Mental Health Action Plan

As part of the university’s Strategic Priorities, Ontario Tech has recognized the importance of mental health in our efforts to develop a sticky campus and support well-being. This commitment extends to the development and implementation of a Mental Health Action Plan.

Last October, the Mental Health Action Plan (MHAP) launched to support employee mental health and well-being. As we celebrate the 1-year anniversary, we invite you to share your feedback on what is working well and suggestions for improvement.

Details on how to share your feedback, including Focus Groups occurring throughout October, are coming soon!

Actions we're taking:

• Establish a network of Wellness Champions 
  • NEW: Meet the Wellness Champions
• Offer Crucial Conversations training - register for upcoming sessions today.
  • Employee Cohort: November 3-7 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon
  • Manager/Director Cohort: November 10-14 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to create awareness for the resources available to staff and faculty to support student mental health and well-being
  • Resources include:
    • Student Mental Health Services
    • How to give help: Providing support

Actions we're taking:

• Promotion of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Chat/Text Feature - Visit our EAP web page to learn more.
• Create toolkits
  • Staff/Faculty Mental Health Toolkit: Crisis reponse, Trauma-informed care, and Self-care 
  • Leader Toolkit: Supporting your team's mental health and well-being.
    • Visit Leader Support: Wellness at Work for Leaders to access additional leader resources. 
• Creating awareness within leadership to explore Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Group Sessions during exceptional times of need 

Actions we're taking:

• Providing opportunities for social connections via annual mental health and well-being events:
  • January: Let’s Talk Day
  • May: Mental Health Week
  • Health, Safety & Wellness Fair: Thurs., October 30 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) in the SCI-Founding Deans Atrium
    • Includes annual Pumpkin Carving Contest - Request your FREE pumpkin today to participate!
• Visit the University's Events Calendar to view upcoming events, examples include:
  • Creative Wellness Hive offered in partnership with The Living Room Community Art Studio on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Move Over October: Cross Canada Trek: Register by Fri., Sept. 26 to be entered into our Registration Incentive Draw.
  • Mental Health First Aid: Register by Fri., Oct. 3 for virtual training on Tues., Oct. 21
  • Ontario Tech Puzzles: Vote for your favourite image(s) by Friday, October 17 - the images with the most votes will be turned into puzzles and then loaned out for completion.

 Actions we're taking:

• Toolkit to support Disconnecting from Work
  • NEW: Healthy Habits with Hunter, Chrome extension, was created in partnership with the Healthy Workplace Committee and Faculty of Business and Information Technology Capstone student teams to help employees and students embed healthy habits into their daily routines.
  • Benefits and tips for disconnecting from work
  • Disconnecting from work text in email signature
    
    • To support disconnecting from work, use the Email Signature Tool to update your signature by adding the optional text, ‘Please do not feel obliged to reply to this email outside of your work hours’.
      
      
• Explore opportunity with IEAC to embed Indigenous Medicine Wheel
• Create dedicated web page for MHAP and initiatives