We are all experiencing a wide range of emotions as we near the fall semester- nervous, excited, anxious and everything in between. Some of our students will struggle with their mental health as they adjust to our new modes of delivery and the ever-changing public health guidelines that will exist on our campuses. Student Health and Wellness wants to be proactive in encouraging students to access support and we invite all Lakehead staff and faculty to work with us in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health concerns. These resources are simple to use but can lead to a culture on campus where students seek help when it is needed. In addition to the following statements generated for staff and faculty members to consider using, Student Health and Wellness will continue to offer monthly Students in Distress training sessions.

Email Signature

Email signatures are regularly used to communicate information. Using your email signature to communicate your working hours can help to support your own work-life balance and create realistic expectations of response time for students.  Linking to the How to Ask for Help guide ensures that even if you do not immediately respond- students are still aware of the support and resources available to them and are encouraged to access them when needed. 

Suggested Signature line:

PLEASE NOTE MY WORK HOURS: I check and respond to emails during my working hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. I will not regularly see or respond to emails outside of these hours.

Are you ok? Our How to ask for Help at Lakehead guide was made for you.

Need to talk to someone right now?  Good 2 Talk is a free, confidential 24/7 post-secondary student helpline. Call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868. 

Mental Health Syllabi Statement

A statement in the syllabus can send a positive signal of support for students' learning and well-being by including recommendations and encouragement for students to take care of themselves and seek help when they need it.  The statement might also be used to encourage classroom conversations about the stigma that keeps students from getting professional help.

Suggested Statement:

As a university student, you may sometimes experience mental health concerns or stressful events that interfere with your academic performance and negatively impact your daily activities. 

All of us can benefit from support during times of struggle. If you or anyone you know experiences academic stress, difficult life events or feelings of anxiety or depression, Student Health and Wellness is here to help. Their services are free for Lakehead Students and appointments are available. You can learn more about confidential mental health services available on and off campus at lakeheadu.ca/shw. 

Remember that getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do- for yourself, for those you care about, and for those who care about you.  Asking for support sooner rather than later is almost always helpful.

You could also choose to include this slide with the statement in your lecture. Student Health and Wellness can also provide a short presentation about the wellness services on campus.

We would be interested in knowing whether you use the signature or statement (or a modified version).  If you have any questions, feedback, or otherwise would like to suggest modifications, feel free to contact Lindsey Wachter, Health and Wellness Promoter, activities.shcc@lakeheadu.ca.

Students who are part of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community have enough on their plates navigating the usual pressures of post-secondary life without having to worry about feeling safe or discriminated against. Student Health and Wellness strives to provide a safe space for all Thunderwolves to get support, resources, information and care. Student Health and Wellness also knows that while members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ are as diverse as the general Canadian population in their experiences of mental health and well-being, they face higher risks for some mental and physical health concerns due to the effects of discrimination and the social determinants of health. We are excited to launch our new Pride section on the SHW website, dedicated to help 2SLGBTQQIA+ students find supports, services and information. Visit lakeheadu.ca/shw-pride to learn more.

Student Health and Wellness is excited to be able to offer a number of LivingWorks START training to Lakehead students, staff and faculty at no cost with the financial support from The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board through the province of Ontario.

This evidence-based program includes narrated coaching, practice scenarios and access to resources. It focuses on awareness of suicide prevention, teaches fundamental skills and will enable participants to recognize someone’s thoughts of suicide and take action to ensure they receive the help they require, including skills to offer support remotely.

LivingWorks START can be taken remotely and completely online. It takes about 90 minutes to complete. Participants can increase their skills and knowledge at a comfortable pace while balancing their personal safety with challenging content.

 Those interested in completing the training are invited to complete this form: https://forms.gle/ShMJVHybfEr97VJ97

Student Health and Wellness has developed an "Embedding Wellness into the Virtual Classroom" resource for Lakehead faculty. This guide is designed to support faculty and instructors in maintaining their own health and well-being while also fostering health and well-being in virtual learning environments.

Student Health and Wellness in Thunder Bay is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Jordan Sokoloski to our centre.

He will offer naturopathic services to Lakehead staff, students and faculty, both virtually and in-person. There is a fee for Naturopathic services that is not covered by Student Health and Wellness. 

To book an appointment visit his website or call 807-683-7287. 

To learn more about naturopathic medicine, read on:

Naturopathic medicine is primary health care that blends traditional forms of medicine with modern clinical research and medical knowledge. It is evidence-based and informed by available research, clinical experience, and each individual patient’s unique health situation and preferences.

Health promotion and disease prevention are a particular foundation of naturopathic practice. Treatment draws from a number of therapies including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture/traditional Asian medicine, and diet and lifestyle counselling.

Naturopathic medicine is for people of all ages and health histories and naturopathic doctors are trained to find the root cause of a patient’s symptoms and to identify any possible side effects that may arise between a patient’s prescription medication and any recommended therapies.

The majority of naturopathic doctors work in multi-disciplinary practices with health professionals from other regulated professions including medical doctors, nurses, and psychologists. The profession is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario, whose mandate is to ensure the protection of the public and professional competency.

The student population is a specific group that stands to benefit greatly from naturopathic care. University students are under significant stress and some of the effects of chronic stress are often seen in students, including disrupted sleep, decreased immunity, low energy, muscle tension, and indigestion.

Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are also common. Healthy lifestyle factors become compromised as convenience foods are substituted for nutritious meals and exercise becomes a challenge to prioritize. Naturopathic medicine is well equipped to manage these concerns. When under stress, there is a distinct physiological response that can affect the function of many body systems.

These changes are addressed in several important ways, including:

• Discussing clinical nutrition and dietary medicine and finding ways to encourage more convenient, easily prepared whole foods in the diet;
• Emphasizing sleep hygiene and optimizing sleep while giving consideration to those things that may be interfering with restful sleep;
• Finding healthy coping mechanisms for stress, including exercise and meditation;
• Using physical therapies such as acupuncture to address chronic muscle tension and optimize nervous system function;
• Making evidence-based supplementation recommendations that support the body’s ability to respond to stress and address the individual concerns mentioned above, including poor sleep, increased frequency of colds and flus, and indigestion.

Naturopathic doctors are primary care health professionals well-equipped to manage the often complex health concerns of the student population.

There is a growing interest in natural medicine, and the multi-disciplinary clinic setting at Lakehead University will foster understanding and collaboration between the different health professionals working there. I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to work with this team to improve the health and well-being of the staff, students and faculty at Lakehead University.

-Jordan Sokoloski, ND

Life can be chaotic and Student Health and Wellness wants to remind to press pause every once in a while. Check out the @lakeheadlife IGTV channel every Thursday afternoon in July to learn a new mindfulness practice from one of our counsellors.

Student Health and Wellness staff couldn't join the Thunder Pride's parade this year but they still wanted to show their commitment to being a safe space for all students by doing the #yqtchalkwalk🏳️‍🌈..