King's goes virtual to promote wellness for Bell Let's Talk
January 27, 2021
Written by Eric Campbell, Communications Interns
The King’s community has organized a series of virtual initiatives and activities for Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 28, 2021 to connect with students and employees to reduce the stigma around mental health and wellness. Learn more about King’s virtual mental health resources available to students, staff, and faculty as part of King’s ongoing commitment to the health and wellness of our community.
To begin the day, King's students, staff, and faculty will receive a virtual care package via email. It will include virtual and downloadable resources, videos highlighting King's virtual health and wellness resources, and links to a wide array of mental health and counselling services available to the King's community. In addition, recipients will receive access to virtual activities provided by Bell, such as Mandala art, self-care bingo, and a chatterbox. Some of the health and wellness resources included in the care package are links to mental health organizations available to King’s students, such as Togetherall and Jack.org.
The King’s community will also have access to a virtual photo booth that allows students, staff, and faculty to snap a ‘self-care’ selfie with a virtual Bell Let’s Talk toque and showcase how they practice self-care. Alongside their selfie, participants will also be provided with the opportunity to leave a personalized mental health message.
Interviews with representatives from King’s University College Students’ Council and King’s Human Resources will be shared to educate the King’s community on the health and wellness resources and benefits available to them. The videos will be available in the email care package and on YouTube.
King’s will also run a social media campaign to encourage members of the King’s community to use specific hashtags on social media, such as #BellLetsTalk, #WellnessAtKings, #IGoToKings, and #CarryOnKings to encourage their peers and community to participate in the conversation on mental health. Bell will donate 5 cents to mental health initiatives in Canada for every applicable text message, call, tweet, TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, social media view and use of their Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.
As part of the campaign, mental health-related events taking place after Bell Let's Talk will be promoted, including a virtual yoga session with Jack.org and a virtual live lecture with mental health advocate Wade Sorochan presented by King’s Alumni and Development. Both events will take place on January 29, 2021 as part of King's commitment to keep the conversation going.
Mental health matters now more than ever and King’s will continue working to continue the conversation around mental health and the elimination of stigma surrounding it for this year’s Bell Let’s Talk Day and beyond.
King’s continues to offer the same one-on-one counselling options, just now virtually during the pandemic. All of King’s Master’s level counsellors have five years of experience or more. Registered social workers and psychotherapists are also available to support our students.
Counsellors are able to work with students over the phone or via Zoom calls. The King’s community can learn more about Personal Counselling or make an appointment by visiting the King’s website.
“There is no problem too little or too large to see the counsellors about. We don’t have a waiting list at King’s. If you are struggling with something and want to talk to somebody, you should reach out,” says Joanna Bedggood, Manager of Student Wellness.
Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to use crisis resources such as the Canadian Mental Health Association and Good2Talk, a 24/7 helpline for post-secondary students in Ontario.
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. Daily Prayer Live is also offering offered each weekday: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at noon and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. on the King’s Campus Ministry Facebook page. The prayer booklet will be posted to their Facebook page on the day of prayer or on the Campus Ministry website.
For more information on Bell Let’s Talk at King’s, visit https://www.kings.uwo.ca/about-kings/visitor-info/calendar-of-events/bell-lets-talk-day/.