Free event hosted by The Royal highlighting Mental Health Awareness Week at AC

Posted on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023

Dear Learners and Colleagues,

To mark Algonquin College’s Mental Health Awareness Week, from January 23 to January 27, the College, in partnership with the Students’ Association, will be hosting events, sharing resources, and highlighting the mental health and wellness supports available on our campuses throughout the year. Please see the list below for events and activities.

January 25 – The Royal & DIFD event at Algonquin Commons Theatre:

  • We are fortunate this year to partner with The Royal and DIFD (Do It For Daron) to present a free panel discussion for employees and learners over the lunch hour on January 25 (Bell Let’s Talk Day) in the Algonquin Commons Theatre.
  • Hosted by CTV Ottawa’s Stefan Keyes, this free, 60-minute in-person and virtual experience will feature a panel discussion and question and answer session with mental health experts from The Royal: Dr. Gail Beck, Clinical Director of Youth Psychiatry and Interim Chief of Staff and Psychiatrist-in-Chief; Mike Souilliere, Director of Patient Care Services for the Substance Use and Concurrent Disorders Program; and Dr. Zachary Kaminsky, a molecular biologist and the DIFD Mach-Gaensslen Chair in Suicide Prevention Research.
  • Register for the event here. The event will also be livestreamed for anyone wishing to take part virtually, you can register for the virtual event using the same registration link.

Mental health resources for learners:

  • Throughout the week Student Support Services will be hosting a variety of mental health and wellness events for learners on the Ottawa Campus, including Lunchtime Yoga, AC Mood Walks, Spill the Tea and a Snow Tubing Field Trip. To register and learn more about events happening throughout the week, click here.
  • Learners on the Perth Campus can join Perth Counsellor, Christina Latifi, for an online stress management workshop on January 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To register for the event please contact Christina by email at latific@algonquincollege.com.
  • Learners on the Pembroke Waterfront Campus can take advantage of an important mental wellness break by attending a free public skating event on Friday, January 27, at the Pembroke Memorial Centre from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Drop-in to the event to participate.
  • For learners in need of mental health support please reach out to Student Support Services. In addition, a number of helpful apps and online tools can be found at this link.

Mental health resources for employees:

Algonquin College recognizes that this time of year can lead to heightened anxiety and stress. If you need support, the College is here for you. If you, or someone you know, are at imminent risk of self-harm or require access to emergency medical services, dial 9-1-1.

Thank you to everyone at the College who has contributed to ensuring next week’s events are a success, and to the many employees and learners who support the mental wellness of our Algonquin College community year-round.

Sincerely,

Laura Stanbra, Vice President Student Services

Diane McCutcheon, Vice President Human Resources


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