This guide is a collection of suggestions to help with implementing individual-level change at York. If you are already doing some of these things, or have your own approach, continue creating a culture of well-being at York.
Student Leaders
Read York’s Well-being Strategy (PDF).
Familiarize yourself with the Well-being at York website.
Familiarize yourself with the Well-being Strategy webpage.
Familiarize yourself with the Okanagan Charter.
Bookmark and save the Student Resources page and use SAVY to search for additional resources that are tailored to student well-being.
Learn more about Well-being using the free modules offered by the Student Mental Health Network.
Reflect on your personal and professional goals and write them down.
Complete a well-being self-assessment from the Virtual Well-being Hub and work toward an individualized action plan.
Visit your YU Learn Dashboard and/or LinkedIn Learning profile to enroll in courses related to well-being (E.g. stress management, workload management, conflict resolution etc.)
Encourage your fellow students to visit the Well-being Resource page or the
Virtual Well-being Hub
Share Well-being toolkits offered by Student Mental Health Network.
Utilize your social media platforms to disseminate well-being content and resources throughout the year.
Encourage students to use the Ask Savy tool to find resources for their needs.
Share this tool for self-development and exploring emotional awareness.
Actively discuss well-being initiatives and campaigns at York.
- Encourage the completion of the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS) to students.
- Amplify participation in Well-being Week activities.
- Amplify events and learning opportunities surrounding student well-being.
Collaborate with your faculty-specific College to support student success and well-being.
Take part in the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS).
Share your observations and/or feedback on student well-being with the Well-being Strategy team.
Leverage the Well-being strategy by integrating its principles into your team’s programming initiatives, projects and services to support well-being within your student community.
Look for opportunities to join the Well-being Steering Committee or the Student Advisory on Well-being (SAW)
- Advocate for the student lens while delivering feedback on York’s resources and systems.
Staff
Read York’s Well-being Strategy (PDF).
Familiarize yourself with the Well-being at York website and the Well-being Strategy webpage.
Familiarize yourself with the Okanagan Charter.
Familiarize yourself with Health, Safety, and Employee Well-being YULink pages.
Access the course on Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace.
Read the articles provided by TELUS Health, to learn about building resilience within each dimension of well-being.
Reflect on your personal and professional well-being goals and write them down.
Learn more about Being a Mindful Employee (PDF).
Determine your top priority within the dimensions of well-being and set time for it.
- Tip: See these practical ideas on addressing each dimension of well-being.
Visit your YU Learn Dashboard and/or LinkedIn Learning profile to enroll in skill-building courses related to well-being.
- E.g. workload management, conflict resolution, leading as an employee etc.
Read YFile to learn what's happening at York and become aware of upcoming events.
- If you are not already subscribed, click here to subscribe to YFile.
Attend events, seminars, and opportunities that enhance your well-being; such as Well-being Week, TELUS Health webinars, book clubs, fireside chats on campus, walking meetings etc.
Engage in discussions with your area(s) to advocate for wellness initiatives
- E.g. revisions to department processes/policies, hobby or skill sharing activities, lunch and learns, or other no-to-low cost activities.
Identify and report hazards if you come across them on campus. This will create a safer environment for you and your co-workers.
- E.g. A slippery area, a loose door hinge, broken objects, etc.
Look for and participate in the Employee Well-being survey (E.g. Guarding Minds).
Experiment with well-being practices while at work and note your experience.
Set a positive example for colleagues by practicing healthy behaviours regularly.
- E.g. self-regulating, taking breaks, eating well, healthy boundaries.
If you identify an opportunity in your area, let your leadership team know.
- If additional support is needed, they can consult the Well-being Strategy Team.
Share recommendations or successful implementation ideas with your work peers.
Managers and Leaders
Read York's Well-being Strategy (PDF) before sharing it with your team(s).
Bookmark and familiarize yourself with the Well-being at York website.
Familiarize yourself with the Well-being Strategy webpage.
Review the Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace standard.
- You can contact the Well-being Strategy Team to receive the document or watch this short video.
Familiarize yourself with the Health, Safety, and Employee Well-Being YULink pages so that you can share it readily with your department/ team(s).
Familiarize yourself with the Okanagan Charter so that you can share it readily with your department/ team(s).
Reflect on your personal and professional well-being goals and write them down.
Share the appropriate Implementation Guides within your department and/or team(s).
- Staff Guide (PDF)
- Faculty Guide (PDF)
Learn more about Being a Mindful Employee (PDF).
Determine your top priority within the dimensions of well-being and set time to work on it.
- Share with your team, these ideas for practicing each Well-being Dimension as a form of self-care.
Visit your YU Learn Dashboard and/or LinkedIn Learning profile to enroll in skill-building courses related to well-being (E.g. workload management, conflict resolution, etc.)
Facilitate your own meeting/ presentation/ engagement session, for your team to learn more about the Strategy and determine your collective well-being priorities using:
- 13 Factors of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and
- 6 Dimensions of Well-being
- Visuals assets for the strategy can be found here.
- Please reach out to the Well-being Strategy Team for consultation or assistance, if needed
Attend and invite your team members to workshops and events organized by HSEWB throughout the year, including those during Well-being Week.
Actively discuss well-being initiatives and campaigns at York.
- Watch for and participate in York’s Employee Well-being survey.
- Amplify events and learning opportunities surrounding workplace well-being.
Based on the scope of your role and the information gathered from your department/team(s):
- Create a psychologically healthy and safe environment.
- Refer your team(s) to OLPE training sessions (if available), LinkedIn Learning, or the CCOHS courses on how to create a psychological healthy and safe workplace.
- Update existing policies and procedures or create new policies that incorporate their well-being priorities
- Identify areas in which you can support your team members with their well-being priorities and team well-being.
Attend events, seminars, and opportunities that enhance your well-being.
- Such as Well-being Week, TELUS Health webinars, book clubs, fireside chats on campus, walking meetings etc..
Engage in discussions with your area(s) to advocate for the adoption of wellness initiatives
- E.g. revisions to department processes/ policies, hobby/skill sharing activities, lunch and learns, or other no-to-low cost activities.
Participate in well-being activities and assessments.
- E.g. webinars, trainings, surveys etc.
Set a positive example for colleagues by practicing healthy behaviours regularly.
- E.g. self-regulating, taking breaks, eating well, healthy workload boundaries.
Organize meetings to discuss and assess the impact of changes made, to improve team wellness.
Request a 30min Overview of our Employee and Family Assistance Program for your team, by emailing: hsewb@yorku.ca (facilitated by a TELUS Health employee)
Share your observations and/or team feedback on their well-being, with the Well-being Strategy team.
Share your success stories with the Well-being Strategy team and other department leaders.
Faculty
Read York's Well-being Strategy (PDF).
Familiarize yourself with the Well-being at York website.
Familiarize yourself with the Well-being Strategy webpage.
Familiarize yourself with the Okanagan Charter.
Bookmark and save the Student Resources page.
Bookmark the Health, Safety, and Employee Well-Being YULink pages.
Review the Psychological Health and Safety Standard for Post-Secondary Students.
Take the free course on Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace.
Reflect on your personal and professional goals and write them down.
Share this Implementation Guide with other faculty members.
Refer students to the Virtual Well-being Hub to assess their well-being needs and work towards their personal action plan.
Learn more about Being a Mindful Employee (PDF).
Determine your top priority within the dimensions of well-being and set time to work on it.
Visit your YU Learn Dashboard and/or LinkedIn Learning profile to enroll in skill-building courses related to well-being (E.g.. workload management, conflict resolution, leading as an employee etc.)
Read YFile to learn what's happening at York and become aware of upcoming events.
If you’re not already subscribed, click here to subscribe to YFile.
Attend events, seminars, and opportunities that enhance your well-being.
Such as Well-being Week, TELUS Health webinars, book clubs, fireside chats on campus, walking meetings etc.
Engage in discussions with your department(s) to advocate for the adoption of wellness initiatives
- E.g. revisions to department processes/policies, hobby or skill sharing activities, lunch and learns, or other no-to-low cost activities.
Connect to Teaching Commons Student Resources to Support Connection, Dialogue and Well being
Encourage students to use the Ask Savy tool to find resources for their needs.
Support students' emotional regulation using self-development tools like this.
Add this this Well-being Resources QR code to your lecture slides for the first 6 weeks of classes so that students can easily and discreetly access it when they need.
Participate in well-being activities and assessments.
- E.g. webinars, trainings, surveys etc.
Experiment well-being practices while at work and note your experience.
Set a positive example for colleagues by practicing healthy behaviours regularly
- E.g. self-regulating, taking breaks, eating well, healthy boundaries.
Join committees, working groups, and decision-making bodies related to well-being.
Advocate for your Faculty while delivering feedback on York’s resources and systems.
Share recommendations or successful implementation ideas with Faculty peers.
