Bell Let's Talk Day focuses on King's mental health supports
January 26, 2022
As part of King’s commitment to supporting all students, faculty and staff in reaching their highest potential, we will once again participate in the annual Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 26, 2022. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic leading to challenges including isolation, fear and uncertainty, the mental health and wellness supports available to the King’s community matter now more than ever.
As part of Bell Let’s Talk Day at King’s, Mark Henick, mental health advocate and strategist, will be holding a free virtual lecture at 11 a.m. The lecture, hosted by Alumni and Development, is open to all members of the King’s community. Henick will share his direct experience as a patient, a professional, a policy influencer, and a public figure in the mental health system. More information about Mark Henick’s talk and links to register can be found on the King’s website.
While the virtual lecture will be the featured event, Bell Let’s Talk Day at King’s also provides an opportunity to highlight the many mental health and wellness supports available to our community throughout the year:
Counselling and Support Groups
Student Affairs will continue to offer Personal Counselling via Zoom and telephone to increase access for our student community. Accessibility, Counselling & Student Development (ACDS) has caring professional counsellors to support students in managing personal concerns more effectively. All services are free and accessible for all King’s students.
Emily Carrothers BSW ’13, MSW ’16 became our new Campus and Community Social Worker last fall. She develops proactive wellness supports for the King’s community including presentations on a range of topics related to mental health. Carrothers will help students with their issues, help them to navigate the system, sort out who to talk to or figure out life in the community. King’s campus social worker can be reached at Emily.Carrothers@kings.uwo.ca or AtRisk@kings.uwo.ca. If you are a student, you are welcome to contact her directly and she will help you to walk through whatever you are needing supports with at this time. Staff or faculty are welcome to contact Carrothers directly to refer a student or to have their own questions answered.
King’s Campus Ministry offers pastoral counselling, a holistic approach to the stresses of everyday life, as well as for moments of crisis. Such counselling is offered virtually at this time. Appointments can be set up by contacting Jim Panchaud or calling 519-963-1477.
In partnership with Western, a new counselling support system directed towards LGBTQ2+ and BIPOC students has been added, along with a range of student support groups. More information is located on the Western Student Experience website.
Our staff and faculty have access to the King’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (FSEAP). FSEAP offers confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through the FSEAP app, the website or at 1-844-720-1212. These platforms offer service details, health, and wellness newsletters. They also provide a library of health and wellness articles on topics such as health and well-being, family and relationships, life, work and more.
Mental Health and Wellness Apps
Togetherall is a free online peer-to-peer platform that King’s students can access any day, at any time. They can anonymously connect with others in the community who are experiencing the same feelings. Togetherall shows students that, during these uncertain times, they don’t need to struggle on their own. King’s was the first university in Ontario and second in Canada to integrate the Togetherall platform into its broader suite of mental health supports available to its students and extend new support to the community. Togetherall is funded by the generous support of the Lawson Foundation.
Good2Talk is a free, confidential and anonymous helpline providing professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being to all post-secondary students in Ontario year-round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Jack.org King's is part of a national network of students working to change thinking about mental health. Students work within King’s to shift negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours around mental health to create a safer, more supportive community
More information on community mental health resources at King’s can be found on our Mental Health and Wellness webpage.
On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell will donate five cents for every applicable call, text message, use of their Facebook frame and Snapchat lens, upload of a video to TikTok using the #BellLetsTalk hashtag, tweet or retweet using the #BellLetsTalk hashtag toward mental health initiatives. Bell will also donate five cents every time someone views the Bell Let’s Talk official video on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter or YouTube. You can also find tools to help create positive change by using the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit. Bell’s total donation to mental health programs now stands at over $159,173,435.