May is Mental Health Month
Throughout the month of May, Employee Wellness is shining a light on mental health and wellness issues with a series of brown bag lunch and learn sessions for faculty and staff.
The following is a list of sessions being offered. Each session will be repeated twice a day from 12-12:50 p.m. and 1-1:50 p.m. to accommodate lunch schedules.
Monday, May 11: Workplace Wellness, Room A-1045
This is a general presentation on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and things you can do to modify your risk. The good news is that by following a healthy lifestyle you can reduce or remove risk factors of developing cardiovascular disease. This presentation will also cover aspects of stress management.
Tuesday, May 12: Boosting your Positive Outlook, Room A-2071
Consistently focusing on the negative side of an issue can greatly contribute to stress. When thinking this way, physical changes take place in the body’s chemistry increasing stress levels and affecting performance and well-being. This session will help participants understand the ways in which this seemingly automatic negative thinking occurs, recognize its typical manifestations and develop a process for tackling negative thoughts effectively.
Thursday, May 14: Mindfulness and the Workplace, Room A-2071
What is Mindfulness? Key elements including: paying attention and being present as opposed to being preoccupied (on automatic pilot), being non-judgmental (openness to present-moment experience, both internal and external), and relating to things as they are. Session will focus on mindfulness and stress, anxiety and difficult emotions, and include an introductory meditation practice.
Thursday, May 21: Stress Relaxation, Room A-2071
Our minds and bodies need rest and recovery breaks to allow us to relax and reduce the effects of stress. While everyone has days that are hectic and unfocused, consistently feeling stressed out, rushed or on-the-go can have a detrimental impact on a person, increasing their risk of experiencing a serious physical concern such as heart disease or stroke. This seminar will show participants how to make time to calm down and reduce stress using both proactive and reactive relaxation techniques.
Tuesday, May 26: Understanding Depressive Illness, Room A-2071
Individuals suffering from depression can feel distant from friends and loved ones and can find it difficult to perform to their maximum productivity in the workplace. The facilitator will encourage participants to shatter popular myths and misconceptions about depression and increase their understanding of the causes, triggers and symptoms of depressive illness. This seminar will also explore ways in which depression can be successfully treated.
Tuesday, June 2 Creating Balance in Your Life, Room A-2071
In today’s environment of competing demands, relentless commitments and a consistent feeling of shortage of time, balance often does not come easily or naturally. A conscious effort, deep commitment and clear priorities are required to create and protect one’s sense of balance. This session will help participants explore how their current choices impact their work-life satisfaction and help them to develop strategies to achieve a greater balance in life.
For more information about the sessions, please contact Kathleen Wall, wellness consultant, kwall@mun.ca or call (709) 864-2595.