Many of us are experiencing changes in our work, uncertainty, and disruptions to our personal lives.
As we navigate these challenging times, it is important to consider ways to support our mental health and resilience. Mental health is influenced by many facets of our lives, internal and external factors, our community, our physical surroundings, the natural environment, and our social systems and structures. While many of these factors exist outside of our locus of control — such as systemic inequities and structural oppression — some can be influenced through individual actions. A good first step is to understand the factors that contribute to overall mental health and those that make it more difficult to cope with challenges.
Getting support for mental health issues
There are many resources available to help you with the challenges you are facing. For example, through your UBC Benefits Plan, you have access to free and confidential counselling on a range of topics.
Every November, we focus on mental health during our Thrive campaign, but you can review those resources anytime, including our Learn about Mental Health page, which has lots of information to get you started on your journey to understanding mental health.
You might also be looking for support for a colleague, friend or family member who is struggling. Read more about helping staff and faculty in distress, which contains both UBC and external mental health resources for all campus audiences.