Liisa Robinson, Manager, Counselling and Student Wellness standing in front of the rainbow crosswalk

As student stress climbs, Camosun lends a calming hand

Getting back into the groove of studies, while remembering to maintain good mental health habits can be a tough assignment for some post-secondary students.

Liisa Robinson, Manager, Counselling and Student Wellness standing in front of the rainbow crosswalk

“All too often students drop good habits that have helped them as they return to their studies,” said Liisa Robinson, Manager, Counselling and Student Wellness at Camosun College. “There’s a massive amount of change going on in their life, the days are getting darker and academic pressures are mounting.”

Thrive Week at Camosun coincides with World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10 and runs from Oct. 11-16. Thrive Week is an initiative to help students, faculty and staff explore their path to good mental health and create a compassionate campus.

“Meaningful conversation, doing something fun and getting out into nature are things we all need to thrive, or we can find ourselves languishing,” adds Robinson. “We want to remind students about the importance of developing good habits – meeting a friend for a coffee before class or going for a hike in nature with a classmate on the weekend. Sometimes simple things can make a huge difference in our life, or in a friend’s.”

As part of Thrive Week, Camosun is hosting Mental Health First Aid Training for students on Oct. 15 and 16 on its Interurban Campus. The two-day training session is designed to provide the skills to help students recognize when a peer might be struggling and help connect them to supports. For more information on Thrive Week visit camosun.ca/thrive

Counselling services are available for all students. Camosun counsellors are trained to assist students with a wide range of student issues to help them be successful and stay healthy during their time at the college.

Contact information

Rodney Porter

Camosun College

250-889-7494

porterr@camosun.ca