Upcoming Events

Developed by Living Works, ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop that teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. This training is recommended for individuals for whom those in distress are referred, or who have direct responsibilities for assisting those experiencing significant difficulties. These are not mental health professionals per se, but who are expected to have professional competency in understanding and monitoring situations where mental health forms an important...

Taking regular breaks during the workday can help you destress and recharge. Stop by the UC Courtyard or the OVC Cafeteria between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. for a free hot beverage. Bring along your colleagues. This opportunity is available for all U of G employees. The Take Your Break event is not just about recognizing our staff and faculty for all the amazing things they do by providing them with free drinks. It is also about making the space to engage in healthy work habits, step away from our workspaces to take a walk, and do it with our colleagues to support our mental and social...

The most common and severe symptom reported by peri-menopausal women is poor sleep! This evening workshop provides tips and drug-free strategies for decreasing insomnia, hot flashes, and other sleep disturbances experienced by peri-menopausal women. Topics include tackling the frustration of awakening in the night; techniques to fall asleep and back to sleep more easily 5 questions from Minarik's report that mid-life women need to ask about their sleep how to minimize the most common non-hormonal factors that increase hot flashes...

These days, almost everyone is using social media in one way or another. Online platforms offer a quick and convenient way to connect with others across the world; share photos, accomplishments and opinions; market ourselves and our businesses; and see what our friends, family, colleagues and competitors are up to. With such pervasiveness, it is important to be aware of the impact social media can have on our mental health. This session will introduce participants to both the positive and negative effects of social media on mental health and review some key strategies...

Designed by Living Works, SafeTALK is a 3.5 hours alertness training and certification that prepares anyone, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. This training includes understanding of the importance of suicide alertness, learning to identify ways people invite help, and how to connect those who need help with resources when they are at risk. This training is recommended for individuals who are not mental health experts but who might have on-going relationships with people who have mental...

This three-session skills program meets online for an hour on three consecutive Monday evenings starting Monday, March 2, 2026 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Learn techniques and tips to decrease the uncomfortable sensations of anxiety. This program shares research-based tips and strategies, emphasizing skill acquisition. A variety of long and short self-calming techniques are introduced, along with cognitive and lifestyle behaviours that help prevent escalation of anxiety. These techniques are especially helpful in the self-regulation of uncomfortable sensations like...

This 5-session skills program meets online for an hour on 5 consecutive Wednesday evenings starting Wednesday, March 4, 2026 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The two greatest triggers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms and altered gastrointestinal function are stress and diet. There is a strong relationship between our brain, our emotions, and how our gastrointestinal tract is functioning. This program teaches the most effective relaxation, diet, and lifestyle strategies to improve this relationship and positively impact IBS symptoms. These approaches are helpful for...

This four-session skills program meets online for 90 minutes on four consecutive Wednesday evenings starting Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. More than one or two headaches a month are too many. Learn effective, practical, drug-free strategies to decrease stress-related tension and migraine headaches, and to decrease headache pain. Topics include: headache trigger combinations, and the ones to really watch for practical strategies to try as a headache is coming on the four stages in the migraine neurovascular...

Celebrating the People Who Shape Our University Community GREAT at U of G invites you to join colleagues from across our university to celebrate our staff and faculty, who each day make a meaningful difference for each other, the students, and the communities we serve. Employee Appreciation Day shines a spotlight on the unique strengths, skills, and gifts our employees bring to the university, from support and services to teaching and research. It’s a moment to pause and connect, while inviting each of us to continue to foster a culture where every member...

Do you sometimes worry you wouldn’t know what to say or do if a colleague, student, friend, or family member were in mental distress or crisis? Developed by the Mental Health Commission Canada, the two-day Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification course is designed to give you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond supportively.  MHFA has been updated to follow a similar certification model as physical first aid, making it the first of its kind: a practical, recognized program to equip participants to respond to...