Mental health week creates positive atmosphere

Students can face a lot of pressure and stress in their academic and personal lives as they try to balance numerous stressors including deadlines, loneliness, tuition costs, exams, anxiety and more.

Current studies indicate the three most common factors affecting academic performance are stress, sleep difficulties and anxiety. The Students’ Association wants to help change that for RDC students so it will be hosting a number of Mental Health related events throughout the coming months.

The recent Mental Health Week, a week dedicated to stress reduction and creating a positive atmosphere in which mental health can be explored and enhanced, was the first of these events. Activities during Mental Health Week included a variety of events on both campuses.

One of the highlights of the week was Mental Health Awareness Day. The day, presented by the Students’ Association in partnership with RDC’s Campus Recreation, Counselling & Career Centre, and Health, Safety & Wellness Centre, featured a number of stress relieving events including Tea Talks, Oxygen Bar, Food for Thought Free Lunch (with support from the RDC Cook Apprentice program) and a Hot Pot Studio pottery activity. The Students’ Association’s Mental Health mascot was also seen buzzing around the halls.

In 2013-2014, the Students’ Association introduced a Mental Health Initiative aimed at promoting a positive atmosphere at Red Deer College in which mental health can be explored and enhanced. The initiative will bring mental health information to the forefront for students, with the objective of helping the campus community identify the role of mental health in an individual’s well-being.

The initiative is supported by funding from the Alberta Campus Mental Health Initiative Fund (ACMHI).