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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.

1-Year Anniversary

Last October, the Mental Health Action Plan (MHAP) launched to support employee mental health and well-being. Our team continues to look for ways to support your mental health and well-being, so as we celebrate the 1-year anniversary, we invite you to share your feedback.

Ways to provide feedback

  • Focus Groups: Register for an upcoming session according to your role.
    • Individual Contributor Cohort Dates
      • Thursday, October 9 (11 a.m. to Noon)
      • Wednesday, October 22 (9 a.m. to 10 a.m.)
      • Tuesday, October 28 (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
    • Leader Cohort Dates
      • Friday, October 10 (9 a.m. to 10 a.m.)
      • Monday, October 20 (11 a.m. to Noon)
      • Wednesday, October 29 (2 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

  • Email Elise Arbic (elise.arbic@ontariotechu.ca), Employee Health and Wellness Manager, to schedule a 1:1 meeting.

  • If you are unable to attend a Focus Group session or meet 1:1 with Elise, please use this Feedback eForm, which is available from Oct. 1-31.
  • Background
    • As part of the university’s 2023-2028 Integrated Academic-Research Plan, Ontario Tech has recognized the importance of mental health in our efforts to develop a sticky campus and support well-being.
    • Onboarding of new role: Manager of Employee Health and Wellness
    • Creation of Employee Mental Health and Well-being Committee (EMHWBC)
    • Collaborate with stakeholders such as the Healthy Workplace Committee
    • Information Gathering Sessions were conducted in October-November 2023 to determine what is working well and areas for improvement
    • Feedback grouped into themes and shared with the EMHWBC to develop recommendations

Communication

Regular reminders of the available supports and resoruces.

Actions we're taking:

Someone to talk to

Increasing access and providing timely support.

Actions we're taking:

Social connections

Fostering a Sticky Campus.

Actions we're taking:

University culture

Creating a healthy workplace culture where we can all thrive.

 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’.
        Email signature tool with disconnecting from work optional text
  • Explore opportunity with IEAC to embed Indigenous Medicine Wheel
  • Create dedicated web page for MHAP and initiatives