Mental Health and Wellness Offerings
Workshops and drop-in classes
Learner Success Services offers students free workshops and drop-in classes that support your wellness. The following workshops and classes are available, and will be offered in person or online via MS Teams or Zoom
This virtual 4-week class will involve a weekly theme and gentle yoga practice to foster connection with your mind and body. No previous experience is necessary. All bodies and expressions welcome.
The weekly themes are:
Week 1. What are we doing together?
Week 2. Practicing Making Choices
Week 3. Present Moment Experiences
Week 4. Creating Rhythms
Thursday Oct 6, 13, 20 & 27th 2022
Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Online
This workshop is a registered closed group and registration has closed
Please register by noon Friday Sept 30th, 2022: HERE
Feeling out of control? Feeling overwhelmed? Want to find a way to slow down, stop, and smell the roses? Then, come join one of our BVC counsellors for these free drop-in mindfulness sessions in the South Campus Fourth Floor. Learn how to listen to your body, be mindful in all your activities, and slow down and be present and enjoy some fresh air. You will be healthier, happier, and perhaps even more successful in your roles and activities. Refreshments provided.
Please view our short introductory video: Mindfulness Groups - YouTube
Tuesday Sept 13, 20, 27, Oct 4, 11 & 18th 2022
Time: 11:30am to 12:30 pm
Location: South Campus, 4th Floor Terrace
*In case of severe weather we will meet in South Campus, 4th floor in room S4024.
Just drop in!
Thursday Oct 27, Nov 2, 10, 17, 24 & Dec 1st 2022
Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Location: Room S4024 - South Campus
Just drop in!
For more info email Heather Abbott with your name and student ID number: habbott@bowvalleycollege.ca
Join us for drop-in informal discussions about different wellness topics and add some hands-on practices to your self-care toolkit! Session topics change each Thursday-check your weekly Student E-News for more details.
Please view our short introductory video: Learner Wellness Advisor - YouTube
Thursday Sept 22, 29, Oct 6, 13, 20 & 27th 2022
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Room N313 (North Campus third floor)
For more information or to register, please email Hanaa Elmoghrabi with your name and student ID number: helmoghrabi@bowvalleycollege.ca
Wellness Seminars
Students can also sign up for wellness seminars, which offer the opportunity for students to build skills with the same group of people over a period of weeks. Virtual seminars that are certificated may require students to have their cameras on during the session.
It is normal to feel anxious sometimes--but too much anxiety can interfere with our ability to be productive, have healthy relationships, and feel well. This 4-week workshop offers effective strategies that can help manage and reduce anxiety symptoms. This workshop is a series, and participants are required to attend each week. You will receive a certificate of completion from the Red Deer Primary Care Network. Snacks will be provided.
Please view our short introductory video: Anxiety to Calm - YouTube
Thursday Sept 29, Oct 6, 13, & 20th 2022
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: In-person - Room #S4023 (South Campus 4th floor)
Please register by noon Monday Sept 19th, 2022: Here
For more information please email Kudzai Ngwerume with your name and student ID number: kngwerume@bowvalleycollege.ca
This program is also offered off campus through Primary Care Networks, please contact your local Primary Care Network for more info.
Explore your grief after the loss of a loved one. Learn and practice skills to begin healing and reinvesting in your life. This 8-week workshop offers effective strategies that can help you develop a tool kit that will help you to understand yourself better and learn skills to cope more effectively with your loss of a loved one. This workshop is a series, and participants are required to attend each week. You will receive a certificate of completion from the Red Deer Primary Care Network.
Wednesday Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19, Nov 2, 16, 23 & 30th 2022 (no workshop during reading week)
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: In-person - Room #S5018 (South Campus 5th floor)
Please register by noon Monday Sept 19th, 2022: Here
For more information please email Ronna Dempsey with your full name and student ID number: rdempsey@bowvalleycollege.ca
This program is also offered off campus through Primary Care Networks, please contact your local Primary Care Network for more info.
Mind Over Mood is a 10-session registered program that uses a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach to address anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or coping with stress. Topics will include:
The power of our thoughts and how they affect our mood and behaviour.
Tools for challenging negative self-talk
Tools for increasing self-esteem
Practicing skills that help in everyday life
This workshop is a series, and participants are required to attend each week.
Please view our short introductory video: Mind over Mood - YouTube
Wednesday Oct 5, 12, 19, 26 November 2, 16, 23 & 30th 2022 (no workshop during reading week)
Time: 3:00pm - 4:15pm
Location: In-person or Online
Please register: Here
For more information please email Lindsey Fiebig with your name and student ID number lfiebig@bowvalleycollege.ca
Struggling with relationships? Wanting to connect more meaningfully with the important people in your life? Then join Relationships in Motion group, a 4-week trademarked program.
This program is for individuals who are interested in improving relationships in their life – family, personal and work. Participants will learn skills to increase communication, better understand themselves, focus on positives, and take responsibility for their roles within various forms of interpersonal relationships. This group is interactive and will provide lots of opportunity for self-reflection. This workshop is a series, and participants are required to attend each week. Refreshments will be provided.
Please view our short introductory video: Relationships in Motion - YouTube
Session Schedule: Wednesday Oct 5, 12, 19 & 26th 2022
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: In-person - Room #S4024 (South campus 4th floor)
Please sign up by Wednesday Sept 28th 2022: HERE
For more information please email Heather Abbott with your full name and student ID number: habbott@bowvalleycollege.ca
These programs are also offered off campus through Primary Care Networks, please contact your local Primary Care Network for more info.
Learn some cooking skills and budget recipes in this 5-class series with a nutritionist. Students will be given a $20 grocery gift card each week to shop for ingredients for the upcoming class. This workshop is a 5-class series and participants are required to attend all 5 classes.
Wednesday Oct 5, 12, 19, 26 & Nov 2nd 2022
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Online via Zoom
There is limited spaces for this group. Please register: HERE
If you have any questions please email lfiebig@bowvalleycollege.ca
MH Training Programs
Learner Success Services offers free training to Bow Valley College staff, faculty and students—these training programs will assist you with recognizing and acting to support mental health and wellbeing. Certified training programs may require that you leave your camera on during the virtual session/s. Due to the certification of each workshop, minimum enrollment is required. As such, workshops can be canceled due to low enrollment, at any time.
When you register for Mental Health Training Programs, you will be asked to pay a registration deposit for these trainings. This deposit will be refunded in full when you attend the training, or if you cancel at least 3 days before the training. If paying the registration deposit is not possible, please contact counselling@bowvalleycollege.ca to discuss options.
Here are the training opportunities that Bow Valley College offers:
The Inquiring Mind (TIM) will help you better understand mental health and the stigma that often surrounds it--on and off campus. TIM will show you how to have conversations about your own and other's mental well-being through an easy-to-use tool, the mental health continuum model. You'll also learn how to strengthen your mental health resilience using "The Big 4" coping strategies. We are pleased to offer TIM training to help increase mental health literacy, as part of Bow Valley College's HIVE strategy (Healthy Institutions Valuing Engagement).
Next Session:TBD
Time: 1:00 - 5:00pm
Location: Online
Please register: HERE
Participants are required to attend both sessions in order to receive their certificate. Please note, both sessions will be offered virtually through MS Teams.
In this difficult time, people are struggling with increased stress and anxiety. Suicide prevention skills are needed more than ever. As part of our Campus Mental Health Strategy (HIVE) and our Post-Secondary Mental Health grant, we are offering free registration in a one-hour online course for students, faculty and staff.
LivingWorks START teaches individuals to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.
Next session: Registration is ongoing, and participants have 60 days to finish the course. To sign up, please email counselling@bowvalleycollege.ca
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. This 1.5 hour training teaches community members the skills to recognize and support people who may be having thoughts of suicide. Through this training, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to:
• Understand the common causes of suicidal behavior
• Recognize the warning signs of suicide
• Get help for someone in crisis and prevent suicide
Next available session:
Tuesday: TBD
Time: 11:00am – 12:30 pm
Location: MS Teams
To register please click: Here
For more information please email Ciara Deschamps at: cdeschamps@bowvalleycollege.ca
This 12 hour workshop will teach you basic information on various mental illnesses, how to promote the recovery of good mental health, and the resources available to help support someone with a mental health concern.
Next session: TBD
Time: 1-4pm
Location: Online
Register: https://events.bowvalleycollege.ca/M7DnN3
For more information please email Heather Abbott with your name and student ID number: habbott@bowvalleycollege.ca
This training is beneficial to both students and employees at Bow Valley College to learn how to identify and respond to people impacted by sexual violence. Bow Valley College community members will increase their skills and confidence to address sexual abuse and sexual assault, both on and off campus.
Next session: Nov 7-8, 2022
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
Room #: N315
Please register: Here
For more information, please email Alana Thibault with your name and student ID number at athibault@bowvalleycollege.ca
If you have taken the two-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) within the last three years, you can extend your certification for 2 additional years by taking this Tune Up. Proof of prior ASIST attendance is required to attend the ASIST Tune-Up.
Next Session: TBD
Time: 1:00 - 4:30pm with registration starting at 12:30pm
Registration is required, and to take this training you must have a valid ASIST certificate from within the last 3 years.
Please register: Here
The founders of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) present, SafeTALK; a half-day (3.5 hour) suicide alertness certification that prepares anyone 16 or older, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper.
Refreshments will be provided
Next session: TBD
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Room# N315
Please Register: Here
For more information, please email Heather Abbott with your name and student ID number:habbott@bowvalleycollege.ca
This 14 hour workshop is an intensive, practice-dominated certification designed to help caregivers recognize and intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.
Next session: Nov 9-10, 2022
Time: 8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Location: In-Person
Please register: Here
For more information, please email Kudzai Ngwerume with your name and student ID number: kngwerume@bowvalleycollege.ca
