This past week, the University of Waterloo celebrated Thrive Week!

 

Thrive Week is a time dedicated to appreciating mental health and wellness, and spreading awareness and resources to students. There are many events and workshops run by student leaders and staff across campus, and within our St. Jerome’s community. Find out what events happened at St. Jerome’s this year, and hear all about mental health and wellness at university from our first Thrive Week Ambassador! 

 

St. Jerome’s Thrive Week Ambassador, Rachel S., has put a lot of effort into coordinating and facilitating this week’s Thrive events for our community! Rachel is in her third year of Honours Arts, with majors in Social Development Studies, and Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies.

 

 

As the Thrive Week Ambassador, Rachel worked with our staff and community members to schedule and bring together a week of activities. She also had the opportunity to plan and run her own workshop. As a student that is very passionate about mental health and wellness, Rachel is enthusiastic about sharing resources and promoting a positive mental awareness within our community! 

 

Rachel: This year is the first time we have had a Thrive Ambassador, and I am so grateful for the support from the community throughout the planning and practice of the week. The Student Activities Team, Peer Academic Leaders, the library, Campus Ministry, and the Wellness Team worked together to create a full week of events, giving the SJU community the chance to Thrive every day! Our events were based on study tips, meditation, yoga, and wellness in art. There was even a workshop on crystals and spirituality. 

 

 

R: University life is full of ups and downs, and stress is a major influence on a student’s wellbeing. A saying goes that you cannot pour from an empty glass, and that really resonates when it comes to the pressure students put on themselves, especially when it comes to keeping up with self-care. In the face of pressure, a lot of students begin to neglect their self-care and mental health. This can be detrimental, especially when going through major transitions such as that of coming into university. It is so important to take care of yourself and to connect with resources when you need them. It is never shameful to need help, and it is truly okay to not be okay. Just know that the university has resources all around that are here for students, as the community truly wants students to Thrive year-round.

 

What should all university students know about mental wellness? 
R: The main aspect that university students should know about mental wellness is that it is as important as physical wellness. Even just taking a moment each day to practice your favourite form of self care can have a significant positive impact on your wellbeing. University is truly a marathon and not a sprint, so take the time to care for yourself, and know that there are many supports available to you, whenever you need them! 

 

What are some simple things that students can do to practice good mental wellness? 
R: The trick with mental wellness is finding things that help you feel better in your own way. There is no one tip that works for everyone, so it is so important to find what works best for you. That may look like taking some time to light a candle, meditating with crystals, taking some time to read for fun, drinking a warm beverage, or even watching some Netflix. Some days your self-care may consist of little accomplishments throughout the day, such as choosing an extra treat at dinner after a long day, or putting on a face mask after a stressful assignment. Mental wellness does not have to be sticking to a regimented routine, because everyone has both tough days and good days. Therefore, the key to mental wellness is really just doing something for yourself, something that your future self will thank you for. If taking a nap in the middle of the day helps you get through, then that is all the self-care you need. Sometimes making it through the day is the best thing you can do, and that is okay! 

 

What are some stressors that students could face when they come to university, and what are some ways in which they could cope with these stressors? 
R: University looks different for everyone when it comes to various stressors. You may find test taking and exams stressful, or assignments. Maybe moving away from home, or finding an apartment close enough to campus are causing you stress. Or even simply making sure you get to each class on time, and take notes fast enough are enough to cause high levels of stress. Really, the best way to be prepared going into university is identifying your support system, and what you can access on campus to help. Our university campus is very lucky to have many supports, such as AccessAbility services, Health Services, Counselling Services, and even peer support volunteer programs such as UW MATES who are stationed around campus to provide peer to peer support. Having the ability to identify when you need help and where to get this help is the most important part of thriving at university, as stress can come up at anytime. Remember that you have an abundance of support available, to help you do your best! 

 

 

If you have any questions about the wellness resources and support available on our SJU campus, please contact our very own Wellness Coordinator, Lindsay Thompson (lindsay.thompson@uwaterloo.ca).

 

Please send any questions about the blog content, or anything else you’d like to know about SJU, to outreach@sju.ca. 

 

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