Wellness Groups, Events & Trainings

We offer a number of student-only, multi-session wellness groups and one-time events. These aim to provide participants with the opportunity to learn skills to improve their health and well-being while also connecting with other students and health professionals.

Calendar 

Student-Only Wellness Groups

These are facilitated by health care professionals and run 6 to 8 weeks depending on the group. These groups are offered both in the fall and winter terms, starting in October and February.

Email counselling.services@queensu.ca for more information.

A sharing circle facilitated by Elder Betty Carr-Braint, and supported by 2SLGBTQ+ Counselor Shannon Gendron, and/or Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor Kel Martin. This circle honours and holds space for Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ students but is open any 2SLGBTQ+ students at Queen's as a space to gather, share, and heal.

Offered in-person

Visit the Yellow House events calendar to register

This psycho-education group is for students who are experiencing symptoms of depression and/or anxiety that feel overwhelming.  You will learn how to better understand the signs of anxiety and/or depression and find evidence-based strategies to help you cope.  Sessions will focus on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and learning ways to live a more balanced and satisfying life.  You will also learn strategies to manage university well while turning down the volume on anxiety/depression.

At the end of this group you will:

  • Learn the causes of anxiety/depression and discover proven strategies to reduce symptoms
  • Start to implement your own behavioural strategies to help you feel less anxious and/or depressed
  • Discover the link between thoughts, emotions and actions plus find ways to manage them
  • Learn how to let go of worries and change your responses to anxiety and/or depression triggers over time
  • Gain practical sleep hygiene strategies

A support group run by 2SLGBTQ+ Counselor Shannon Gendron, and Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor Kel Martin. Open to trans, nonbinary, Two-spirit, agender, genderqueer, genderfluid and other non-cisgender students at Queen’s. This group runs monthly and involves discussion sharing of gender-diverse experiences, and occasionally engages in social activities and field trips that focus on gender-diverse topics.

Visit the Yellow House events calendar to register

A drop-in group for first year students who are looking to find support, connection or to participate in conversations/activities that help them navigate stressors and/or difficulties experienced by those living in residence.  

This professionally facilitated therapy Sharing Circle is open to all Self-Identified Indigenous Queen’s students currently living in Ontario who are struggling to manage overwhelming emotions.   It is designed to help you deal with crises and teaches you to manage unhelpful behaviours. This Circle infuses Indigenous Knowledge/Teachings with Western ways of coping with mental health challenges.  

At the end of this Circle, you will:

  • Learn why you may be struggling to manage your emotions
  • Learn to describe and understand the function of your emotions so you can better regulate them
  • Find ways to reduce your tendency to get swept away by overwhelming emotions
  • Discover ways to implement concrete strategies, including mindfulness, to improve your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours so that you are no longer feeling overwhelmed

Visit the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre events calendar to register.

This psycho-educational group is for students who experience stress and anxiety that feels overwhelming. You will learn how to better understand signs and symptoms of anxiety and find evidence-based strategies to help you cope.  Sessions will focus on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns, and learning ways to live a happier, more balanced and satisfying life.

At the end of this group, you will:

  • Learn causes of anxiety and proven strategies to reduce symptoms
  • Start to implement your own behavioural strategies to help you feel less anxious
  • Discover the link between thoughts and emotions and find ways to manage them
  • Learn how to let go of worries and change your responses to anxiety triggers over time
  • Gain practical sleep hygiene strategies.

This professionally facilitated therapy group is for students who are struggling to manage overwhelming emotions. It is designed to help you deal with crises and teaches you to control unhelpful behaviours. 

At the end of this group, you will learn:

  • Why you may be struggling to manage your emotions
  • To describe and understand the function of your emotions so you can better regulate them
  • How to reduce your tendency to get swept away by overwhelming emotions
  • How to implement concrete strategies, including mindfulness, to improve your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours so that you are no longer feeling overwhelmed

This psychoeducation group is for students who want to stop dieting, let go of diet culture, improve their relationship with food, and gain practical skills to manage their eating. Students will learn how to practice mindfulness and mindful eating, on their journey back to normalized eating. Sessions will focus on identifying hunger and fullness cues, and learning about the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and eating.

This is not a diet or weight-loss program or a treatment for individuals with an eating disorder.  Students will be asked to complete a questionnaire prior to registration.

At the end of this group, you will:

  • Practice mindful eating  
  • Understand your problematic eating habits
  • Understand the role diet culture plays in perpetuating certain body ideals
  • Learn how to attend to your own body’s wants and needs
  • Gain the support of a community who understands what you are experiencing

This professionally facilitated group is designed to help students with autism succeed in a university environment. You will get an opportunity to come together to share strengths and learn strategies to successfully navigate an environment designed for the neurotypical.  This group does NOT use any Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) or Social Skills Training methods and does not support Autism Speaks.

Students participating in this group will be required to turn their cameras on.

At the end of this group, you will:

  • Share your experiences of being neuro-diverse in a world designed for the neurotypical
  • Connect with other students to build a sense of solidarity and connection
  • Identify challenges you have or may experience at university and learn coping strategies
  • Identify and share your strengths to increase your self-esteem and become more effective at problem-solving

This professionally facilitated group is a safe space for students who have experienced sexual violence. Through support and education, you will get an opportunity to gain skills and strengths that build resiliency and lead to a sense of self-empowerment.

At the end of this group, you will:

  • Understand the impact of sexual violence
  • Develop effective coping skills to deal with the emotional aftermath
  • Explore issues such as trust, intimacy, setting boundaries, assertiveness, and positive body image

S2023 dates/times: Thursdays, June 15th to August 3rd, 4:30-6:00pm

Offered virtually

Email pegasus.group@queensu.ca to register.

This 4-week group, facilitated by an Occupational Therapist, will focus on providing students who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with strategies to navigate university life.  This group will encourage participants to share experiences and solutions they have found helpful.  Each week, students will discuss a different topic and leave with strategies they can try during the week and then come back to debrief with the group.  Topics include: getting started on a task, managing time, planning and prioritizing as well as navigating distractions.  Topics may change depending on group feedback.

Participants must currently be living in Ontario.

This is a drop-in group for students who have experienced a loss of a loved one.  Registration is not required but encouraged.  Email the group facilitator, Interfaith Chaplain Erin chaplain@queensu.ca. 

Visit Faith and Spiritual Life for additional group event details and supports.

 

Student-Led Initiatives

Questions about student-led initiatives? Email peerwell@queensu.ca

Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers put together Fresh Food Boxes and Mason Jar meals for students to order and pick up on campus. Boxes contain all the fresh produce and key ingredients to prepare a quick, easy and healthy recipe which makes approximately 4 servings and cost $5.00 per student. Mason Jar meals contains all the ingredients and spices to prepare a quick, easy and healthy soup or stew and are free.

Students will be sent pick-up time, location and recipe upon registration. If the pick-up time presents as an accessibility barrier, please email peerwell@queensu.ca to discuss alternate arrangements.

S2023 Mason Jar Meal dates: May 25th, July 20th, August 10th. *Note registration only open for 1 date at a time*

Register for Mason Jar Meals

Join our Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers and/or student staff for a 60 minute interactive cooking session to learn how to prepare a quick, easy, inexpensive and healthy recipe.  Upon registration, students will receive the location, time and safety details.  All students are welcome, regardless of your skill level in the kitchen.

S2023 dates: June 28th

Register for Healthy Cooking Session

Join our Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers for weekly beginner/intermediate runs during the fall and/or winter terms if you want to start running, increase your distance, improve your time, and/or simply find some running buddies.

  • This is a sanctioned Rec Club with Queen’s Athletics & Recreation
  • Register for this club (new users must create an account)
  • Select "Register" from the menu bar & select "Run Club" from the drop-down menu
  • Pay one-time $5 membership fee
  • Join us for runs, offered twice a week!

To receive regular updates on the run club or for more information, follow @queens_run_club on Instagram and/or email run_club@gogaelsgo.com

Join our St. John’s Ambulance (SJA) Therapy Dog Oscar and his handler John as they wander through the Mitchell Hall atrium and Student Life Centre.  

See events calendar for Dogs on Campus dates/times.

Unable to join us on campus? Check out some virtual therapy dog videos.

Peer Health Educators have recorded webinars and podcasts to help students increase their health-related knowledge. Topics include: financial literacy, sexual health, mental health, healthy eating, interviews with predominant professors on campus, and more!

Students enrolled in the Engineering Extended Program will have the opportunity to get in the kitchen and prepare student-friend recipes.  This program is designed to help you gain food skills and confidence in the kitchen.  We'll also provide some food safety, healthy eating and budgeting tips. 

Open to all students enrolled in Engineering Extended Program regardless of your level of skill in the kitchen.

S2023 dates/times: May 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th from 12:00-1:30pm

Register for Engineering Extended Session: Let's Just Cook

Student, Staff, Faculty Trainings

If you are interested in organizing a private group training, please complete our online request form. Please note, we require a minimum of TWO WEEKS notice to schedule a training.

Training Request Form

The purpose of this session is to help students, staff and faculty recognize when someone is struggling with their mental health and what to do to support them.  Participants will learn about the dual continuum model for mental health and be given strategies to help someone who is in immediate distress and/or in crisis. Practical tips on what to say and do will be discussed so participants leave the session knowing how to connect someone with the appropriate resources.

At the end of this training, participants will:

  • Gain mental health literacy skills
  • Be able to recognize when someone is in distress
  • Know steps to take to help someone with a mental health problem
  • Discover what mental health resources exist on campus and in the community

Cost: free

S2023 dates/times: May 10th from 1:00-2:00pm (online)

Register for Identifying and Responding to Students in Distress

Not able to attend this training?  Content is available in our Identifying and Responding to Students in Distress self-directed module

The purpose of this workshop is to give students, staff and faculty a chance to understand and appreciate health from a holistic lens. Participants will reflect on what they are currently doing and learn evidence-based practices to manage stress and stay mentally well. During the session, participants will create, or enhance, their own tailored self-care plan.

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

  • Create an individualized self-care plan Understand the dimensions of wellness and health in different contexts
  • Learn evidence-based self-care strategies
  • Recognize different approaches to stress management
  • Create a specific action plan to start a new health habit

Cost: free

S2023 dates/times: May 17th from 10:30-11:30am (online)

Register for Creating a Customized Self-Care Plan

Not able to attend this training?  Content is available in our Creating a Customized Self-Care Plan self-directed module

This 2-part training includes a 1–2-hour self-directed evidence-based online training module called LivingWorks START.  It introduces a four-step model for helping keep someone safe from suicide and uses simulations and interactive videos to build and practice helping skills.  Part 2 involves a live 30-minute online ZOOM webinar facilitated by a safeTALK trainer.  It provides participants an opportunity to debrief about the training, address questions or concerns, and review campus and community resources.

By the end of this training, participants will:

  • Learn the importance of suicide alertness
  • Learn how to recognize people who are having thoughts of suicide
  • Be able to connect people who are having thoughts of suicide with the appropriate resource on and off campus

2022-23 Costs: $20 for students, $40 for staff/faculty 

Available to groups upon request (please email bewell@queensu.ca)

This training aims to improve mental health literacy through greater depth and breadth of understanding of mental health issues. The purpose of MHFA is to teach participants how best to assist someone showing signs of a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

At the end of the 2-day training, participants will:

  • Improve mental health literacy
  • Learn skills and knowledge to help people better manage potential or developing mental health problems
  • Learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health problems
  • Be able to provide initial help to someone experiencing a mental health problem
  • Be able to guide someone towards appropriate professional help

All participants must attend both full days.  Participants will receive program materials including a workbook and a certificate of completion.

2023-24 costs: $60 for students, $85 for staff/faculty

S2023 dates/times: May 29-30 from 9am-4pm, June 21-22 from 9am-4pm

Register for Mental Health First Aid

This interactive training in suicide first aid teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.

At the end of this 2-day training, participants will:

  • Be able to recognize when someone is having thoughts of suicide
  • Be able to work with someone who is having thoughts of suicide to create a plan to support their immediate safety
  • Develop important skills to keep someone with thoughts of suicide safe for now through audio-visual learning aids, discussion, and practice
  • Recognize other important aspects of suicide prevention including life promotion and self-care

All participants must attend both full days.  Participants will receive program materials including a workbook and a certificate of completion.

2023-24 costs: $60 for students, $85 for staff/faculty

S2023 dates/times: May 2-3 from 8:30am-4:30pm

Register for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

This training prepares participants to recognize when people are having thoughts of suicide and connect them to intervention resources.  Powerful videos illustrate the importance of suicide alertness, while discussion and practice stimulate learning.

 At the end of this training, participants will be better able to:

  • Move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss, or avoid suicide,
  • Recognize people who are having thoughts of suicide, and
  • Apply the TALK steps to connect a person with thoughts of suicide to a suicide first-aid intervention caregiver

2023-24 costs: $15 for students and $25 for staff/faculty

S2023 dates/times: May 16th from 1:00-4:00pm

Register for safeTALK

This training gives an overview of what contributes to stigma and the various types that exist. Participants will learn how prevalent mental illness is among students on campus and discuss the impact stigma can have on people living with a mental illness. Using lived experience videos, interactive case studies and discussion, participants will learn how to spot stigma using the S.T.O.P approach and learn how to stand up and/or speak up against stigma using a bystander intervention model.

At the end of this training, participants will:

  • Increase knowledge and awareness of mental illness
  • Gain insight into the various components of stigma and its' impact
  • Learn how to spot subtle and over stigma
  • Learn approaches that help you stand up and speak out against stigma  

Cost: free

S2023 dates/times: June 14th from 10:30am-12:00pm (in-person)

Register for How to Spot, Speak Out and Stand Up to Stigma

Upcoming Events

May

29

Monday

yellow, blue and white flowers with text
Multi-Day Event
In-person (location sent upon registration)

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) - FULL

May

30

Tuesday

two people smiling while chopping up vegetables
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
In-person (location sent upon registration)

Engineering Extended Program: Let's Just Cook

May

31

Wednesday

yellow, blue and white flowers with text
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
In-person (location sent upon registration)

Try Pickleball

Jun

01

Thursday

inside of building with person mopping floor
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Mitchell Hall

SWS Closure

Jun

07

Wednesday

yellow, blue and white flowers with text
10:45 am - 2:00 pm
In-person (location sent upon registration)

Lemoine Point Hike

Jun

14

Wednesday

yellow, blue and white flowers with text
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
In-person (location sent upon registration)

How to Spot, Speak Out and Stand Up to Stigma

Get Help Now
Urgent, emergency, and 24/7 resources

Empower Me and Console
Free 24/7 mental health and wellness support

TAO (Therapy Assistance Online)
Free self-directed wellness tool

Other Supports and Resources
On- and off-campus options