Week to present roadmap to mental health and healing

Mental Health Awareness Week, January 16 to 19, will offer UWindsor students, staff and faculty a chance to get informed and involved.

The week will feature a series of events, including a special presentation by former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page; panel discussions, workshops and training sessions; plays dealing with mental health issues; free fitness classes all week; and a  Health Fair.

“We want to help the campus community understand that mental health impacts everyone here and that everyone has a role to play – to be aware, recognize symptoms and speak up when you see a need,” says organizer Beth Oakley, director of the Educational Development Centre.

Find a full schedule of activities on the event Web site.

In March 2010, Jack Windeler died by suicide during his first year of studies at Queen’s University. His story can teach important lessons about the challenges 15- to 20-year-olds face as they transition into adulthood — challenges compounded by widespread misperceptions about mental health. Watch a video that tells his story, produced by Kids Help Phone.