Nurturing students’ well-being amidst seasonal challenges 

"Blue Monday" has arrived. This day gets its name for being considered the most depressing day of the year and usually lands on the third Monday of January. With the increased darkness of winter, shorter days and the stress of starting a new study term, the University of Waterloo is focusing on sharing student mental health and well-being supports. Blue Monday also provides an opportunity to bring mental health conversations front and center to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and ensure that access to supports and resources are made easier. 

“Our wellness programming adopts a holistic approach to fostering the mental and emotional well-being of students. Through purposeful wellness conversations we help students discover themselves, provide meaningful connections and learn ways to cope with challenges,” says Andrea Arthur-Brown, manager of counselling services, Campus Wellness. 

“We developed this approach to help students navigate the pressures of academic and personal expectations in a holistic manner. We believe that integrating mental health conversations into students’ everyday lives, coupled with providing diverse opportunities to engage in wellness conversations, can create moments of belonging. It’s a chance for students to deepen their self-awareness and establish connections with their peers.” 

This year, the focus is not only on acknowledging the impact of Blue Monday but also on recognizing the broader issue of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the importance of providing robust mental health support for students. 

SAD is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern and tends to affect people during the fall and winter months when sunlight exposure is limited. Students, already balancing the demands of academics, extracurriculars, social life and personal expectations, can find the winter months particularly challenging. 

Supporting students at Waterloo 

Oftentimes our faculty and staff members are the first point of contact for students seeking support. This pivotal role speaks to the trusting environment we aim to foster, where students feel comfortable reaching out for support. Recognizing the need for proactive measures, Campus Wellness is committed to enhancing and supporting wellness for all in a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.  

“We enhance wellness at the individual, community and systems-level, through advocacy, building capacity and partnerships, providing dynamic programs and services, and strengthening communities. Students are actively engaged in the evolution of our program and service offerings. The feedback we receive helps inform the progress we make to better support our students,” says Goldi Gill, executive director, Campus Wellness. 

Counselling Services is taking a unique approach to identity-based programming that engages students in wellness conversations. The programming balances a variety of topics, such as fostering a sense of belonging, self-discovery and coping strategies to help students navigate feelings of stress and overwhelm.  

Faculty and staff have opportunities to participate in mental health literacy training sessions offered by Campus Wellness, enhancing their understanding of mental health barriers, responding to a student in distress, ensuring all members of our campus community are equipped to support our students. 

Wellness programs, support groups and student services 

Wellness programs enable students to engage in wellness conversations and provide them with strategies to take care of their overall well-being. These programs are a great way for students to incorporate activities into their schedule, to help boost their motivation and contribute to long-term success 

Students can tap into a variety of supports and services anytime, recognizing that their wellness journey ebbs and flows throughout their time at Waterloo. 

The counselling team provides programming and services to help students lead a healthy and balanced life, at no charge, in a private and confidential setting. 

• Individual appointments – provide short-term counselling to address the current mental health concerns that are impacting a student’s ability to attend to their academics 

• Same day counselling– available on Tuesdays & Wednesdays for students who may not want or require ongoing counselling  

• Crisis appointments – students in distress can access intake appointments every weekday to be scheduled for either an Immediate (within 24 hours) or Urgent appointment (within 3-5days) 

Primary medical care appointments provide comprehensive health support to registered  Waterloo students 

• Student medical clinic offers healthcare visits with both male and female Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students 

• Family health clinic serves immediate family members of registered international students, visiting scholars, visiting researchers, visiting faculty and post-doctorates 

Waterloo’s communications strategies have also evolved to ensure our students are informed of supports and resources and know how to access them. Student stories are created to showcase a variety of student experiences and a website has been developed to bring resources together into one, easy to navigate space. This approach allows students to see themselves reflected in the information shared and inspired to try at home strategies while understanding that asking for help is encouraged.  

At Campus Wellness prioritizing students' mental health and well-being is paramount to us. Our thoughtfully crafted programs and services aim to create a supportive environment for students’ emotional and physical well-being.