Health, counselling, workshops and more go online during pandemic
Attending fitness classes, workshops and clubs with fellow students are some of the many ways students at U of T Mississauga build social connections and a sense of community. With physical distancing measures now in place due to COVID-19, students are staying connected with virtual programming.
“We want to ensure that, at this difficult time, our students still felt supported and were able to build a sense of community and engage with the services the university offers to them, just in a different format,” says Andrea Carter, assistant dean with the Office of Student Affairs and Services.
Social connections are especially important, she notes, because they lead to stronger academic outcomes, better rates of graduation and a healthier sense of self-esteem and resiliency.
With in-person programming cancelled, staff at student services have found creative ways to continue offering health and counselling services, drop-in sessions and other daily activities.
Counsellors are now hosting group counselling through virtual workshops. “It’s a great way for people to engage and learn new and interesting pieces of information that can help them cope during this difficult time,” says Carter.
Book clubs, peer support and professional development topics on mindfulness are also available online, along with a list of other programming that can be found on the Student Affairs and Services student virtual programs website.
Student Affairs also has a partnership with CAMH, which is doing a lot of outreach to help students develop techniques so they don’t feel socially isolated. CAMH also offers resources on mindfulness and short-term solution-focused therapies.
UTM Athletics is offering virtual live fitness on Instagram. Fitness classes take place during lunch hours or in the evening, Carter says. Other sessions are available where students can ask a coach a sport or training question, or where an athletic therapist shares new stretching techniques. The latter, Carter says, is especially good for staff and faculty who may be sitting in front of a screen all day.
“I just did a virtual yoga class over my lunch break and it was wonderful,” Carter says. “I did it in my living room, my dog joined in, it was a great opportunity to have a 30-minute break.”
She notes that staying home and physically distancing has made it challenging for many to be physically active. The idea behind offering free, virtual classes is that they are available when they need to be, making it easier for users to fit it into their day.
That’s important, because although there was an initial perception that suddenly everyone had newfound time when they had to stay home, it’s not true, according to Carter.
“I think it’s really important to put into context, you are not working or learning from home. What you are doing is, in a pandemic, trying to work and trying to learn,” she explains. “When we start to understand it from that perspective, it alleviates the guilt you feel about being super productive.”
She adds that the virtual programs provide an opportunity to find activities that complement the work that one is trying to do instead of adding a sense of needing to do more. “We want people to feel empowered during this time and start by recognizing it’s a difficult time.”
Carter says another resource the university has is My SSP, which already offered text-based and telephone-based counselling. She says they increased their complement of workshops for faculty and staff to help boost their skillset and recognize the stressors on students at this time.
The response to the virtual programs has been positive and may lead to changes in the future. When life returns to the next new normal, Carter says those working in student affairs and services are going to look at what was successful and well-received and explore opportunities to engage with students in new formats.