Mental health support for faculty

• Conversations with Occupational Health are confidential. You don't need to disclose your situation to your department.

• You are entitled to a leave of absence, should you need one. You are also entitled to your 180 days of sick leave.

• The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provides support for short-term, goal-based concerns, through in-person, online, and phone appointments. The program also offers preventative resources. They do not provide support for chronic, long-term issues. Your family members can also access this program!

• Our benefits don’t apply to all types of therapy and practitioners. You can claim treatments by psychologists, and by counsellors who are registered social workers with a Master’s degree in Social Work. Psychotherapy, for example, is not covered.

• Counselling Services is a student service. Faculty in distress should contact Grand River Hospital, Homewood Health, or 911.

• Everyone at Waterloo is required to be mindful of each other's working hours according to the Disconnecting from Work guideline. (Employees are also required to "co-operate fully with any applicable mechanism utilized by the University to record working time or update their working status (e.g., out-of-office messages) as applicable.")

• Remember that you have options if your situation is impacting your ability to work, including therapy, accommodations, and leaves.

• Seek help: Talk to someone who can help you navigate the situation, whether that's a therapist, FAUW, Occupational Health, or a trusted friend or colleague. You don't have to do this alone.

• Take preventative measures to protect your wellbeing at work. We often tell people to be their own health advocates; the same goes for mental health and wellbeing. But unlike many health conditions, we have ample evidence for changes we can make in our daily lives that can have an immediate impact on our mental health.

  • Proactive measures: Meditation and physical activity—even 10 minutes a day—can make a significant difference.

  • Protective measures: Try not to get caught up in comparing yourself to others; collegial, friendly relationships at work lead to job satisfaction.

Employee supports: initiatives and resources at Waterloo

• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).

• Human Resources’ employee Pension & Benefits Booklet (download from the HR Benefits web page)

• Healthy Workplace Steering Committee

• Our Leaves page and blog posts on leaves

• Campus Wellness' Thrive Week and related resources

• The University's Disconnecting from Work guideline

Community supports

• The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington provides recovery-focused programs and services for people of all ages and their families.
• Grand River Hospital offers Emergency Mental Health Care and an inpatient mental health unit, as well as outpatient and withdrawal services.
• Find more community resources on the EFAP website.