Four ways to make the most of your mental health on Bell Let's Talk Day

It’s hard to imagine that five cents is worth much when you can’t even buy the long-treasured, uniquely Canadian penny candies for a nickel apiece anymore. But on Jan. 30, 2019, for the ninth year in a row, Bell will put millions towards mental health initiatives across Canada — five cents at a time.

As part of the annual Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign, every applicable text, call, tweet and video view will contribute to mental health in communities across our nation.

Aside from supporting the campaign online, there are also numerous ways to join the conversation right here on campus:

1.  Swag booths: Itching to get your hands on a bright blue pom-pom toque? Drop by engagement booths on the first floor of TFDL or the South Courtyard of Mac Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to leave a positive message about mental health, learn about on-campus supports and of course, snag free Bell Let’s Talk Day swag. Snap a selfie and share on social media using #BellLetsTalk and #UCalgary to get in on the conversation.
2. Workshops: Whether you’re interested in learning mindfulness techniques to stress less, understanding how the brain responds to traumatic situations like sexual violence, or learning to support someone who may have thoughts of suicide, there are plenty of workshops throughout the week open to the campus community.
3. Evening events: Bit of a movie buff? Dive into a conversation about youth mental health with Science in the Cinema’s free screening of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Alternatively, if you’re curious about the opioid crisis, register for Living in the Time of Opioids, a panel discussion about myths and realities of opioid use and addiction.
4. Drop-in activities: If you’re looking to learn a new game or just take a break from studying, swing by the Q Centre or the Campus Community Hub for a drop-in board game café. Check out the SU Wellness Centre events calendar for more activities happening all week long, including Karaoke Night and Painting and Pizza — yum!

Of course, making the most of your mental health is more than a one-day initiative. Visit the Campus Mental Health Strategy events page regularly for ways to get engaged and continue the conversation about mental health all year round.

Bell Let’s Talk Day activities are supported by the Campus Mental Health Strategy. The University of Calgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy is a bold commitment to the importance of mental health and well-being of our university family. Our vision is to be a community where we care for each other, learn and talk about mental health and well-being, receive support as needed, and individually and collectively realize our full potential. If you think you need help, please visit resources here. If you think someone you know needs help, find more information here.