World Mental Health Day

Group of people walking outside

World Mental Health Day: internationally October 10

For World Mental Health Day 2024, we focus on three key themes to understanding and practicing good mental health. 

  1. We acknowledge that differing intersectionality means that the experience of mental health and what people need to support their mental health will be different from person to person.
  2. We recognize that effectively balancing all aspects of our lives helps us stay mentally healthy. However, this balance can be tough to strike, so support is available to help; no one has to be ashamed to ask for help. 
  3. We understand that learning how to care for our body’s natural stress response helps us care for our mental health.

World Mental Health Day Events

    • Buildings and offices across campus are lit up purple, to signify the importance of being a community that talks about and cares for mental health.
    • Participate in #LightUpPurple! Wear purple on October 10.

More events on campus 

Supporting our Mental Health: Conversation with Unitea

  •  Oct 9 | 2 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
  • Join Unitea for a group tea time to discuss how we support our mental health as the semester progresses and get ideas from one another for helpful strategies.

Register here

Wisdom of Silence  

  • Every Monday | Noon - 12:40 p.m. | Online
  • Free weekly meditation practices with U of A Buddhist Chaplain, Nandini Karunamuni.

Register here

Board Game Night

  • Oct. 15 | 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.| Board Games Den (VVC 1-610)
  • Join ASSET and Campus and Community Rec to d estress, connect with other students, and enjoy free food.

Learn more

Mental Health Workshop

  • Interested in developing your skills and self-knowledge to better care for yourself? Register for a free workshop with Counselling and Clinical Services.

Learn more

Caring for our mental health

Mental health looks different for each of us, so it’s necessary to acknowledge intersectional experiences. An intersectional lens means experiencing mental health through various social identities. Care practices vary according to these identities. It also reminds us that diverse circumstances influence how we experience mental health, necessitating diverse supports.

Student Led Mental Health Groups

Mental Health Supports

What can you do?

Here are a few suggestions for simple actions that can help foster positive mental health.

Connect with Others

One way we can care for our mental health is to maintain connections with others. Connecting with others can boost meaning and purpose, reduce stress, and foster a sense of belonging. 

 Reach out, even when it’s the last thing you feel you want to do. 

Listen to others

It’s far too common to answer, “I’m fine, thanks,” even when it isn’t true. How many of us repeat this when asked, “how are you?” because we don’t believe the asker really wants to know. Let’s be a campus that lets each other know that we want to know - and will make space for the real answer.    

Taking a moment to listen in those moments can provide opportunities to support each other through difficult times, which can help us get help when we need it.

Listening is a skill that we can all develop with practice. You can take free training through Wellness Supports at the University of Alberta: How to Have a Supportive Conversation: new link

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is an invitation to step out of the clutter and really focus on what we are doing, thinking, and feeling in this moment. It’s a skill developed by deciding to slow down and taking the time to pay attention and be curious about things that we’re experiencing and things that we see around us. 

Research shows that mindfulness can help improve well-being and quality of life. It can help people reduce stress and anxiety, manage symptoms of some mental illnesses and substance use problems, and also improve physical health.

There are many different ways you can practice Mindfulness, from formal sessions to a short check-in with yourself on the way home from class. There is no right or wrong way; what you experience is what you experience. Here are some quick mindfulness techniques suggested by the CMHA, which you can practice anywhere:  

  • Eat a meal without distractions like TV or any other devices. Pay attention to what you’re eating and the different sensations that come up, and notice how it makes you feel.
  • Go for a walk on campus and set out to really pay attention to the environment around you using all your senses. What do you experience?
  • Talk with a friend face-to-face without any distractions like phones. Focus on the conversation and really listen without judgments or expectations. Notice how you feel. Check in with yourself at any time. What thoughts do you notice? How do they make you feel?
  • Take a minute to sit quietly and focus on the sensation of your breath.  When you find yourself distracted by a thought, acknowledge the thought and redirect your attention back to your breath.

With practice and dedication, we can “remodel” our brains in ways that can help us function better—known as neuroplasticity. 

Mindfulness traditions and research shows that meditation can cause physical changes in the brain. The more mindful we become, the more our brain adapts to make it our default state.

Mindfulness resources

Ask For Help

Acknowledge how you’re doing and let trusted friends or family know. Being open with others will let them know how they can help you. Asking for help can include visiting campus services you are familiar with and letting them know you need support. 

There may be times when you know your mental health needs support, but you’re not sure where to go. There is a wealth of support available on campus that can support a variety of your needs: