Prioritizing well-being

Our community was shaken by a disturbing hate-motivated attack related to gender expression and gender identity. If you need to take space from work or your studies right now, please do that. Your managers and instructors will do everything they can to support you. 

Campus community members who identify as Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, queer, gender non-conforming and women may be disproportionately impacted by these events and should be centred in our healing. They may require additional space, support, time away, and accommodations at this time.

We encourage all members of the UWaterloo community to make use of the various resources and supports available to them. 

Students

If you feel overwhelmed or anxious and need to talk to somebody, please contact Counselling Services at Campus Wellness: 519-888-4096. In-person and virtual supports are available. If needed, please communicate with your supervisor or professor about temporary adjustments to work or studies.

• The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office remains available to support anyone on campus who has experienced, or been impacted by, sexual and gender-based violence. Please reach out to them at svpro@uwaterloo.ca.  
   
• If you are experiencing harm related to your identity (including but not exhaustively transphobia, sexism, homophobia or racism) in need of informal supports please contact equity@uwaterloo.ca for virtual care.  
   
• If you are Indigenous and are seeking culturally specific support, please contact the Office of Indigenous Relations at indigenousrelations@uwaterloo.ca or Elder Myeengun Henry at myeengun.henry@uwaterloo.ca. You can also reach out to Laura Belben at lbelben@uwaterloo.ca for counselling support for Indigenous students.  

Accommodation support

We know that such a traumatic and horrific experience may impact your ability to focus on academics. AccessAbility Services (AAS) is available to work with you for academic accommodation supports. When you are ready to talk about academic impacts, they are there for you. It’s never too late; right now, please prioritize your health and well-being.

When you are ready, your first step is to complete the online application. No documentation is required to get started with AAS. If you are unsure if you require accommodations, you are welcome to contact Zina Bartolotta (zbartolotta@uwaterloo.ca) or Laura Myers (laura.myers@uwaterloo.ca) for more support.   

Healing spaces

In-person healing spaces. Please click the link to register in Portal to attend.

• Healing Space for Women and Fem Identified students - Tuesday July 11, 1-2 p.m.
• Open Healing Space – for all students - Wednesday July 12, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
• Healing Space for 2SLGBTQIA+ student community - Wednesday July 12, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
• Healing Space for Indigenous and racialized queer and trans students - Thursday July 13, 1 - 2 p.m.

Campus Wellness is facilitating four virtual healing spaces this week for students impacted by the hate-motivated attack.

• Healing Space for Indigenous and racialized queer and trans students: Wednesday, July 5, 2023, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please email Andrea at aarthurb@uwaterloo.ca for the link to join the session.
• Healing space for Women and Fem identified students: Thursday, July 6, 2023, 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 a.m. Please email Tanya at tanya.andrews@uwaterloo.ca for the link to join the session.
• Open Healing Space (open for all students): Thursday, July 6, 2023, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please email Tanya at tanya.andrews@uwaterloo.ca for the link to join the session.
• Healing Space for 2SLGBTQIA+ students: Friday, July 7, 2023, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please email Tanya at tanya.andrews@uwaterloo.ca for the link to join the session.

Faculty and staff

Our Employee and Family Assistance Program is available 24/7 for counselling, coaching and support. Call 1-800-663-1142 or visit Homeweb.ca.   

Human Resources can also arrange for a counsellor from Homewood Health to facilitate group sessions — either virtually or in person — for up to 20 people at a time. Alternatively, we can arrange for a counsellor to be available to carry out 1:1 sessions. Please connect with your Human Resources Partner if this might be of interest to you, or speak to your department head or faculty leaders to ask for this support.

Community supports

• Here 24/7 - 1-844-437-3247 (available for immediate support) 
• Grand River Hospital - 519-749-4300 
• St. Mary's Hospital - 519-744-3311 
• Good2Talk - 1-866-925-5454 
• Talk Suicide Canada – 1-833-456-4566
• Empower Me 1-833-628-5589  
• IMPACT (Integrated Mobile Police and Crisis Team) is a partnership between the UW Special Constable Service, Counselling Services, and the Canadian Mental Health Association. IMPACT workers provide Mental Health care in after-hours settings when counselling is unavailable. IMPACT workers are available by contacting the UWSCS at 519-888-4911. IMPACT Hours are 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

We must stand together as a campus community and denounce any form of hate, discrimination, or violence. We will continue to prioritize the well-being of our students, faculty and staff, and work tirelessly to create an environment where we all can thrive and feel safe.