The Mental Health Continuum highlights the range of mental and physical health challenges you may face throughout life, along with the resources available to support you at UBC.
Interact with each section—Thriving, Surviving, Struggling, and In Crisis—to explore the resources available to you on your mental health journey. This model isn’t for diagnosis, but it is designed to help you reflect on your mental health and locate available resources.
Explore the continuum for managers and leaders
The UBC Mental Health Continuum for faculty and staff
Use the "What it looks like" section to determine where you are on the spectrum. Then review the "Resources and actions to take" section to access the services and guidance you need.
What it looks like
- Typical mood and energy changes.
- Normal sleep patterns for you.
- Steady work performance.
- Usual social interactions.
- Living well in recovery from chronic, physical, mental illness, or addiction.
Resources and actions to take
Improve your mental health literacy through education and programs like:
- Wellbeing Foundations
- Mental Health 101
- Introduction to Mindfulness
- Stay updated on funding, volunteer opportunities, and more through the Healthy UBC Newsletter.
Find support networks like identity-based groups through the Equity & Inclusion Office.
Learn more about your benefits and discover how they can support your wellbeing, finances, and learning opportunities.
- Use EFAP work, health, life services for financial, legal, nutrition, and career support.
Become a wellbeing champion in your workplace through the Workplace Wellbeing Ambassadors program or Not Myself Today.
What it looks like
- Nervousness, irritability, sadness, and displaced sarcasm.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Low energy, muscle tension, headaches, appetite or concentration changes.
- Procrastination, missed deadlines, distracted.
- Changes in social engagement (more or less), conflicts with others.
- Substance use or addictive behaviours begin impacting work or relationships.
Resources and actions to take
Use your benefits plan for wellbeing and mental health support.
Learn and practice healthy coping strategies that work for you.
- Digital CBT (Digital Cognititive Behavioural Therapy) through the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
- Substance support through EFAP and benefits
- Wellbeing workshops, courses and training
Identify and reduce stressors where possible.
- Get expert second medical opinions from EFAP
- Prepare responding to a sexual violence disclosure (SVPRO) or supporting a colleague in distress (UBC’s Orange Folder).
Talk to your supervisor about how they can support you using the Respectful Dialogues Guide from UBC’s Equity & Inclusion Office.
Know your limits, boundaries and needs for rest, food, exercise. Get familiar with UBC’s vacation and leave provisions.
What it looks like
- Worry, anger, prolonged sadness, or hopelessness.
- Restlessness or poor sleep.
- Fatigue, aches, or big changes in health or appetite.
- Lower performance, negative attitude, more work absences.
- Inappropriate social behaviours, and avoidance.
- Substance use or addictive behaviours regularly impacting work or relationships.
Resources and actions to take
Use relevant wellbeing and mental health supports like counselling (Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and Extended Health Benefits).
Recognize signs of distress by using this tool to track changes in your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Seek support from a health care provider (including psychological services).
- Health resource navigation help from EFAP
Talk to a trusted friend or person for social support.
Use workplace accessibility, accommodation, and advocacy programs like:
- Paid and unpaid sick leave provisions
- The Centre for Workplace Accessibility
- Human rights advising from the Equity and Inclusion Office: UBCV | UBCO
- Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Offices: UBCV | UBCO
- Stay at work, return to work, or work reintegration and accommodation programs.
What it looks like
- Excessive anxiety, anger, emotional outbursts, or depression.
- Suicidal thoughts or intentions.
- Unable to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Exhaustion, burnout, worsening physical health.
- Unable to do work, frequent absences, and disorganized thinking.
- Aggressive or destructive behaviour (to self or others).
- Isolation or avoidance.
- Dependance on substances or addictive behaviours that regularly impacts work or relationships.
Resources and actions to take
Connect with mental health crisis supports as needed, including:
- The Orange Folder: A guide for supporting faculty and staff in distress
- $3000 per calendar year for psychological services (for you and dependents)
- Individual or team crisis supports through Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
Consider taking time off and familiarize yourself with UBC’s vacation, leave options.
Follow health care provider recommendations to improve physical and mental health. If needed, request an expert second medical opinion through EFAP.
Download and print the Mental Health Continuum download
Quick reference poster
A simple, 1-page version of the continuum. This poster is a great reference guide and ideal for displaying in shared spaces.
Full size poster
The full, 2-page version of the continuum, which includes all the links to the resources available for faculty and staff across continuum.
This tool is based on the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Mental Health Continuum.