HLSC 3Q20 Lecture 1 - Student Resilience & Healthy Campuses PDF

MODULE 1: [INTRODUCTION & FOUNDATIONS] Goals: - Find out what the course is all about. - Learn about student resilience and healthy campuses. - Review basic health promotion concepts (e.g., determinants of health; Ottawa charter). - Learn about social marketing for health promotion...

MODULE 1: [INTRODUCTION & FOUNDATIONS] Goals: - Find out what the course is all about. - Learn about student resilience and healthy campuses. - Review basic health promotion concepts (e.g., determinants of health; Ottawa charter). - Learn about social marketing for health promotion. [LECTURE 1 -- INTRO \| STUDENT RESILIENCE & HEALTHY CAMPUSES. ] **[Cope Care Connect Overview: ]** - **Purpose:** Initiative to address stressors faced by university students, which may range from distractions to overwhelming challenges threatening health and well-being - **Goals:** - Build resilience among students. - Encourage small action steps or self-referral to support services. - Promote healthy coping skills, create caring communities, and foster social connections at Brock University. - Create a safe, supportive campus culture benefiting all students. - **Strategies:** - **Health Promotion:** Raise awareness about coping and mental health - **Social Marketing:** Inspire help-seeking and help-offering behaviours. - **Advocacy:** Advocate for student mental health support. - **Grassroots Mobilization:** Engage the campus community. - **Re-launch in Fall 2020:** - Led by HLSC 3Q21 students, who apply their HLSC 3Q20 knowledge. - Activities include: - Designing and evaluating health campaigns. - Promoting the CopeCareConnect website and pledges. - Steering students to support services and resources. - Involving campus leaders to support mental health initiatives. **[Resilience: ]** - **Definition:** The ability to "bounce back" from adversity. - **Key Ideas:** - Resilience can be built and strengthened in oneself and supported in others. - Some individuals are naturally more resilient, but resilience is learnable. - Resilience requires choosing behaviours and thoughts that foster adaptability and recovery. **[Healthy Campuses: ]** - **University as a Community:** - More than a learning space---students also work, live, play, and grow personally, socially, and academically. - Campuses must support physical, mental, and emotional well-being for all students. - **Key Elements for Healthy Campuses:** - Tolerance, inclusivity, and respect to create a healthy environment. - Strategic focus on enhancing student well-being. **[Brock University Strategic Plan: ]** - **Strategic Priority:** Transformational and accessible academic and university experience. - Equip students with skills, knowledge, and resilience for academic and life success. - Focus on creating engaged, versatile, and career-ready students. - **Goal:** Provide an engaging campus experience addressing all students' needs. - **Actions:** - Timely and proactive support services. - Expanding capacity in ExperienceBU and co-curricular activities. - Improved student services for diverse needs. - Tailored support for indigenous, international, and first-generation students. - **Broader Strategic Priorities:** - Build research capacity. - Enhance local and regional vitality. - Foster inclusivity, reconciliation, and decolonization. **[Other Canadian Universities: ]** - Many universities in Canada aim to build resilience and adaptability in students. - Example: Simon Fraser University created a video to advocate for student resilience and mental health. **[Lecture Reading: Building Your Resilience: ]** **[What is Resilience? ]** - **Definition:** The process of adapting well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant stressors (e.g., relationship issues, health problems, financial struggles). - Resilience involves \"bouncing back\" from challenges and often includes personal growth. - Resilience empowers individuals to control, modify, and grow from adverse experiences. **[What Resilience Isn't:]** - Not about avoiding distress or difficulty---emotional pain is part of the journey. - Resilience is not a fixed personality trait; it involves learnable behaviors, thoughts, and actions. - Ordinary, not extraordinary: Most people can develop resilience, as evidenced by collective responses to major events (e.g., 9/11). **[Strategies to Build Resilience: ]** - **Build Connections:** - ***Prioritize Relationships:*** - Seek empathetic, compassionate people who validate your emotions. - Avoid isolation by engaging with supportive individuals. - ***Join Groups:*** - Participate in community, civic, or faith-based organizations for support and purpose. - **Foster Wellness:** - ***Self-Care:*** - Proper nutrition, sleep, hydration, and exercise to reduce stress's physical and emotional impact. - ***Mindfulness:*** - Practices like journaling, meditation, or prayer foster gratitude and hope. - ***Avoid Negative Outlets:*** - Alcohol and drugs may mask stress but do not address its root causes. - **Find Purpose:** - ***Help Others:*** - Volunteering and supporting others enhances self-worth and connection. - ***Be Proactive:*** - Focus on actionable steps to solve problems or manage challenges. - Break larger problems into manageable tasks. - ***Set Goals:*** - Develop realistic, achievable goals and take small steps toward them - ***Seek Self-Discovery:*** - Reflect on growth during hardships, such as improved relationships or heightened life appreciation. - **Embrace Healthy Thoughts:** - ***Perspective:*** - Identify irrational thoughts (e.g., catastrophizing) and adopt balanced thinking. - ***Acceptance:*** - Accept what cannot be changed and focus on what can. - ***Hope:*** - Maintain optimism and visualize positive outcomes. - ***Learn from the Past:*** - Reflect on past coping successes to handle current challenges. **[Seeking Help: ]** - Recognize when personal strategies aren't enough; seek professional assistance. - Licensed mental health professionals can guide individuals in developing resilience strategies - Therapy styles vary---find a professional or group that feels supportive and comfortable - **Key message**: Resilience is built with support from loved ones, professionals, and by focusing on manageable aspects of challenges. **[Key Takeaways: ]** - Resilience is a skill that everyone can develop through intentional actions and support. - Building resilience involves connections, wellness, purpose, and positive thinking - Seeking help is not a failure; it is a critical step in strengthening resilience during overwhelming times.