HCC to host eighth annual Be Well Fair
UTM’s Health & Counselling Centre yearly fair connects students with resources and activities designed to teach them how to manage and cope with schoolwork, stress, and mental health issues.
On September 18, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) will host its eighth annual Be Well UTM: Resource & Activity Fair. The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gym A/B. Organized by the Health & Counselling Centre (HCC), the fair is billed as a way for students to unwind and de-stress, while also teaching students skills like how to study better and how to cope with mental health issues.
The fair “is an event focused on encouraging conversations and creating opportunities for students to learn and connect with a wide range of mental health and wellness resources available on campus and within the broader Peel community,” according to HCC Medical Director Dr. Erin Kraftcheck. “Now in its eighth year, it has become HCC’s signature event, and is shaped by ongoing feedback received by students who connect with HCC.”
The fair consists of five pillars, each of which has its own events: be informed; be inspired; be connected; be present; and be active.
Be informed focuses on raising awareness about resources, both on campus and throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which students can access to help improve their well-being. UTM offers on-campus mental and physical health resources, like counselling, free visits with on-site doctors and nurses, and de-stressor days with therapy dogs. For those who commute to school, the GTA also has many resources like the Suicide Hotline, Planned Parenthood, CAMH, and more, all of which will be noted in the event.
Be inspired is about learning how to improve your overall health and happiness. This event will feature four professors: Professor Jordana Garbati, Professor Jane Davis, Professor Joanna Chung, and Professor Kara Dymond, each of whom are scheduled to speak for an hour about their area of expertise.
Professor Davis is an award-winning occupational therapist with an extensive education in understanding occupation and its development. She has also researched mental health and substance abuse, and has her own pedagogical scholarship for those who are interested in pursuing an education in occupation.
Professor Kara Dymond is an author and researcher whose work is centred around mental disabilities and inclusivity. She was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, which inspired her to write her novel, The Autism Lens. She has been a strong advocate for the inclusivity of these disabilities both in the classroom and elsewhere.
Be inspired will also feature presentations by different faculties at UTM. The Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre will teach students how to create a “healthy study plan,” the UTM Sustainability Office will be speaking on ways to cope with anxiety surrounding climate change, and the UTM Office of Indigenous Initiatives will be teaching students about the use of tobacco and its ties to the Native people of Canada.
According to the HCC, physical activities like organized sports, going to the gym, or even just going for walks have been proven to release hormones that improve mood. Thus, be active and be present entail hands-on, self-care, and physical activities. Activities like bean bag toss, giant Jenga, and football toss will be open for students to bring their friends to and get their bodies moving.
Be present also stresses the importance of taking mental health breaks to avoid burnout. Henna, massages and a photobooth will be present for students to de-stress. In what is sure to be a fan-favourite event, Dino, UTM’s resident therapy dog, will also attend the fair.
In conjunction with the HCC’s initiative, the Centre for Student Engagement will be hosting the CCR Community Café, where students can interact and meet new people. This event aims to foster a sense of community on campus, giving students the opportunity to support one another and share strategies for maintaining their physical and mental health.
“We hope that students will join us at the Be Well UTM and feel empowered to have open conversations about mental health, connect with mental health experts, and engage in a wide variety of activities to encourage self-care and support their wellbeing,” said HCC Assistant Director of Health Promotion and Evaluation Myra Fahim. “This event truly captures the spirit of mental health promotion, education, and awareness. The more we can encourage conversations about mental health, the more we can contribute to decreasing the stigma that still exists today.”
Being “UTM’s biggest annual wellness and mental health fair,” the event is expected to attract many students and faculty alike, and will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the UTM community. More details about the event can be found on the HCC’s web page or by following @utmhccwellness on Instagram.
