The Canadian Mental Health Association’s 70th annual Canadian Mental Health Week supports with communities, schools and workplaces to celebrate, promote and protect mental health because mental health is something we can promote and protect, not just something we can lose. This year’s theme is understanding our emotions.
Recognizing, labeling our feelings promotes good mental health and emotional literacy. We are better able to manage our emotions when we recognize and/or name them. Because emotions are felt in the body, they can sometimes be difficult to name. The emotions wheel can help you pinpoint the emotion you are feelings.
Putting a name to feelings is called affect labeling. When people put their feelings and thoughts about upsetting experiences into language, their physical and mental health often improve. Writing about our feelings can reduce physician visits and positively influence our immune function. Writing can also reduce cortisol (stress) levels and negative mood states.
Find out more about the physical and mental health impacts of emotions on the Canadian Mental Health Week website.
UBC resources
- Self and Community Care: Building Skills to Manage Stress (formerly Self-care 101) (self-guided webinar)
- Register and begin your practice on any Tuesday: 30-day Online Mindfulness Challenge
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Mindfulness and the Benefits at Work on the Workplace Learning Portal (WPL)
- To receive information about upcoming events and health related information, sign-up for the monthly Healthy UBC Newsletter
- UBC mental health supports for all UBC staff
- Building Mental Health: tools and resources for managers, heads, and deans
- Assisting Students in Distress: for staff working with students
Visit the Workplace Learning Portal (WPL) to find more scheduled and recorded webinars and workshops on a variety of topics.
UBC and employee funded benefits
- BCGEU Okanagan and CUPE 2950 and M&P (Vancouver) employee benefits include $2500 per year for registered/licensed clinical psychologists, or registered/licensed social workers, or clinical counsellors who are active members of a provincial association which is approved by Sun Life. Read the benefits booklet for your employee group for limitations and more information: UBC extended health benefits
- UBC Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) plan members and their dependents can contact Lifeworks by Morneau Shepell at 1-800-387-4765
Community resources
- Mental health resources for diverse communities is a list of BC-specific mental health resources and supports for specific communities including people with disabilities and those who identify as IBPOC/BIPOC, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+.
- Take a free CMHA mental health course
- If you or someone you love is struggling, there is hope and help. Please contact your local CMHA and visit www.cmha.ca/bounceback.
- Visit the Government of Canada’s Wellness Together portal.
- Thinking of suicide? Please call 1-833-456-4566 toll free in Canada