The start of the Fall term is such an exciting and vibrant time, especially after years of being tucked away in a remote setting. However, the start of something new can be overwhelming and can be impactful on one’s health, both physically and mentally. We’ve got a blog post here that can help you prepare yourself proactively so you can thrive and achieve all your goals without feeling burnt out. Keep reading to find out what York offers to support students’ mental health and well-being!
Student Counselling, Health & Well-being (SCHW)
SCHW is a department within the Division of Students who aim to support students’ health and well-being. The team consists of health care professionals, health educators and support staff. All students registered and enrolled at York University are eligible for SCHW services, including virtual appointments and in-person walk-in counselling at the SCHW office (N110 Bennett Centre). If you’re enrolled and registered for courses at the Glendon Campus, you’re also eligible for similar services at the Accessibility, Well-being and Counselling Centre.
Individual Counselling
If you need to speak to a registered professional one-on-one, the individual counselling service is best for you. You can walk-in on weekdays anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Emergency support is available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Call 416-736-5297 to reach out. If you’re interested in meeting your counsellor regularly, either weekly or biweekly, first arrange a walk-in appointment, then discuss your interest in short-term counselling during your session. You will work in goal-oriented sessions together to achieve your goals.
Pro tip: You can also let them know if you prefer meeting counsellors with a particular identity.
Group Counselling
SCHW also offers group counselling to help you feel that you’re not alone. Process Groups led by SCHW counsellors are held weekly, with a different topic each week. If you’re interested in joining a process group, join a walk-in session first and ask. SCHW also offers a drop-in sessions and therapy groups to support York’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Check out SCHW’s group counselling page to find information about other group sessions that are offered. This site continues to be updated, so be sure to continue to check back to see if new sessions are added.
Workshops
SCHW offers free well-being workshops open to all students on health education and skills. University and academic life can sometimes be stressful, especially during exam seasons. If you feel overwhelmed, consider joining these workshops to learn some stress management skills. Workshops include “What is Stress,” “Symptoms of Stress,” “Developing Positive Coping Strategies” and more!
Resources
Go to the SCHW Resources page to find out support lines, self-help resources and campus partners. You can also find the Mental Health Resource Sheet and a full Resources & Referrals Directory provided by SCHW.
24-hour Helplines
keep.meSAFE is a free online service open to all York students 24/7. Go to MySSP and download the mobile MySSP app to learn more about the resources and helpline with mental health professionals. You can also call 1-844-451-9700 for Canada and US or 1-416-380-6578 for international.
Good2Talk is another free 24/7 service available for post-secondary students residing in Ontario. They offer a confidential helpline, providing professional counselling and information, and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being. They can be reached by phone at 1-866-925-5454 and by text through sending “GOOD2TALKON” to 686868.
Tait McKenzie Centre
Exercising is an excellent way to improve physical and mental health. The Tait McKenzie Centre provides a three-story sport facility not only for York athletes but for all students regardless of your program.
Facilities
The Tait McKenzie Centre provides the following facilities:
- Gyms
- Studios
- North American Squash Courts
- Swimming Pool
- Outdoor Tennis Courts
- Grass Playing Fields
- Softball Fields
- and more!
Student Membership
To access sport facilities, you will need a valid YU-card and membership. Find out other ways to use your YU-card like a pro in our previous blog post. There are two types of memberships available to students:
- Student basic membership, which is free, with access to the gyms, pool and squash courts.
- Student fitness membership, which includes everything that comes with the basic membership plus access to the Fitness Centre, group classes, tennis courts, cooking classes, wellness seminars and more! You can purchase the student fitness membership online.
Note: Towel service, locker service and personal training are available at additional costs.
Need some easy daily wellness ideas?
Here are some previous #YUBlog posts that’ll help you be more mindful and focus on your mental health:
- Top Five Mindfulness Apps to Declutter Your Mind
- Five Activities That Will Help You Be Mindful
- Five Ways to Manage Stress at University
Sometimes our mental health suffers due to our lack of effective time management. Here are some tips from us on how you can improve:
To stay up to date on campus life and events, connect with York on social media. You can follow us on Facebook @YorkUStudents, Twitter @YorkUStudents, Instagram @studentlifeyu and with our weekly This Week @ York emails.
Monica Xiao
Monica Xiao is a second-year English & Professional Writing major at York University. She loves classical music, detective fiction, and just relaxing. She hopes to bring York's student community closer together through writing for the YUBlog.
