Do you need urgent help? Are you in crisis, feeling unsafe, or worried you might hurt yourself or others? If you are experiencing a life-threatening issue, please call 911, contact the Campus Special Constable Service (519) 888-491 ext. 22222, or see the Campus Wellness Urgent Help page.
You can also see our Get Help Now or Specialized Crisis Support pages for a variety of crisis services.
Through-out our lives, we all navigate a variety of circumstance and degrees of challenge. Some will be annoying or inconvenient, and others will demand great efforts from us. Below are a number of resources, sorted by topic to assist you with a variety of possible situations.
Each section includes on-campus resources for students, and off-campus or community resources that are available to the general public (if applicable). You can also find additional resources on the corresponding nine dimensions of wellbeing pages.
Burnout & Compassion Fatigue Prevention and Recovery
- Occupational Health services - Find out more about their services
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Burnout Prevention and Treatment - Help Guide
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Job burnout: How to spot it and take action – Mayo Clinic
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Burn-out Symptoms and Treatment – Verywellmind
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A Guide To Burnout – Healthline
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Burnout – Psychology Today
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Exploring Burnout Among University Faculty: incidence, performance, and demographic issues – Teaching and Teacher Education
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Coping With Faculty Burnout in the Pandemic – Psychology Today
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Managing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Through Self-Care Strategies
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Compassion Fatigue vs. Burnout – The American Institute of Stress
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Compassion Fatigue – Psychology Today
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What is Compassion Fatigue? – Canadian Medical Association
Coping with Grief and Loss
On-Campus
- Students:
- Counselling Services: Individual, group, and virtual support available
- Mates: Peer support
- EmpowerMe, Student Assistance Program (online counselling support)
- Student Health Benefit (for private counselling and other health care expenses. )
- Employees:
- Employee and Family Assistance Program: Individual and virtual support available
- Extended health care benefit: The university has an agreement with Greenshield to provide extended health care benefits. These benefits are designed to help cover the cost of necessary health care expenses which are not covered by OHIP, including private counselling.
- Occupational Health team: provide integrated occupational health and safety services to employers and employees.
- Everyone:
- University of Waterloo Chaplains: Offer non-faith based and faith-based support
Off-Campus
- Here24/7 (Waterloo Region Mental Health and Crisis Services Team): 1-844-437-3247
- Good2Talk - 1-866-925-5454 (Ontario only)
- Bereavement Ontario Network
- Coping with Grief and Loss - Wellness Together Canada
- Crisis Services Canada
- The Coping Centre
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Canadian Mental Health Association: Grieving
- My Grief – online resource to support those who are grieving.
Covid-19 Resources
- The University of Waterloo's Coronavirus Information Website.
- Canadian Public Health Agency COVID webpage
- Public Health Ontario COVID webpage
- Coronavirus Sanity Guide (FREE) – from Ten Percent Happier
- Five Mental Health Tips Amid COVID-19 Concerns from the Canadian Mental Health Association
- How to prevent loneliness in a time of social distancing by Scientific American
- 7 science-based strategies to cope with coronavirus anxiety (The Conversation)
- Stay well in uncertain times - Canadian Mental Health Association
- Wellness together Canada
Dealing with Loneliness and Isolation
- Canadian Mental Health Association: Coping with Loneliness
- How to Cope with Loneliness During the Coronavirus Pandemic: verywellmind
- Loneliness: Mind.org.uk
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity
On-Campus Resources
- Office of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion
- Faculty of Engineering Associate Dean, Outreach, Equity and Diversity (Mary Robinson)
- President's Anti-Racism Taskforce
- Office of Indigenous Relations
Off-Campus Resources
- Aids Committee of Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo Area [ACCKWA]
- African Caribbean and Black Network of Waterloo Region
- Anishnabeg Outreach
- Coalition of Muslim Women
- Community Justice Initiatives
- Grand River Metis Council
- Healing of Seven Generations
- KW Counselling Services
- Rainbow Community Council
- SPECTRUM [community space for LGBTQ2+ people]
- White Owl Native Ancestry Association
Financial & Career Development
Career Resources
- Employee and Family Assistance Program - career coaching/counselling, pre-retirement planning, shift worker support
- Employee Career Advising Program - The Centre for Career Action provides confidential career advising to all employees at the University of Waterloo including contract staff (with contracts exceeding 1 year), regular staff, faculty, and CUPE members.
- Memorial University of Newfoundland - Graduate Diploma in Post-Secondary Studies (Health Professional Education) or Educational Leadership Studies, M.Ed. (Post-Secondary Studies). Delivered Online
- Royal Roads University - M.A. in Higher Educational Administration and Leadership. Blended delivery, with a two-week residency on campus and online courses. Students complete a total of 10 courses (33 credits) over a two-year period.
- St. Francis Xavier University - The Master of Adult Education. Blended Delivery, the program begins with a 3-week residential institute and the remainder is completed from the student’s work or home.
- University of Calgary - 3 credentials can be earned in this pathway, a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and a Master of Education (MEd) degree. Blended delivery (both online and in-person). Summer sessions may be offered face-to-face in Calgary, while the fall, winter, and spring sessions are normally completed online.
- University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education - M.A., PhD, or MEd in Higher Education. On campus with some online. The majority of courses are scheduled in the evening or in a compressed weekend format.
- OISE Continuing and Professional Learning at the University of Toronto - Delivery, Online.
- Wilfrid Laurier University - Master of Education, Student Affairs Field. Delivery, part-time, blended format.
- University of Manitoba -Online programs for university and college administrators Higher Education Administration
- University of Calgary - 200-hour Certificate in Career Development and Academic Advising OR 300-hour Certificate in Adult Learning specializing in Career and Academic Advising
- George Brown College - Student Advising and Services Program. Delivered Online.
Financial Resources
- Money and Finances - Government of Canada
- Retirement Planning – Government of Canada
- Retirement Planning Worksheet – Government of Canada
- Learn How Debt Consolidation Works - CIBC
- Getting Debt Under Control – Government of Canada
- What you need to know when getting help to pay off debt or repair your credit – Government of Canada
- Getting help from a credit counsellor – Government of Canada
- Using a debt settlement company – Government of Canada
- Find a licensed insolvency trustee – Government of Canada
- You owe money–Consumer proposals – Government of Canada
- You owe money–Considering bankruptcy – Government of Canada
- Making a plan to be debt-free – Government of Canada
Illness, Injury, and Accommodations for Functional Limitations (Acute or Chronic)
On-Campus Resources
- Employee and Family Assistance Plan - Confidential Counselling Services, and Life Smart Services - a series of work-life services for expert advice, information, and coaching that you can access and use in your own way. The EFAP is a complement to the current benefits program, at no additional cost to employees.
- Occupational Health services - Find out more about their services
- Absences and Accommodations - Direct link to UWaterloo forms and information
- Medical appointments - Time away from work guidelines
- Return to work - Principles document (PDF)
- Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) - Information from the Safety Office
- Emergency leave - Emergency leave guidelines from the Secretariat
- Long term disability - Information from Human Resources
- Sick leave - Information from Human Resources
- Human Resources -Information about benefits, sick leaves, long-term disability, and time away from work
- Safety Office -Information about workplace injury
Off-Campus Resources
- Kitchener-Waterloo AccessAbilty: Community resource links to local agencies and services
- Independent Living Waterloo Region
- Health Line: Financial assistance for people with disabilities -Waterloo-Wellington
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Regional Resources: The Region of Waterloo provides various community services in addition to what's provided below.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- University of Waterloo Chaplains
- Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Feeling Better Now
- Health Canada
- Foundry (BC Children's Hospital)
- Mental Health Helpline
- ConnexOntario
- Mood Disorders Society of Canada
- Black Mental Health Canada
- Black Health Alliance
Mental Health Training Opportunities
- More Feet on the Ground - The University offers online training about mental health and how you can respond and refer students needing further support
- Campus Wellness training page - List of University offered mental health training opportunities
- Mental Health First Aid - Online or in-person sessions
Nutrition & Food
On-Campus Resources
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- UW Dietitian: Nicole Pin is a Registered Dietitian who can answer questions about healthy eating and nutrition on campus.
- Athletics & Recreation Personalized Nutrition Program
- Campus Wellness Nutrition Services
- Health Promotion Wellness Topics and Information There are some interesting articles and information on a variety of topics including nutrition
- UW Food Services Nutrition Site: Information on balanced eating, recipes, and how to find nutritious meals and snacks on campus
Off-Campus Resources
- The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
- House of Friendship: Emergency food hampers available
- Affordable Food (Region of Waterloo): List of Emergency Food Programs in Waterloo Region, tips on healthy eating, and Canada's food guide
Physical Health
On-Campus Resources
- Occupational Health Other Information and Links - resources available for a number of health conditions
- Nutrition Services
- Waterloo Athletics and Recreation Virtual Classes, Home Workout Program and more
- Move Your Mind Peer support to help students experience the physical, emotional, mental, and cognitive benefits of physical activity
- Mind Body Run Learn to Run/Walk Mindfully
- Pre-recorded brain-breaks
Off-Campus/Community Resources
- For medical emergencies, call 911 immediately.
- Telehealth Ontario (Toll-free: 1-866-797-0000)
- Family physician or medical facility
- Grand River Hospital - 519-749-4300
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St. Mary's Hospital - 519-744-3311
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Cambridge Memorial Hospital - 519- 621-2330
Smoking, Substance Usage, and Harm Reduction
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- Health Canada Quit Smoking
- Region of Waterloo Public Health Quit Smoking
- Smokers Helpline
- Drink Smart
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Treatment, support and recovery
- Understanding and Finding Help for Substance use and Addictions: (CMHA)
- Where to get Help: Region of Waterloo
- House of Friendship Addiction Treatment: Online programs and Treatment Programs
- Health Line Community Links: Addiction Support Groups in -Waterloo-Wellington
Stress Management
Assess your stress level by completing the Perceived Stress Scale (PDF) Stress self-check from Mental Health America
- Occupational Health services - Find out more about their services
- I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet
- How Chronic Stress Affects Your Brain (YouTube)
- How to Make Stress Your Friend (YouTube)
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Dealing with Stress in the Workplace – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
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Managing Stress – Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
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Building Resilience Workbook – Workplace Strategies for Mental Health
Didn't find what you were looking for? Contact the Community Wellness Team for additional resources.