that can impact health, so seek advice from your healthcare provider or a Registered Dietitian before making major changes. As with most medical conditions, a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient rich foods continues to be the gold standard.

Remembering retirees

Human Resources is reporting the death of retiree and former Food Services Assistant Sofia Murovec.  Murovec died February 16, 2018 at the age of 93 and began her work with the University in 1972 before retiring in 1989.

Human resources is also reporting the death of Reverand James Wahl who joined the University as a Professor at St. Jerome’s University on September 1, 1966.  Reverand Wahl was a priest with the Congregation of the Resurrection and retired July 1, 2006.  Reverand Wahl died February 26, 2018 at the age of 78.

The University also remembers Erifili Georghiou who passed away August 7, 2017. Georghiou began his career at Waterloo on September 6, 1977 as a Custodian of Plant Operations. Georghiou retired March 1, 1992.