National Mental Health Week 2022
From May 2-8, 2022, join the Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee, in partnership with Workplace Wellbeing and Student Wellbeing, in celebrating National Mental Health Week (external link) , an annual campaign driven by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
National Mental Health Week aims to:
- Celebrate, promote and protect mental health of the community
- Increase awareness of existing mental health resources for Ryerson community members
- Provide opportunities for Toronto Metropolitan University community members to engage in conversations related to mental health on campus
This year's theme is Empathy
Empathy is the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in their situation. It’s a simple concept, but it may be the very thing we humans need most.
If empathy doesn’t come easily to you, the good news is that it can be learned and practiced. Empathy can help us know ourselves and our own feelings. It can help us lead, help us communicate and help us support and connect with others at home, work and at school.
Schedule of events
Meditation in Everyday Life with Donald Eckler
12:00 - 12:50pm
Beginner and experienced meditators are welcome to join our Tuesday weekly sitting and guided meditation. This session is open to both new and experienced practitioners of mindfulness and meditation. Please sign up in the learning events calendar. You are welcome to join with video or audio. If you have any questions, please email epomeroy@torontomu.ca.
Time for Reflection and Dialogue with Elder Joanne Dallaire
1:00 - 1:50 p.m.
The impact of the pandemic continues to impact each of us in our work, in our homes, in our life. Whether we are working remotely from home or attending campus on a part-time or full-time basis, as we enter winter term and school continues on-line for university students, new challenges emerge both professionally and personally. Join us in our ongoing series of sessions with Ryerson Elder Joanne Dallaire as she shares her thoughts and responds to participant questions and comments
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- Notice early signs of distress in the era of digital and in-person communication
- Confidently engage with each other in these times
- Understand your role in supporting and referring those who may be experiencing mental health challenges
- Learn the importance of debriefing with your team/support network, as well as self-care, when these instances arise.
If you are unable to register via the below button for any reason, you can register by filling out this Google Form (external link)
Thriving through Nature Immersion
Time TBA
Exploring nature immersion and thriving where Mood Routes are highlighted. Co-facilitated by Venus Bali and Natalie Pavlovich.
Friday Mediation
12:00 - 12:50 p.m.
Join us for an accessible mindfulness session with Kathy Porter. A student of meditation for over forty years, Kathy has has explored various teachings, participated in retreats, and read widely. For the most part, she follows the Vipassana tradition of mindfulness as explained by Pema Chodron among others. She also intersperses other techniques such as guided imagery to bring awareness to the present moment by inviting in our personal guides.
This week's meditation will focus on empathy.
Stay connected
Spread empathy far and wide, as well as find more information and resources through the #GetReal hashtag.
Questions?
Email Erica McDiarmid, University Mental Health Lead, erica.mcdiarmid@torontomu.ca
Learn more about empathy
(external link)
Practicing empathy helps us regulate our emotions, connect with others and feel less isolated.
(external link)
Peer support depends on empathy. Some believe we’re born with it, but even if we aren’t, just about everyone can learn it.
(external link)
Practicing empathy is one way to support each another through these trying times and come out more resilient on the other side.