Who wouldn’t benefit from more nature walks, puppy rooms and coping skills in their life?

From Monday, Nov. 11 to Friday, Nov. 15, Thrive Week, a weeklong initiative open to Brock students, faculty and staff to encourage positive mental health, is returning to campus for the third time.

In order to continue to make the event a success, campus partners are needed to lead events and workshops designed to educate, reduce stigma and promote conversation about mental health. Events can be led by departments, students, staff or faculty members and can take place anywhere on campus. 

Events can be created that:

• Educate the community about positive mental health and what it means to thrive  
• Develop skills that can be used to build and maintain positive health
• Support individual self-care and resiliency
• Promote physical activity to manage stress and/or boost mental well-being

Although the organizing committee encourages events developed specifically for Thrive Week, they don’t need to be.

“Many times, departments have workshops or activities already planned as part of their regular programming that they can duplicate or strategically schedule for Thrive Week,” said Julie Fennel, Health Promotion Educator with Brock’s Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre who is co-chair of the Thrive Week committee alongside Kelli Romain, Transition and Support Co-ordinator with the Department of Residences.  

“There is also some amazing research taking place on campus our professors and graduate students could share with the Brock community,” said Fennel. 

Event applications are due online by Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. The committee will schedule rooms and equipment and will help co-ordinate event promotion. 

Thrive Week was first developed by the University of British Columbia in 2009 and has been picked up by post-secondary institutions across the country, including Brock.  

The Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre is working in partnership with Aboriginal Student Services, Active Minds Association, Brock International, Community Addiction Services of Niagara, Development and Alumni Relations, the Faith and Life Centre, Human Resources, Human Rights and Equity, Student Life and Community Experience, Residence, and University Marketing and Communications to deliver programming available for the entire Brock community.

To learn more about Thrive Week, visit brocku.ca/thrive