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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.

  • 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:

  • Providing opportunities for social connections via annual mental health and well-being events:
  • 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.
    • Learning to Recharge: Tuesday, January 27: Participants will receive a Break Kit to support recharging after this workshop (while quantities last) and everyone will be entered into a random draw to receive a 1-year subscription to Calm.
    • The Working Mind-Employee Cohort: Thursday, January 29: This evidence-based course, with newly released updated content, is designed to initiate a shift in the way you think, feel and act with respect to mental health by increasing your awareness, reducing stigma and other barriers to care in the workplace, encouraging mental health conversations, and strengthening your resilience.
    • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training: If you are interested in attending MHFA training before March 31, please complete this interest form by Friday, January 30.

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