Mental Illness Awareness Week
Oct 04, 2021 - Oct 07, 2021
“Now more than ever, Canadians understand that there is no health without mental health. As we all navigate these challenging times by adjusting our behaviours, attitudes, lifestyles, and social interactions, we want to recognize and celebrate the movement we as a society have made in prioritizing mental health.” – Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health
Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. MIAW takes place October 3-9, with Algonquin College’s virtual programming running October 4-7. The theme for 2021 is “No health without mental health.”
Take part, discover resources and support, and learn more about mental illness. You can also join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #MIAW21.
Click the title of the events below to register.
Monday, October 4
Online Lunchtime Yoga by Health Services (12:05pm-12:50pm): Taking care of your mental and physical health is essential during this time. To help ease some stress and anxiety, join this free online yoga session. Open to students and employees.
Values-Based Living Workshop (1pm-2:30pm): With the stress of everyday life, much of our attention can be diverted to getting rid of our struggles instead of moving closer to our values. In this workshop, we will help you identify your values and how they can apply in different domains of your life. We will provide support in creating goals based on your values and identify strategies for accepting difficulties experienced when living consistently with your values. A set of worksheets and resources will be provided for you to follow during the workshop and apply after our session.
Sisters in Spirit (2:30pm-4pm): Students and employees are invited to attend a talk by Grandmother Isabelle Meawasige of Serpent River First Nation, as she discusses the problem of human trafficking involving young Indigenous women and girls. Isabelle will share about her efforts to end human trafficking, including her work with Persons Against the Crime of Trafficking in Humans (PACT) to raise awareness and engage other Grandmothers in this cause.
Tuesday, October 5
Living with Mental Illness and Thriving (11am-12pm): Tyler Simmonds is a public speaker and filmmaker who speaks openly about his experience living with mental illness, reminding people that recovery is possible and emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, mindfulness, and achieving your “flow state” through creativity and meditation. Tyler’s is clearly a message that resonates with many. In 2016, the Huffington Post named him one of the “10 Inspirational people under 30 you should be following on Twitter.” Twitter is where Tyler engages with over 35,000 followers (@tylersimmonds). Tyler is also a spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk. Through his advocacy work, Tyler aims to inspire others.
Virtual Q&A with Dan Levy (7pm-8pm): Join the Algonquin Students’ Association for a Virtual Q&A with Dan Levy! We will be chatting through personal stories on bullying and creating positive spaces in the LGBTQ+ community, learning more about the Indigenous Canada Course and what is next for Dan. Stay tuned to the SA’s social media for a giveaway for your chance to go live with Dan to ask a question.
Wednesday, October 6
The Wisdom of Trauma (4pm-6pm): The interconnected epidemics of anxiety, chronic illness, and substance abuse are, according to Dr. Gabor Maté, normal. But not in the way you might think. In the virtual screening of The Wisdom of Trauma, we travel alongside physician, bestselling author, and Order of Canada recipient Dr. Gabor Maté to explore why our western society is facing such epidemics. This is a journey with a man who has dedicated his life to understanding the connection between illness, addiction, trauma and society.
Thursday, October 7
Mental Health 101 Workshop (1pm-2:30pm): This workshop explores how to recognize the signs and symptoms of distress, how to access services, basic active listening skills, and tips for self-care. This workshop is presented as an educational tool for participants. The information should not be used as a means for diagnosis, but serves to increase mental health literacy and signs of distress.
Presented by Student Support Services.
Event Location
- Virtual Event
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