1. What’s Mindful Campus?
Mindful Campus is launching soon at OCAD U, and includes:
- Video lessons teaching you about mindfulness and how to practice it. You can watch on your own time and at your own pace.
- In-person and virtual group classes.
- Mindfulness training for interested OCAD U staff and students.
- New student wellness peer support workers.
- Videos to help you practice your own mindfulness and talk about well-being on OCAD U LiVE.
- Pop-up social activities on campus such as games, tea making, film screenings, etc.
These same programs will launch in the fall at partner schools across Canada.
2. What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention to whatever is happening in the present moment. Practicing mindfulness can help you manage stress and anxiety and build resilience.
When we’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, we can spend a lot of time worrying about what might happen in the future, regretting things in the past, or judging ourselves for what we’re doing or how we’re feeling. This takes time and mental energy away from attending to what is really important to us – our creative practice, our work, our friends and family, and our fun.
Mindfulness isn’t meant to slow us down - it gives us the fuel to keep us going.This new Mindful Campus program is unique from other mindfulness programs because it was developed specifically for art and design students like you.
3. What’s the science behind mindfulness?
Mindfulness training has emerged as a powerful, evidence-based tool forenhancing wellness. Studies show that mindfulness:
- Increases personal resilience and skills for everyday life
- Reduces the negative effects of stress
- Helps with a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
4. Why are classes in groups?
Group-based programs allow you to learn from each other, provide support and share resources. Groups give access to much more information and points of view that can help members develop insight and greater self-awareness through listening to others.
We are social creatures and groups help foster a sense of belonging and understanding that we are not alone in our issues.
If you don’t like group classes, you can get the same content in videos coming soon to the mindfulcampus.ca website and watch on your own time.
5. What’s the Centre for Mindfulness Studies
Mindful Campus was developed in collaboration with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies. The Centre is a mental health charity founded in 2011, in Toronto. It is Canada’s leading professional development and service delivery organization for mindfulness-based programs for depression, anxiety, and stress. Since 2011, the Centre has delivered programs to more than 20,000 people.
6. Who’s paying for this?
The Mindful Campus program is fully funded by a Public Health Agency of Canada grant aimed at mental health promotion for post-secondary students impacted by the pandemic. The grant money is funding the program here at OCAD U and at partner schools across Canada.
Student tuition is not paying for this program. All parts of Mindful Campus are free for all students.
7. What if you want 1-1 counselling?
The Mindful Campus program is designed to increase the overall well-being and flourishing of OCAD U students. Mindfulness does not accomplish the same goals as one-on-one counselling.
To book an appointment with a counsellor/community worker, please visit the OCAD U Student Wellness Centre at ocadu.ca/services/health-and-wellnessand look for the counselling section under the “services” tab, email swc@ocadu.ca or download the free keep.meSAFE app to call or chat with a counsellor anytime day or night.
Your StudentCare Health & Dental insurance package also offers you 100% coverage of up to $1,000 a year on psychologists/registered social workers – learn more at studentcare.ca/ocadu.
@Good2talkon is also available 24/7 for free, confidential support including professional counsellors. Visit good2talk.ca, call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868.