You are not alone, together we thrive.
The UVic Student Mental Health Blog is dedicated to promoting positive mental health and reducing stigma. Hear directly from UVic students sharing their personal stories and tips for maintaining wellness, and learn ways to increase your happiness and wellbeing and decrease your stress as you navigate life as a student!
Navigating the Beginning of the Term
The beginning of the school year is here, and for many, this brings up lots of different feelings… good, bad, and likely both. Many of you will be experiencing pure excitement, and others will be feeling a lot of angst, and I am here to tell you that both are totally...
Embracing the Beauty of Uncertainty
I have found myself facing anxious thoughts as I become closer to graduating this summer. I feel like I am living in a time of uncertainty as I approach the end of my academic journey (or at least this chapter). I know many of my friends are currently feeling the same...
5 Great Study Spaces On Campus
With only a month left of classes left, I know many of you may be experiencing burnout and exhaustion. It can be hard to have the motivation to get the day started and stay productive. Know that you are not alone, and you are so close to being finished,...
My Journey with Resilience
Hi readers! I wanted to share a piece of writing I wrote for UVIC's on the Verge writing contest last year on resilience. My hope is that by sharing my mental health experiences, you - the reader, will feel a little less alone. Thanks for reading!...
Tips on Balancing Your Grades and Mental Health from a Student in the Same Boat
Hi friends!As someone who has wanted to pursue further education after my bachelors, I have often found myself trying to find a healthy balance between maintaining my grades and maintaining my mental health. Through my four years of schooling I have learned how to...
How to support someone thinking of suicide
*Content Warning: Post contains discussion of suicide, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts*Resources:Crisis Services Canada24/7 Phone Line: 1-833-456-4566SMS Text: Text START to 45645 from 4pm-12am ETMental Health Support line: 310-6789Canada Suicide Prevention...
Upcoming Event: Students Above Stigma Symposium
Hi folks!I am extremely excited to share an upcoming event with you that I have had the privilege of helping organize. On March 31st, the UVic Students Above Stigma are hosting an online research symposium from 5:00-7:00 pm, composed of passionate student speakers...
Don’t be afraid to talk about suicide
*Content warning: Post contains discussion of suicide, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts******Resources:In an emergency situation call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away or go to your local emergency department.International Suicide Hotlines can be found...
The Mental Health Benefits of Making Art
Research has shown that making art has many healing and mental health benefits. Today, art therapists provide art therapy to individuals to manage things like anxiety, depression, and PTSD1. Recent studies have found that viewing and creating visual art can improve...
What Stoicism Can Teach Us About Self Love
When you think about the word, “stoic”, you probably think cold or emotionless. However, this notion is far from the reality. Stoicism is a philosophy dating all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome. The school of thought includes living in agreement...
Getting Involved in the UVic Community
When I was in first-year university I told myself that I wanted to branch out and meet new people by joining clubs, trying new things, and getting involved in causes I was passionate about. By the beginning of the second semester, I realized that I hadn’t pursued any...
Gaining a Sense of Control, During a Global Pandemic
Do you struggle when you feel you are not in control? For many of us, feeling grounded helps our emotional wellbeing, and when our sense of control is taken away from us due to unknown circumstances it is not easy. As we all know, the last few years have been filled...
10 Fun Ways to Stay Connected with Friends and Family Online
At this stage in the COVID-19 chokehold, we’ve all heard hundreds of variations of motivational pandemic speeches preaching how we need to stay connected with each other during these unprecedented times (I know, those words make me cringe too) - but how do...
Dealing with the Uncertainty and Disappointment of Covid
As I’m sure many of us have become aware of, living through a pandemic means that everything is subject to change, and it seems that all our plans are uncertain. As human beings we desire a sense of security and predictability but with the way...
Project Spotlight: B.A.C.K.
Mental illness does not discriminate the people it effects, so why do we see racial disparities in the mental health system? Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) individuals are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to receive the...
Tips from a Procrastinator on Taking the LSAT in a Pandemic
Considering what you want to do after you get your degree can be very daunting for a lot of us, especially when you’re considering taking a graduate admission exam to continue your education. Studying for these types of exams might also seem very intimidating to the...
Treating Our Inner Critic with Compassion
(Disclaimer: This post heavily draws upon Dr. Kristin Neff’s work, which can be accessed via her website. Also, throughout the following post, I will hyperlink any/all information I found on Dr. Neff’s website, so the wonderful resources provided there can be accessed...
Learning Online Again
I found myself less motivated for the beginning of this semester as it starts online. Online learning can come with many comforts such as staying in your pajamas, the ability to lay in bed during lectures, and being in the comfort of your own home, but I’ve found that...
How to Achieve Wellness & Academic Success:
As a new semester rolls around, it is time to get back to our school routine, and while this fresh start is exciting, it can also bring up other negative feelings such as stress and anxiety. Below are some tips for achieving a great semester to better you...
“Don’t wrestle with pigs…”
"… you both get dirty and the pig enjoys it” - George Bernard Shaw The internet is packed with suggestions on how to confront someone, or how to overcome your fear of confrontation. If you identify as an introvert or ambivert, you’ve probably looked those...