As exam stress and work demands piled up for students and staff in York University’s Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (EUC) this summer, a variety of new health and wellness activities were on offer to help them unwind, reconnect with nature and foster a sense of community.
Activities available included dog therapy, yoga and mindfulness, flower bouquet making, hiking and forest walk therapy. Each event was designed to cater to different aspects of mental and physical well-being.
One of the highlights of this new initiative, for Andrea Abello, digital and multimedia specialist at EUC, was the flower bouquet-making workshop using flowers gathered from the University’s own Maloca Community Garden.
“It was a nice way for the community to come together and partake in such a wholesome event,” she said.
The hiking event, in collaboration with Regenesis York, provided another form of escape – physical exercise, plus a chance to mentally disconnect while taking in the tranquility of the natural environment. Participants enjoyed a guided hike through scenic spots like Black Creek and Rudy’s Garden.
“I decided to go on the hike because I needed a mental break at the time and also because I really enjoy being present in nature,” said Timothy Ong, a fourth-year student in the Sustainable Environmental Management (SEM) program.
In addition to the events mentioned above, the program also included:
- a forest walk therapy session at Maloca Garden, introducing students to the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku – forest bathing – which teaches participants how to reduce stress levels by fully immersing themselves in the forest environment through mindfulness practice.
- a dog therapy session, featuring a visit from Baxter the therapy dog alongside creative activities like bracelet making and canvas painting; and
- a yoga and mindfulness session led by Melina Ghasemasad, a student in the SEM program.
This community-focused programming would not be possible without Parisa Mousavizadeh, the health and wellness mentor lead at EUC – a new role within the Faculty.
“Working with my colleagues to set up these events has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Mousavizadeh. “The support and enthusiasm from my colleagues have made each event a success.”
According to Melissa Theodore, a senior advisor in decolonizing, equity, diversity and inclusion (DEDI), education and communications at EUC, a DEDI needs analysis conducted with students, staff and faculty identified the need for more mental health supports for students in the Faculty.
“The new Student Wellbeing Leaders Program aims to provide the EUC student community with holistic well-being programming to increase community engagement, retention and support,” said Theodore. “I am very impressed with the community-based approach to the health and wellness events.”
Whether through creative expression, physical activity or spending time with a furry friend, these new initiatives provided much-needed stress relief to EUC students and staff this summer and reinforced the importance of mental health and well-being within the academic community.