Tau Sigma Phi
324 Sunnyside Avenue Ottawa, ON, Canada

Tau Sigma Phi Alpha Chapter is thrilled to announce our upcoming 2022/2023 Executive Board members!! President: Kate Milroy Vice President Internal: Bailey Bloor Vice President External: Korry Brankin... Sisterhood: Leah Churchill Scholarship: Emily Malizia Philanthropy: Naa-Adorkor Spearing Ritual: Charlotte White Risk Management: Camille Cardinal Treasurer: Laura Marsden See more

As the summer break begins, our sisters are traveling the world! Tag someone you’re excited to hang with over the summer! #tausigmaphi #tausig #sorority #travel #greeklife #sisters

https://support.cancer.ca/site/TR/

A beautiful day to (safely) go apple picking for Zoë and Hannah, while following social distancing guidelines and staying in their social bubble stay safe everyone!

Thank you for an amazing 13 years, can’t wait for what’s to come - Happy Founders Day Sisters

Happy Thursday

Tau Sigma Phi stands in solidarity with people of colour. We will not stay silent as racism is alive and well in our world. We as an organization promise to not only speak out against racism, but to actively be anti-racist. Please visit this link to see how you can take action: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

Day 7 - Eating Disorders Today is the last day of Tau Sigma Phi’s Mental Health Awareness Week. Today we will be talking about eating disorders. Everyday, we are surrounded by images and posts that impact the way we feel about our appearance. Eating disorders are not just about food and body image. They are a way for people to cope with difficult problems or regain a sense of control in their life. The three most well known eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia ne...rvosa, and binge-eating disorder. These are complicated illnesses that can affect a person’s sense of identity, self worth, and self-esteem. You cannot always tell when someone has an eating disorder. This is because it is not always a visible illness, contrary to the belief of many. Eating disorders can affect anyone at any age. People may have a lot of difficulty and wait some time before finding help. Reaching out is not easy and many experience fear, guilt, and shame. It is so important that if you or a loved one in your life are struggling with an eating disorder, know that you are strong and that recovery is possible. You are so important and help is always available for you when you are ready. #TSPMHAW Finding Help: National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) - Help for Yourself: https://nedic.ca/help-for-yourself/ Hopewell - Eating Disorder Support Centre: https://www.hopewell.ca/ Regional Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders: https://www.ottawahospital.on.ca//regional-centre-for-the/ Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association - Eating Disorders: https://cmha.ca//understanding-mental-ill/eating-disorders National Eating DIsorder Information Center (NEDIC): https://nedic.ca/ Healthline - Six Common Types of Eating Disorders (and Their Symptoms): https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/common-eating-disorders National Institute of Mental Health - Eating Disorders - About More Than Food: https://www.nimh.nih.gov//pub/eating-disorders/index.shtml Videos: TEDx Talks - After Anorexia - Life's too short to weigh your cornflakes: https://youtu.be/gZpcTVqpaPw You Don’t Look Like - People With Eating Disorders: https://youtu.be/hOZ7-H3cVcI Questions You’re Too Afraid To Ask Someone With An Eating Disorder: https://youtu.be/ScKx4bSN_po

Day 6 - Depression and Mood Disorders (Bipolar Disorder/Mania) Today is day six of Tau Sigma Phi’s Mental Health Awareness Week! That means that today we will be talking about depression and bipolar disorder. We have all experienced changes in our mood; sometimes we feel energetic, irritable, sad or happy. These moods don’t often last long and we can continue with our daily lives. However, depression and bipolar disorder are mental illnesses that change the way that a perso...n can feel and can make it hard to continue daily life routines. Depression is a mental illness that affects mood and the way someone feels. It impacts the way people think about themselves and interact/relate to those around them. Depression can lead to feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, or anxiety. It can also oftentimes cause people to lose interest in things and activities that they used to enjoy (known as feelings of anhedonia). Depression can affect one’s concentration levels, ability to learn new things, and can lead to indecisiveness. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that also affects mood. People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of depression and mania. During a manic episode people may feel racing thoughts, unrealistically confident, happy, or hyperactive. Many people do not experience much sleep during a manic episode. Bipolar disorder can affect people at different times, and at different frequencies. Some may have long periods of wellness between their episodes, while some may experience longer episodes. Bipolar disorder and depression can affect anyone at any age and any sex. They can be very challenging disorders. People often blame themselves for the way they are feeling and worry about what others will say if they ask for help. If you or anyone in your life are struggling with your mental health, know that you are not alone and that help is always available and ready. #TSPMHAW Finding Help: Mood Disorders Association of Ontario - Programs Available (also found under programs tab): https://www.mooddisorders.ca/programs Healthline - Seven Ways to Treat Depressive Episodes of Bipolar Disorder: https://www.healthline.com/hea/bipolar-disorder/depression Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association - Depression and Bipolar Disorder: https://cmha.ca//understanding-mental-ill/bipolar-disorder National Institute for Mental Health - Bipolar Disorder: https://www.nimh.nih.gov//top/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml Videos: TEDx Talks - I’m Fine - Learning to Live With Depression: https://youtu.be/IDPDEKtd2yM TED-Ed - What is Depression: https://youtu.be/z-IR48Mb3W0

Today is day five of TSP’s Mental Health Awareness Week! Today we will be talking about Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized forms of mental illness. It is a complex biochemical brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to determine what is reality and what is not. People with schizophrenia can experience delusions, hallucinations (ie. hearing voices talking when there is no one there), social withdrawal, and extremely disordered thinking. Peop...le with schizophrenia often experience episodes, which begin with the feeling that things around them feel different or strange. At the peak of the episode, people may experience breaks from reality called psychosis. This could be anything from hallucinations (sensations) and delusions (strong beliefs that aren’t true). Schizophrenia is a puzzle that is different in every single person affected. While some will only experience one episode in their lifetime, others will experience multiple. While some will experience short episodes, others will experience longer episodes, and while some may receive warnings of an upcoming episode, others may not. While there is no set cure for Schizophrenia, there are many means for which people can recover from this illness. If you or anyone around you is experiencing delusions or hallucinations, I encourage you to check in frequently and know that help is always there for you. #TSPMHAW Finding Help: The Royal Ottawa - Schizophrenia Recovery Program: https://www.helpguide.org//schizophrenia-treatment-and-sel Ottawa Hospital - EPION: https://www.ottawahospital.on.ca//champlain-district-regi/ Help Guide - Schizophrenia Treatment and Self Help: https://www.helpguide.org//schizophrenia-treatment-and-sel Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association - Schizophrenia: https://cmha.ca//understanding-mental-illness/schizophrenia National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov//post-traumatic-stre/index.shtml Psychology Today - Myths About Schizophrenia (and the facts you need to know): https://www.psychologytoday.com//4-myths-about-schizophren Videos: TED-Ed - What is schizophrenia?: https://youtu.be/K2sc_ck5BZU Crash Course Psychology - Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders: https://youtu.be/uxktavpRdzU TED Talk - The voices in my head, Eleanor Longden (Story of a college student): https://youtu.be/syjEN3peCJw

Day 4 - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD and Trauma) Today is day four of Tau Sigma Phi’s Mental Health Awareness Week! Today we will be talking about post-traumatic stress disorder, also referred to as PTSD. PTSD is a mental illness that results from exposure to trauma. There are a wide range of traumas that can result in PTSD such as an event that involves death, the threat of death, and/or serious injury. It can also be an event(s) associated with emotional trauma, s...uch as an abusive relationship. This event could have been experienced by yourself or someone around you. Trauma is often unexpected and is something very frightening, overwhelming, and causes a lot of distress. Someone who has experienced or is still experiencing PTSD may not always experience the same symptoms as someone else. PTSD often causes intrusive symptoms, which include but are not limited to; re-experiencing the trauma, vivid nightmares, flashbacks, thoughts of the event that seem to come from nowhere, trouble sleeping, and having difficulty focusing. Symptoms of PTSD don’t always appear right away, in fact, sometimes it can take weeks or months after a trauma for someone to experience symptoms. These symptoms can very seriously affect a person's everyday life and their relationships. PTSD is a very misunderstood and complicated illness that affects everyone differently. People who experience PTSD can feel shame, guilt, and embarrassment when talking to others. If you are experiencing symptoms related to trauma, it is so important to know that your feelings are valid. If you or anyone around you is experiencing troubles in life caused by trauma or any other mental illnesses, it is important to take these feelings seriously and know that help is always available when you are ready. #TSPMHAW Finding Help: Ottawa Trauma and Anxiety Clinic (is currently still open during COVID-19): http://www.traumaclinic.ca/ The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa (operating through sceduled zoom meetings and phone calls during COVID-19): 24-hour support line: (613) 234-2266 Email to get in touch with a peer support worker: [email protected] https://sascottawa.com/ Mental Health Commision of Canada - Helping yourself and others after a traumatic experience (building a self care plan): https://schools.au.reachout.com//developing-a-self-care-pl HelpGuide - PTSD: https://www.helpguide.org//ptsd-symptoms-self-help-treatme Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: https://cmha.ca//under/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd PTSD Association of Canada: http://www.ptsdassociation.com/ National Institute of Mental Health - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: https://www.nimh.nih.gov//post-traumatic-stres/index.shtml Videos: What is PTSD? : https://youtu.be/YMC2jt_QVEE

Day 3 - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) For day three of TSP’s Mental Health Awareness Week we are going to be talking about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). We all form habits that make us feel better, but these are habits we could manage to live without. For people who experience OCD, these behaviours are much more extreme and disruptive to everyday life. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is difficult to understand, but it is a real illness that causes challenges th...at can require professional help. OCD consists of two parts, obsessions and compulsions.. Obsessions are defined as unwanted and repetitive thought, urges, or images that don't go away, which can lead to significant anxiety and distress. An example of an obsession is worrying about making a loved one sick by bringing germs into the house (commonly known as germaphobia, which is commonly associated with OCD). One’s obsessive thoughts are not thoughts that someone would normally focus on and they do not define a person or their character. They are symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Compulsions are defined as actions meant to reduce anxiety caused by obsessions, and some behaviours associated with compulsions include washing, cleaning, and ordering things in a specific way. Obsession is the driving force behind compulsion; often when an individual attempts to ignore the obsession, they are put into a situation of distress, where the only solution is to give in to the compulsion. This is how the vicious cycle of OCD continues and how it can lead to negatively impacting one's life. While many people are unable to discern the difference between an obsession, a compulsion, and someone (without OCD) just being an organized person or neat freak, it is very important to know and understand that this disorder can be very hard to explain, incontrolable, and can take over a person's life. If you or anyone in your life is struggling with a mental illness, know that help is always available. #TSPMHAW Finding Help: International OCD Foundation - Find Help tab (provides local listings for therapists, clinics & programs), support groups, and organizations): https://iocdf.org/ International OCD Foundation - 25 Tips for Succeeding in your OCD Treatment: https://iocdf.org/expert-opinions/25-tips-for-ocd-treatment/ Beyond OCD - Ten Things You Need To Know To Overcome OCD: https://beyondocd.org//ten-things-you-need-to-know-to-over Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: https://iocdf.org/ https://cmha.ca//underst/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd This Way Up - Dealing with OCD: https://thiswayup.org.au/how-do-yo/obsessed-and-compulsive/ Videos: The Mighty - I Have OCD. This Is What It’s Like to Be in My Mind for 3 Minutes.: https://youtu.be/ufqFO5B1vQY

The Alpha Chapter of Tau Sigma Phi would like to introduce you to our Executive Board for the upcoming 2020-2021 yearPresident: Hannah WasslenVice President Internal: Maeve PeabodyVice President External: Alexis St. PierreRitual: Michele KandelScholarship: Rachel WoodsPhilanthropy: Serena McEvoy-StevensonRisk Management: Hanneke de RooTreasurer: Maddie JacksonSisterhood: Brianna Samson

Day 2 - Anxiety Disorders (Phobias, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder) For day two of Tau Sigma Phi’s Mental Health Awareness Week we will be talking about anxiety disorders! Everyone has felt nervous or worried at some point in their lives, these feelings can be helpful when they motivate us or warn us of incoming danger. However, struggling with an Anxiety Disorder can lead to significant feelings of anxiety and fear t...hat impact our lives in very serious ways including how we think, feel, and act. Society often groups people with anxiety under the same umbrella, but there are actually numerous different types of anxiety disorders. These include; specific phobias, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can have many different symptoms that come along with them, these can vary from disorder to disorder and from person to person. Some of these symptoms can include intense fears, repeated and unexpected panic attacks along with muscle tensions, as well as sleeping problems. Anxiety disorders can affect anyone at any time, making it one of the most common types of mental illness. Anxiety can be triggered by various things, such as big life events or can be triggered by a buildup of small, daily stressors. It is so important to recognize the signs and symptoms of these disorders and if you, a loved one, or someone around you are struggling, know that help is always there for you to reach out. #TSPMHAW Finding Help: Anxiety and Depression Association of America - Tips to Easing Anxiety: https://adaa.org/tips Healthline - 12 Ways to Calm Anxiety Naturally: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-calm-anxiety#1 Some apps you can download on your phone: MindShift CBT (free) Headspace: Meditation and Sleep (free) Moodpath (free) Pocketcoach: Anxiety Helper (free) (Also has specific exercises to help with any Coronavirus anxieties that people may be experiencing right now) Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association - Understanding Anxiety Disorders: https://cmha.ca//understanding-mental-il/anxiety-disorders National Institute of Mental Health - Generalized Anxiety Disorder: https://www.nimh.nih.gov//generalized-anxiety-/index.shtml National Institute of Mental Health - Anxiety Disorders Overview: https://www.nimh.nih.gov//to/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml Videos: What Anxiety Feels Like (She’s Amazing): https://youtu.be/nCgm1xQa06c Living With Panic Attacks: https://youtu.be/CBtbUckHPjQ See more

DAY 1 - Monday, April 20th, 2020: Mental Health - Starting the Conversation Today is the first day of Tau Sigma Phi’s Mental Health Awareness Week! To start the week off we wanted to remind everyone of the importance of taking care of your mental health, especially this time of year with finishing up classes, taking exams, and dealing with the uncertainty of COVID-19. Taking time for ourselves and practicing different forms of self-care are crucial as maintaining our... mental health is just as important as maintaining our physical health. Mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do. Unfortunately, mental illnesses are still so misunderstood and stigmatized by many. Our goal this Mental Health Awareness Week is to provide knowledge and resources for different illnesses and promote destigmatization around the topic of mental health. For the next 6 days we will be introducing different mental illnesses and explain a bit about each one along with providing some helpful resources that are accessible for anyone and everyone. Let this be a reminder to take time to practice self-care, not just today but everyday! Take breaks from school work, go for walks, get a good night sleep, supply your body with nutritious meals and most importantly, remember to put your health above all else. If you are feeling like you are stuck and struggling with your mental health, know that you are not alone and that help is always available! #TSPMHAW Self Care: Youthab - 30 ways to practice self care (Physical, mental, and emotional): https://www.youthab.ca//30-ways-to-practice-self-care-take ReachOut - Developing a Self-Care Plan: https://schools.au.reachout.com//developing-a-self-care-pl Canadian Mental Health Association - Take Care of Your Mental Health: https://cmha.ca/b/take-care-of-your-mental-health-on-the-go Looking for more info? : Canadian Mental Health Association: (Ottawa Branch) - https://cmha.ca/branches/ottawa-branch https://cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness https://ontario.cmha.ca/mental-health/ Mental Health.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Bell Let’s Talk (if you scroll down a bit, I really like their 5 simple ways to end the stigma and start a conversation section): https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/ Videos: 15 Self-Care Ideas for Coronavirus Quarantine: https://youtu.be/AQxpQ94Euic A Self-Care Action Plan: https://youtu.be/w0iVTQS8ftg