Between mounting snowbanks and assignments, students took time to de-stress at the Humber Let’s Talk event as part of the North Campus Wellness Fair on Jan. 28.
The event at the Learning Resource Commons hosted therapy puppies, wellness activities and help centres, encouraging students to take part in conversations surrounding mental health.
This year’s theme, Navigating Wellness Together, reminded students of the support systems and resources available to them, both on- and off-campus.
Hiba Khan, the health promotion facilitator who helped organize the event, said it’s important to talk openly about mental health.
“The goal really is to get students talking about mental health, and to kind of reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health and mental well-being,” she said.
The event featured on-campus resources and community services, including Good2Talk, 211 and Punjabi Community Health Services.
Khan said many students don’t realize the support they have access to.
“A lot of students they'll go by, they're in their fourth year, and they don't even know half of the resources that are completely free of charge, available to them.”
Students painted rocks, grabbed a slice of pizza and lined up to play with puppies.
For a moment, students were able to relax and unwind.
Khan said the event was a great way for students to connect.
“There are students who have never met each other but are sitting together and doing a shared activity. So, it fosters that sense of community, that sense of belonging,” she said.
For first-year nursing student Taliyah Mills, wellness is an important part of her daily routine.
Mills spent time with the therapy puppies in between her classes, and it was exactly what she needed.
“I just finished my class,” she said. “And it was just so enlightening. When you hug them [puppies], you literally feel that relief.”
Mills said events like this help break the stigma around talking about mental health.
“I think that what people don't realize is we all go through it. Whether you're out and about with it, whether you like to embrace it, whether you like to speak about it, no matter what, no matter who you see, everyone has their own mental health battle. So, I feel like if people knew that more, [they’d] be more open to talking about it,” she said.
The event encouraged students to reach out for help if they’re struggling, allowing them to release the shame they may feel about asking for support.
“I would want students to know that if they need help or if they're going through a challenging time, there is help out there, and there is a resource here,” Khan said.
Navigating Wellness Together is an important message for students, reminding them that they don’t need to face their battles alone.
