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.
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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:
- Establish a network of Wellness Champions
- Offer Crucial Conversations training - register for upcoming sessions today.
- 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:
Someone to talk to
Increasing access and providing timely 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
Social connections
Fostering a Sticky Campus.
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
- October: Health, Safety & Wellness Fair
- Ridgeback Roar Recognition Program: Recognizing our great people, celebrating success and community spirit!
- 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 noon to 4 p.m.
- Upcoming Sessions:
- Every Day in May Health Challenge Returns May 1-31, 2025! Register by Friday, May 2.
- Building Confidence in Sharing Mental Health Experiences Workshop: Wednesday, May 14 from Noon to 1 p.m.
- Mindfulness-Coming out of Automatic Pilot: Tuesday, May 20
- April Showers Bring May LEGO Flowers-North: Wednesday, May 21 from Noon to 1 p.m. (In-person, SHA-018)
- The Working Mind-Manager/Director: Thursday, May 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- April Showers Bring May LEGO Flowers-Downtown: Thursday, May 29 from Noon to 1 p.m. (In-person, CHA-321)
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST): Tues., July 22 & Wed., July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
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’.
- 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