Checking in on wellness & mental health

To our U of T Engineering community

There’s a lot going on right now, in our personal worlds and the wider world around us, and I know it can feel overwhelming or scary. Here in Toronto we’ve just turned the clocks back, and there are fewer daylight hours. Our students are in the midst of mid-terms, today is a heated presidential election in the U.S., and the global pandemic continues to deliver worry and uncertainty.

I wanted to drop a note to remind everyone — whether you’re a first-year undergraduate or tenured professor — that mental health and stress affects us all. Next week, November 9-13, is the first Fall Break for undergrad students, and this should be an opportunity to disconnect from work as much as you can, reconnect with friends and family, and get outside for a bit of fresh air. It’s a good time to check in with yourself and ask for help if you need it — and remember that at one time or another, we all do.

We each respond to pressure, grief, loneliness or stress in different ways. I want to remind you there is help available 24/7. Wherever you are in the world, please know that these resources and supports are available to you:

  • U of T My SSP (available in multiple languages): 1-844-451-9700; or download the app: uoft.me/myssp
  • Navi, an anonymous virtual agent that provides students with information to help navigate mental health resources and make decisions about seeking appropriate supports.
  • Good2Talk student helpline: 1-866-925-5454, free 24/7 for those in Ontario or Nova Scotia
  • For staff and faculty, Employee & Family Assistance Program: 1-800-663-1142

We are all human, and we are trying our best. Let’s support each other however we can, and continue to reach out.

Chris

Chris Yip
Dean, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
University of Toronto

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