As Brock University’s holiday closure approaches, students, staff and faculty members are reminded of several mental health and wellness resources available to them over the holiday break and into the new year.

Student mental health and wellness support

Students seeking mental health and personal counselling support can access professional licensed counsellors 24-7 through the ‘My Student Support Program (My SPP)’ mobile app. Free and confidential real-time text chat and telephone support is available in five languages: English, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese (simplified Chinese via chat).

In addition to live and immediate support, the app also offers an extensive library of mental health and well-being resources, including articles, podcasts, infographics and videos; unlimited free access to the virtual fitness app LIFT; and anonymous evidence-based self-assessments that can help students identify risks for mental health issues such as depression, general anxiety and addiction.

The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. When creating a profile, students should enter ‘Brock University Student Counselling Program’ as the school.

Employee mental health and wellness support

Brock University employees have free and confidential access to mental health and wellness supports through the University’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider LifeWorks. All Brock faculty and staff and their immediate family members can access EFAP support services 24-7 by calling 1-844-880-9137.

The LifeWorks wellness website and mobile app are also available to all current Brock University employees. Staff and faculty can sign up at brockuniversity.lifeworks.com using a unique invitation code included in an email received from LifeWorks to their Brock email in April 2021. Once registered and logged in, employees can invite up to five family members to join the LifeWorks platform. The LifeWorks mobile app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

LifeWorks offers articles, podcasts and videos on a variety of topics; financial, mental, physical and social well-being self-assessments; automated fitness journeys and live chat access to coaches through the LIFT session app; and exclusive discounts and special offers called ‘perks’.

Article, podcast and video topics include:

• Health — addiction, alcohol, drugs, children’s safety and mental health, health-care providers, mental health support, anxiety, depression, stress, diet and nutrition, exercise and fitness, mindfulness, sleep, pregnancy, heart disease, long-term illness, senior mental and physical health.
• Family — caring for a new baby, adopting a child, child care, coping with death and loss, friends and family relationships, family law, wills, divorce/separation, caring for older relatives, work-life balance, communicating with children.
• Life — critical incidents, natural disasters, suicide prevention, living or caring for someone with a disability, moving, relocating for work, legal issues, end-of-life planning, personal growth, organization, personal communication, couples, friends, being single, retirement planning and transitioning.
• Work — career development, networking, training, manager communication skills, leadership and motivation, work relationships, flexible and remote working, leave and time off, time management.
• Money — financial planning, investing, taxes, income changes, money management, budgeting, debt, saving, fraud and identity theft.

The LifeWorks platform also features several free online self-guided well-being programs. The ‘CareNow’ programs are based on cognitive-behavioural therapy and include techniques and strategies employees can use to become and stay healthy.

CareNow programs include:

• achieving financial well-being
• anxiety
• communication
• coping
• depression
• grief
• mindfulness
• separation/divorce
• stress
• substance abuse
• tobacco and nicotine cessation
• work-life balance

A recording of a recent information session that reviewed many of the EFAP offerings available to Brock employees is posted to YouTube:

Additional EFAP information can be found on the Health Safety and Wellness Toolbox on SharePoint.

Questions about EFAP or the LifeWorks platform — including resources, programs and employee login information — can be emailed to employeehealth@brocku.ca

Additional health and wellness resources for students and employees

Therapist-guided cognitive-behavioural therapy sessions are available for free to all Ontario residents through Mind Beacon, thanks to funding from the Ontario government. The website also offers a wide range of articles and virtual events related to mental wellness.

Mental health supports and resources are also available through:

• Access Line Niagara
• Canadian Mental Health Association Niagara
• Community Addiction Services of Niagara
• Distress Centre Niagara
• Good2Talk provides confidential support services for post-secondary students
• Niagara Holistic Wellness Portal
• Niagara Regional Police Service Crisis Outreach and Support Team

Health related concerns, including advice regarding COVID-19, can be sought through Telehealth Ontario by calling 1-866-797-0000.

Brock Recreation Services offers free access to fitness classes via ExpressFit on Demand. The Brock University Library has a free Library Yoga YouTube playlist.

Brock University Campus Security Services can be reached by calling 905-688-5550 x3200 (crisis) or x4300 (non-crisis).