What does it mean to have “well-being”? The words “health” and “well-being” are difficult to define. In many ways, it is easier to describe the absence of health and well-being, than it is to describe what it means to have them.
The well-being of our community matters! The Faculty of Engineering (FoE) Community Wellness Program was created to support and promote the well-being of our community throughout the year.
The World Health Organization defines health as:
"A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Well-being goes beyond the aspects of physical health to include other social, psychological, and personal aspects.
Having well-being includes the ability of “an individual or group to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment".
From this perspective, well-being can be seen as a “resource” or “asset” that helps people live their everyday lives. The FoE is currently developing a Wellness framework to guide strategic initiatives designed to improve the well-being of our community. Information on our progress and strategic initiatives can be found on our Wellness Framework and Strategic Initiatives webpage.
In addition, in the FoE, we utilize a dimensional model approach to wellbeing. While there are many helpful models and ways to think of wellbeing, we chose a dimensional model because dimensional models recognize that people have many elements or aspects that contribute to their overall wellness. In the FoE, we utilize the Nine Dimensions of Wellness: physical, intellectual, emotional, relational, spiritual, vocational, cultural, financial, and environmental.
The FoE Community Wellness Program seeks to provide resources, support, and referrals to staff, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students to assist in the strengthening of their nine dimensions of wellness. For more information on models of wellbeing and the nine dimensions in particular, please see our nine dimensions of wellness webpage.
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Are E-cigarettes a Gateway to Substance Use?
Dr. David Hammond, a professor in the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, is currently leading two international studies on cannabis policy and tobacco control, respectively. In one of his recent articles, he outlines the increase in e-cigarette usage in England, which is also a similar trend in Canada.
Recipe of the Month: Mediterranean Lentil Soup
Packed with protein-rich lentils, fresh vegetables, and aromatic herbs, lentil soup is a celebration of wholesome ingredients and rich, savory flavours. Infused with a blend of cumin, coriander, and a hint of lemon, lentil soup offers a delightful balance of earthy and tangy notes.
Managing Family Dynamics During the Holidays
Between October and December, a large number of holidays from a variety of traditions take place. Holiday celebrations are a time of joy, tradition, and relaxation (hopefully). For post-secondary students, they offer a much-needed break from the stresses of studying. Holidays often represent an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends and to enjoy a reprieve from cooking and laundry! However, the reality of the holidays often contrasts with the idealized portrayals in movies; while they can be joyous, they can also evoke excitement and anxiety, especially with respect to family relationships. As Dr. Albers notes, “hometown anxiety isn’t a diagnosis, but it’s a useful term” (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Engineering students are cooking thanks to Mindful Campuses Grant
The Community Wellness Team received the Mindful Campuses grant for third year in a row.
New Emergency System Goes Live Oct 1, 2024!
The University of Waterloo is making a significant change by retiring the WatSAFE emergency notification app and replacing it with a new Emergency Notification System (ENS) platform provided by the company Regroup Mobile.
Canada's 9-8-8 number for mental health support
As of Nov 30, 2023, people across Canada can call and text 9-8-8, a new three-digit service, for help when they need it most. The service offers trauma-informed and culturally affirming support to anyone who is thinking of suicide, or who is worried about someone they know. While the focus is on suicide prevention, the service can be accessed for any mental health concern.
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. It is the belief of the ENGWellness Program that reconciliation must go beyond recognition, and we must acknowledge that as a post-secondary institution, we carry much power and privilege.
We also understand our positionality as wellness supports and how that positionality intersects with the experiences and cultures of the student communities we aim to support. We also recognize that the holistic approach to wellness that we promote is rooted in Indigenous healing practices which further contributes to our institution’s commitment to the Okanogan Charter whose key principles include using “whole system approaches” that “value local and Indigenous communities’ contexts and priorities”. With that spirit, we as wellness supports continue to actively participate in educational opportunities to further explore our nation’s history and the rich heritage of Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) peoples. We also aim to continuously examine our positionality and systems of discrimination throughout the conversations we have and the work we carry out. We encourage all of us, as a community, to do the same.
For more information, visit the Truth and Reconciliation Response website.
Map source: Adam Lewis, “Living on Stolen Land,” Alternatives Journal December 2015
We're here to help enhance and support your wellness in a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. Our offices and spaces are a place where human rights are respected and where 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and their friends and allies, are welcome and supported.