Peer Support, Health, and Wellness
9. Peer Support, Health, and Wellness
As we return to on-campus life, we have a new opportunity to engage with student health and wellness. As we are reaching the end of the pandemic, we are committed to supporting students long-term, recognizing the effects that Covid has had, and continues to have on our community. Peer Support, health, and wellness provides us with a greater opportunity to engage with student wellness in new ways, as well as represent and grapple with wellness in more diverse and holistic ways, ensuring that Western students are as healthy and successful as they can be.Â
Executive Lead: Maddie Osborne, Vice President Student Support and Programming
Initiative | Executive Lead | Updates | Status |
Bike-friendly campus, lighting, and pedestrian safety | VPEA is conducting research and planning consultations to be carried out in January 2022. VPEA has attended the first meeting of the Transit working group and will be engaging them in the writing of the Pedestrian Safety and Transit policy paper. | Ongoing | |
CMHA Crisis Counselling | Maddie Osborne | VPSSP continues to meet with CMHA and other community partners to adapt Crisis Counselling to the current Covid context, and ensure that students are receiving the support they need. In the most recent community partner meeting, plans for providing increased support among international and graduate students specifically was discussed. | Ongoing |
Improvements to Food Support Services | Maddie Osborne | VPSSP, VPUA, and VPEA continue to meet with FSS for a product program. With the move to virtual learning, the program is shifting slightly to ensure that the program is still accessible to students. While learning is online, the Food Bank will remain open, but will offer grocery gift cards in place of food hampers. Gift Cards are available for pick up at WSCS or they can be emailed. VPSSP has partnered with HelloFresh, who has donated 100 meal boxes to FSS. | Ongoing |
Improvements to Peer Support | Maddie Osborne | Peer Support renovations have started up again, and VPSSP is meeting with the contractor next week for the most recent updates and information on the project, as well as to provide strategic direction. VPSSP continues to meet with Western Student Health and the Wellness and Wellbeing portfolio to ensure that our support processes are aligned and student-centric. | Ongoing |
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Additional Executive Initiatives
The Executive Roadmap plans out how the executive will structure their programs, plans, and portfolios for the year under organized priority areas. However, when new opportunities or issues arise, they may implement additional programs. See below for updates on these additional initiatives.
Access to Suicide Prevention Education
- President has worked alongside the USC Foundation to secure funding for suicide prevention training to USC volunteers and Greek Life leaders.
- Peer Support volunteers, Peer Programs volunteers, OStaff, and LST are receiving ASIST training between August 23 and August 31.
- President has offered all Greek Life leadership at Western access to free-of-charge suicide-prevention training. Only three individuals have expressed interest in the training.
- VPSSP is working with Peer Support and Peer Programs to offer more ASIST training modules to student leaders.
- The Executive continues to advocate to Western Administration for improved access to suicide prveention education for Sophs. These conversations are ongoing.
Soph and First-year Supports
- President has provided individualized support to Sophs and first-year students in need re: academic accommodations; therapy and counselling; and other requested supports.
- VPSSP and VPGF worked with CMHA, Thames Valley Family Services, and counsellors at Inkblot through MyWellness to bring extended hours and additional support sessions to sophs and students on campus following OWeek.
Wellness and Wellbeing Advocacy
- VPUA meeting regularly with the Director of Wellness and Wellbeing to discuss ongoing hiring within the department, Western’s vaccine clinic, and the transition back to in-person service offerings.
- VPUA continuing regular meetings with the Director of Wellness and Wellbeing, with a focus on mandatory vaccinations logistics, ongoing hiring, and the Thames Hall renovation.
- VPUA continues to elevate student concerns and receive updates in meetings with the Director of Wellness and Wellbeing.
- President has participated in two mental health advocacy campaigns this month; VPGF has also participated in one.
- VPEA and VPSSP presented at the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health 2021 Conference
- VPUA Portfolio running bi-weekly Mental Health Roundtables with stakeholders from Active Minds, the USC, and affiliate/professional school representatives.
Wellness Programming
- President has worked alongside the USC Foundation to secure funding for UCC wellness programming for the upcoming year.
- Executive is planning wellness programming for the week of mental health awareness week.Â
- Executive plans to give away self-care packages during late-night breakfast.