Are you a student who is looking for service learning opportunities? Want to contribute to a healthier campus community? We’re searching for students who can devote ten hours to our Healthy Minds, Healthy College Initiative.

All hours will be on campus with plenty of training and support. Students will use and enhance a variety of skills in the roles of:

• Peer Support Promoter
• Thrive Week Ambassador
• Advisory Group Member

To learn more about these opportunities, please attend the Volunteer Information and Orientation Session on Wednesday, October 10, from 12:05 – 12:50 in the ETV studio (GM33).

Can’t make it in person? Catch the livestream. Time doesn’t work for you? Contact Breanna for a recording of the session or with any questions.

Come work with us to improve mental health at RRC!

Check out the detailed position descriptions and anticipated schedule of service here: volunteer program info sheet_digital-2jy688s

In our Wellness Weekly, mental health roundup feature we curate some of the best writing on the web related to health and wellbeing. Here is some recommended reading for this week.

• September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day. RRC is part of the Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network who held an event to observe this important day. Check out CBC Manitoba’s coverage here: Nobody wants to talk about it: Breaking the stigma on World Suicide Prevention Day.

• Have you ever thought of wellbeing as a skill? Dr. Richard J. Davidson from the Centre for Investigating Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison breaks down the research around four main contributors to wellbeing: resilience, outlook, attention, and generosity. He argues that if one practices the skills of wellbeing, one will get better at it. The Four Keys to Wellbeing.

• Curious about the relationship between mental health and exercise? In The Wall Street Journal, Sumathi Reddy  explores a recent study to be published in the Lancet that looks at this association. Are certain types of exercise more beneficial than others? How about certain durations of exercise? Check out The Exercise that Helps Mental Health the Most.

Do you have some favorite reading you’d like featured? Contact Breanna.

May 7-13 is Mental Health Week, a time to #GetLoud about what mental health really is. Although, that’s kind of every day here on MindIt!, it’s fun to join in.

Mental health is not mental illness. It’s a resource for living that allows us to live a balanced and full life. Mental health is not about being happy all the time, but about feeling a sense of purpose, belonging, and confidence in who we are.

There are social conditions that contribute to good mental health, like feeling safe in our communities and having adequate housing. At the same time, there are personal actions we can take to improve out mental health. Connecting with people we love or expressing emotions in healthy ways are just two actions that can be helpful. Find more suggestions on the CMHA Mental Health Week page. What can you do this week to improve your mental health?

In our Wellness Weekly, mental health roundup feature we curate some of the best writing on the web related to health and wellbeing. Here is some recommended reading for this week.

Don’t forget to #GETLOUD for Mental Health Week.

• Mental Health Commission of Canada Statement on Mental Health Week. In her statement, Louise Bradley (President and CEO, Mental Health Commission of Canada) encourages Canadians to monitor their mental state with the same interest they devote to managing their blood-pressure or any other physical concern. She also draws a link between public services like education and childcare and good mental health.

• The Difference Between Social Anxiety and Introversion, In 4 Comics. In this article Lindsay Holmes and Eva Hill outline how the personality characteristic of introversion differs from the clinical condition called Social Anxiety Disorder. They use illustrated comics to demonstrate these differences.

• How Physical Fitness can Boost Your Career. Here Ivan Ho makes the case for developing good exercise related habits, encouraging readers to put health first. He ties physical activity with mental clarity, improved energy, and increased ability to meet work demands.

Do you have some favorite reading you’d like featured? Contact Breanna.

In our Wellness Weekly, mental health roundup feature we curate some of the best writing on the web related to health and wellbeing. Here is some recommended reading for this week.

• Psychology Professor, Dr. Mary Gomes writes about why she assigns her students electronic media fasts. She shares the benefits of unplugging, highlights some students reflections on the experience, and gives some tips for breaking poor screen habits. Read more at Five Reasons to Take a Break from Screens. – Greater Good Science Centre

• Dr. David DiStreno argues that using willpower alone is not the best way for students to resist tempting distractions and focus on academic work. He presents evidence that  developing gratitude and pride, along with grit, will make students more resilient. Read more at We’re Teaching Grit the Wrong Way. – The Chronicle of Higher Education

• “What started out as DeMar DeRozan’s seven-word tweet during the NBA all-star game weekend, ‘This depression get the best of me,’ has kick-started a dialogue across North America about mental health and athletes.” Read more at How a DeMar DeRozan tweet sparked a mental-health dialogue in sports.  – The Globe and Mail

Do you have a favorite you’d like featured? Contact Breanna.

Earlier this month, RRC welcomed Winnipeg Jets exec Craig Heisinger (Zinger) to give a mental health awareness talk. If you missed it, you’re invited to watch the recording here.

Zinger spoke about his relationship with Rick Rypien who, while struggling with poor mental health, played parts of six seasons with the Manitoba Moose and Vancouver Canucks. After Rick’s death by suicide, Zinger and the True North Foundation started Project 11 to help students learn skills to build strong, positive mental health. Zinger now speaks at many schools each year, highlighting the importance of mental health and support. His talk at RRC was both informative and heartfelt.

on Twitter, check out #ZingerAtRRC to see some of the statements that resonated with those in attendance.

L-R: Kelsey Gillespie, VP Academic, RRCSA; Lauren Slegers, President, RRCSA; Craig Heisinger; Breanna Sawatzky, Mental Health Coordinator, RRC; Laureen Janzen, Manager, Counselling and Accessibility, RRC

RRC is committed to keeping the mental health conversation going so that every member of our community knows they are not alone and that it’s okay to reach out for support. A great way to stay informed of future events is to subscribe to this blog.

A huge thanks goes out to the RRC Students’ Association for supplying the pizza lunch and to the eTV crew for recording and livestreaming. Prize winners will be announced in a subsequent blog post.

Elder Mae Louise will be conducting a four part teaching series focusing on women’s teachings using the holistic model of the Medicine Wheel.  Each week will consist of a different teaching; Body, Mind, Emotion and Spirit.  Attending all four teachings in the series is encouraged but not required. 

EDC – Indigenous Support Centre, P407

Body: March 5 @12pm *(this session will be rescheduled due to the snow storm)
Mind: March 12 @12pm
Emotion: March 19 @12pm
Spirit: March 26 @12pm

NDC – Indigenous Support Centre, F209

Body: March 7 @ 12pm or March 8 @3pm
Mind:  March 14 @ 12pm or March 15 @ 3pm
Emotion: March 21 @ 12pm or March 22 @ 3pm
Spirit: March 28 @ 12pm or March 29 @ 3pm

These teachings are open to all female staff and students.

For more information, please contact (NDC) Rhonda or (EDC) Cheyenne

You’re invited to attend a special lunch hour event with True North Sports + Entertainment’s Craig Heisinger (Zinger) as he brings his mental health awareness talk to RRC.

Date: Tuesday, March 13^th

Time: noon – 1pm

Location: South Gym, Livestreaming available at rrc.ca/streaming

Zinger is Senior Vice-President & Director, Hockey Operations/Assistant General Manager of the Winnipeg Jets. He also serves as the General Manager of the Manitoba Moose. Zinger was very close with player Rick Rypien who struggled with mental illness and ultimately died by suicide.

Following Rick’s death, Zinger has become a champion for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. We’re happy to host Zinger’s talk and provide a free pizza lunch to all who attend. Other campuses are also participating by viewing the livestream and offering a free pizza lunch. Look for information on your campus!

All students, staff and faculty are welcome to attend. If you have accessibility needs, please contact blsawatzky@rrc.ca.

Win Prizes!

2 Ways to win:

1. Subscribe to this blog (Mind It!) blogs.rrc.ca. (Current subscribers are also entered to win)

2. Tweet using #ZingerAtRRC

The Prizes

First Prizes (3 Winners)

Dinner and a Movie: $50 Earls Kitchen + Bar gift card + $50 Cineplex Gift Card

Jets Gear: $100 Gift Card for the Winnipeg Jets Team Store

Day at the Spa: $100 gift certificate for Thermea

Second Prizes (8 winners)

4 $25 Cineplex Gift Cards

4 $25 Sobeys Gift Cards

*Note that all winners must be RRC students, staff, or faculty. Prizes must be picked up from their Campus within two weeks of the prize draw. Draws will take place and winners notified on Wednesday, March 14^th. Prizes have no cash value. Eligible tweets must be posted on March 13^nd.

You’re invited to participate in CMHA’s ‘Ride Don’t Hide’ – Canada’s largest bike ride for mental health.  The event is held on Sunday June 24^th in communities across the country. CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg are starting recruit bike riders for the event and RRC is excited to participate. There are 6 kilometer and 21 kilometer route options.

From CHMA’s website:

“CMHA’s Ride Don’t Hide is an annual fundraising bike ride held in six provinces in 31 communities. Supported by the fundraising efforts of more than 7000 riders, Ride Don’t Hide will raise funds for essential programs and services in communities, workplaces and schools – programs that change lives. Programs that save lives.

 

When we hide, mental health stays hidden. When we ride, we create change. This year, on June 24, ride in plain sight. Ride Don’t Hide. It’s more than the name of the event. It’s also the reason we’re riding.”

CMHA is a community partner, helping RRC with our Healthy Minds Healthy College Initiative. This makes participating in Ride Don’t Hide an ideal opportunity for us to show support in return.

The registration cost for an adult is $40 and youth registration costs $25.

If you’d like to be part of the RRC team for Ride Don’t Hide, please contact Breanna Sawatzky at blsawatzky@rrc.ca or 204-632-2061. Students, staff and faculty are welcome.

On February 13th, join speakers from Klinic/SERC to learn about healthy relationships, consent, and sexual harassment. Learning about these important topics will help prepare you for a healthy and positive Valentine’s Day and beyond.

All students who attend are welcome to free condoms and a red velvet cupcake from Lilac Bakery.

Room P107, Roblin Centre, Exchange District Campus, from noon-1pm on Tuesday, February 13.