Bell Let’s Talk Day was less than 2 weeks ago and although that day is inspiring and very helpful, it’s extremely important to continue the conversation. It’s important to recognize that you should be able to talk about your mental health without judgement – that there are resources available for you. I’ve come up with a list of places you can go if you need to talk to someone about anything. No problem is too big or too small to ask for help.
1. Student Success Office (SSO)
Located in South Campus Hall, SSO offers plenty of workshops and programs. A few examples from their website are: peer mentorship programs, workout buddies, success coaching and stress management workshops. To check them out, head to https://uwaterloo.ca/student-success/resources
2. Academic Advisors
Often times, students at UWaterloo have some sort of stressor related to academics. If you’re ever in need of advice, whether it’s about switching programs, your course-load, or help with co-op, your academic advisors are there for you. They can be contacted via email, phone or appointments/drop-ins. Every faculty has a website to find out which advisor would be best-suited to your needs!
For more info: https://uwaterloo.ca/registrar/current-students/advisors
3. Counselling Services
The thought of seeing a counsellor can be terrifying at first, maybe because you may not want to address your issue, or fear judgement. I assure you that counsellors on campus are trained to help you no matter what and are there for you. There are 2 main offices: Needles Hall and Health Services, both accessible to all students. I recommend trying to reach out to them even if you’re feeling nervous. It’s at least a step in the right direction.
All of their contact information can be found at: https://uwaterloo.ca/counselling-services/
Although you may not always feel like your mental health is a priority, especially at such an academically-inclined school such as UW – I’m telling you it matters to someone. Your grades are important, but they are not everything. Whatever you’re going through right now, I promise it will get better.
Your mental health matters, so let’s keep talking about it.