Laurier Student Wellness-Brantford Campus
Student Centre, Floor 2, 103 Darling Street N3T 2K8 Brantford, ON, Canada

We are excited to announce a new program starting September 28th! Peer Support is a weekly wellness initiative for students to connect online with a trained Laurier student volunteer. Peer Support aims to create a space where students can be supported by other students who understand their shared experiences. ... Stay connected this fall! Check out our website for more information and to get involved: https://students.wlu.ca//wellnes/peer-support-program.html

SAC Brant’s sexual violence counsellor/advocate is still here for you! Rasha (they/them; she/her) is holding an online chat drop-in every Wednesday from 1-4pm starting September 8th. The chatroom is one-on-one & anonymous. Just head on over to www.sacbrant.ca & click on the start new chat icon on the bottom right corner.... Questions? Email Rasha at [email protected], or text them at (289) 975-0333

Dear Survivors, We believe you. If you have been impacted by gendered or sexual violence, it’s never your fault.... Support is available to all members of the Laurier community who have been impacted by gendered or sexual violence, regardless of when or where the violence took place. Healing from trauma and accessing support looks different for everyone. The Office of Dispute Resolution and Sexual Violence Support can provide information on the different options available to you and can support you in figuring out what works best for you. They are here to listen to you and, with your consent, can assist you with: - Safety planning. - Referrals to counselling and medical services. - Trauma-informed care resources. - Academic and campus accommodations. - Understanding the on- and off-campus reporting and complaint options available to you (including understanding official complaint procedures). - Navigating systems and resources within the university and the broader community. - Supporting communications between the survivor and the university. - Advocacy within university systems and legal systems. - Resources for all individuals who have been impacted by gender-based or sexual violence (e.g., family and friends of survivors, people who have received disclosures, and people who have caused harm). - Understanding limits to confidentiality. - Currently, all services are available over the phone, video chat or through email. 24/7 SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE SUPPORTS: Through partnerships with the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, sexual violence counselling is available to WLU students during regular university hours in both Waterloo and Brantford. Students can also access their 24/7 support and crisis lines. The Sexual Assault Centre of Brant 24-hour crisis and support line: 519.751.3471 The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region 24-hour support line: 519.741.8633 *Phone support is available in more than 200 languages through an interpreter service. Check out Consent is Golden for more resources!

"Any life is a life of change. We experience transitions in work and relationships, changes in our physical and mental health, and new events in our school communities and even in our world. Sometimes we know a change is going to happen, while other times it comes suddenly and unexpectedly. Maybe it is a disappointment, or maybe it is a wonderful surprise. As we start to re-adjust from online instruction, isolation, and physical distancing to a "new normal", this webinar will explore a few healthy practices for increasing your level of resilience and coping with change and disappointment." To learn more, register for this free webinar from guard.me - our International Insurance provider: When plans change: Managing disappointment and becoming resilient https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/2661703653867522827

We are excited to announce in-person massage therapy and chiropractic services at the Laurier Brantford Wellness Centre starting the week of July 20th! Our clinic is making utmost efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will inform you of the precautionary measures in place to protect you and others. Call 519-756-8228 x5803 or email [email protected] to book your appointment with our Registered Massage Therapist or Chiropractor.

We are excited to provide psychological health and safety training for staff in partnership with CMHA this fall thanks to a Mindful Campuses grant! The grant will allow us to further support the well-being of social work students as they develop future-ready skills through field placements.... You can learn more about our plan for the Mindful Campuses grant here: https://wlu.ca//laurier-to-strengthen-mental-health-suppor

Can you believe it's the end of June already? Tomorrow we're partnering with Goodbodyfeel Movement Studio to move together with our Laurier 2SLGBTQ+ community in celebration of Pride! No need to identify yourself - feel free to join in without audio or video! ... We look forward to moving with you!

"In a year without community pride festivals, where so many LGBTQ folks may be struggling with isolation and grief, let's explore how we can cultivate resilience, create healthy boundaries in environments where we feel less than celebrated and hold on to our truth with fierce compassion." Yes to resilience! Yes to healthy boundaries! Yes to fierce compassion!... Yes to 2SLGBTQ+ Pride with or without festivals and parades! Head to the event page for full details about this free workshop brought to you by our friends from Consent is Golden and Sanctuary Counselling and Training! See more

We're excited to celebrate Pride Month with a pilates party hosted by our friends from Goodbodyfeel Movement Studio on Monday, June 29th from 5-6pm. We invite our 2SLGBTQ+ community to join us for this movement class that accommodates all levels and abilities - no experience required! Head to the event page for more details!

Join us at 4pm!

We are so excited about this topic! Tomorrow we are partnering with the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - Laurier Brantford to discuss anxiety and relationships, and to share strategies for supporting a loved one and yourself as you navigate quarantine together. Head to the event page for full details and the Zoom link!

Did you know you can grow your own potatoes in a reusable cloth grocery bag? No garden? No problem! Check out Equal Ground Community Gardens for more great gardening tips and tricks!

Want to get grounded? Learn strategies to increase your self-awareness and focus on the present moment at our next workshop!... This one-hour Zoom workshop teaches skills that are great for daily practice and to help you cope when feeling stressed. No microphone or camera? No problem! All are welcome to participate however you can! See more

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020! Though this day looks very different than we all imagined, please know that we recognize how hard you have worked to get to this point in your academic career and we are so proud of your perseverance! ... The Student Wellness Centre staff are sending our best wishes for a future as sunny as this day!

Wellness and social justice are inextricably interwoven. Issues of diversity and equity underpin the dimensions of wellness: Without safety, there can be no mental or physical well-being;... Without equitable access to resources, there can be no physical or vocational well-being; Without employment and income equality, there can be no financial or vocational well-being; Without respect and dignity, there can be no social or spiritual well-being; And as long as there are place-based inequities, there can be no environmental well-being. Health inequities exist because racism against Black, Indigenous, and racialized members of our community persists. The Student Wellness Centre is committed to challenging Anti-Black Racism in solidarity with Black students, staff, and faculty. #blacklivesmatter

The Brantford Student Wellness Centre is excited to announce that we now have the capacity to offer video counselling appointments! To book an appointment call 519.756.8228 x5803 or email [email protected].

You may have some questions about our services during this time, and we’re hoping to answer them for you! Here's the first of the FAQ's we will be answering here this week. Please share with your peers and colleagues who may find this information helpful! ... The staff of the Student Wellness Centre are here to support you; please reach out to us. We are happy to connect you with you remotely. Currently, you can connect with our doctors, nurses, mental health nurse and counsellors via telephone appointments. While we understand this may not feel as satisfying or connected as meeting in person, it can still be helpful. To book an appointment, give us a call: Brantford campus - 519.756.8228 x5803. Waterloo campus - 519.884.0710 x3146 For our full list of FAQs visit https://students.wlu.ca//frequently-asked-questions-about-

BLACK HEALING SPACE Hosted by Lauren and Shilan June 11th - July 2nd, Every Thursday, 4-5 pm EST Register in advance for this space.... https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us//tJctc-qgpjgpHtBiTCtfwjSzi Open to folks who self-identify as Black. Open Support Space, Grounding Activities, Collective Care and Action Organizing Opportunities. .... NON-BLACK PEOPLE OF COLOUR (POC) HEALING SPACE Hosted by Humera June 10, 11am-12pm EST Register in advance for this space. https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us//tJYpceqqpjssGt2rfsTEK6y7P June 17th, 3pm-4pm EST Register in advance for this space. https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us//tJcpduqhqz0jHdKMK_mpxH8Vx Open to folks who self-identify as a person of colour. Open Support Space, Grounding Activities, Collective Care and Action Organizing Opportunities. .... WHITE CAUCUS ON RESPONDING TO ANTI-BLACK VIOLENCE Hosted by Eden June 4th, 1 pm-2 pm EST Register in advance for this space. https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us//tJMtcu2urzsqEtBsm1ipy0Xdn June 9th, 9 am-10 am EST Register in advance for this space here. https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us//tJYod-uhpz0oEtVD8IrqehWFJ Open to folks who self-identify as white/non-person of colour. Open Support Space, Anti-Racism Education and Action Organizing Opportunities.

The Brantford Wellness Centre team was treated to a delicious lunch donated by Devlin’s Country Bistro this week as a thank you for the work our healthcare heroes have been doing during the pandemic. They were all smiles under those masks! We are so proud of our team for their patience, perseverance, teamwork, and can-do attitudes during these unprecedented times. They are shining examples of the Golden Hawk spirit! ... Thank you, Devlins Country Bistro, for your thoughtfulness and generosity!

Every day we learn a bit more about COVID-19 and what the coming days, weeks, and months might look like. But there's still a great deal of uncertainty and that can be unsettling. Join Wellness Centre Counsellor Beatrice tomorrow at 1:30pm on Zoom to learn practical strategies that will help you manage your mind and body when things feel uncertain.... Check out the event page below for details!

Join Counsellor Beatrice today at 2:30 for a 15-minute tutorial on grounding so that you can approach your week with calmness and clarity. Join Zoom Meeting https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/96937833081 ... Meeting ID: 969 3783 3081 Password: 046815

Tune in to this workshop tomorrow at 1pm to learn how to protect yourself online.

Hi again! Hard to believe the end of the week is here already! We are so happy you followed along this week and hope you got something out of it!... Maybe you found a new practice you would like to keep up with - if so, stick with it! Habits don't form overnight, so your effort now will pay off not too far down the road and it will become automatic for you to engage in this practice. Maybe you found that journaling didn't do it for you, and that's okay too - take pride in trying something new and take heart knowing you are one step closer to finding something that fits for you. Maybe you learned something about yourself; maybe you reconnected with parts of yourself you haven't encountered in a while, and acknowledged emotions that needed acknowledging. Maybe you felt inspired by something you read, or maybe reading these posts was a welcome 30 second distraction from the rest of the craziness in the world right now. There's no "winning" at this self-care thing; You just show up, learn, try, and try again. Naturally, since we have come to the end of the week that we dedicated to this journaling practice, we are going to do some reflecting on our week: 1. What worked well for you this week? 2. What did you learn about yourself? 3. What parts of this practice might be helpful for you incorporate in to your life moving forward? Perhaps it's a certain type of prompt (setting intentions, reflecting, or free-writing), or making time for yourself each day. Remember, there is no wrong answer! We have one more great prize to give away, and if you would like to win, send us a message to let us know if you would like to see more of these week-long, work-at-your-own-pace events or if you prefer one-off events. Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday, Golden Hawks! This is our last day of Journaling for Well-Being and we have learned a lot over the last 4 days! This prompt is a great way to learn or acknowledge helpful information about yourself that you can use to guide your days.... For instance, the first question can help you consider ways to build happiness in to your daily life, even if only in small moments. We hope you can enjoy the sunshine today!

Try stream of consciousness journaling tonight! This method of journaling empties your brain of the thoughts that are floating around in there and provides a great release at the end of your day so you can start with a clean slate in the morning. Give it a try and leave a or in the comments to let us know what you think!

We're kicking off day 3 of 4 of Journaling for Well-Being with a focus on gratitude. Today I am especially grateful for the sun because it wakes me up in a good mood, lifts my spirits, and makes for enjoyable afternoons connecting with nature. What are you grateful for today? Let us know in the comments!

We have another evening journal prompt for you and another chance to win a great (and very relaxing) prize! Tomorrow night's prompt is our Wellness Education Coordinator's favourite, so check back tomorrow, same time and same place, to learn a new method of journaling.

Have you checked out our online event that's happening all week long? We're guiding you through a journaling practice with prompts to get you started! Head over to our Journaling for Well-Being event page to follow along! When you're journaling today, we encourage you to suspend judgment and resist the urge to control what you are writing. This practice is about getting in touch with your thoughts and feelings and learning about yourself, so let your brain wander!

Here's a peek at our journal prompt for this evening. Cozy up, put your phone away, and set a timer for 5 minutes as you take the time to reflect on your day. Want to win a journal to use for your future practice? ... Head over to our Journaling for Well-Being event page to learn how!

New online workshop happening tomorrow!

In case you missed it... All this week, we are teaching you about the benefits of journaling for mental health in our Journaling for Well-Being online event! Check out the event page or follow along with us on our Instagram stories to join in!... In the meantime, take 5 minutes to try out the two-part prompt from this morning's post, and let us know in the comments below: Have you ever tried journaling before? If yes, leave a ; if no, leave a .

What's one simple thing you can do to kick off your week after the long weekend? Follow along with this week's online event: Journaling for Well-Being!... Starting at 8am tomorrow, we'll be posting simple journal prompts twice a day that take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Taking the time to let your thoughts flow using these guided prompts will help you get in to a good mindset before you start your day and clear your mind before you go to sleep. PLUS we're giving away great prizes to those who participate! Check the event page daily to learn how to win!

We've moved... ONLINE! Check out the list of our upcoming remote workshops!

This couldn't be more timely! Learn about self-care and resiliency at our online workshop tomorrow at 2pm. Details on the event page below.

Going down this morning at 10:30! Grab your breakfast and a pen and join us for this workshop packed full of practical tools to help you bounce back when anxiety creeps in. No mic or camera? No problem! As long as you can hear us, you're good to go! ... Do you have ideas for workshops you would like to see from the Wellness Centre? Let us know at [email protected]!