Good Health and Well-being
UCalgary recognizes the importance of mental health and well-being and has prioritized it through the Campus Mental Health Strategy. In carrying out the strategy, we are taking a holistic approach from increasing awareness and reducing stigma, to optimizing our services and resources, and integrating mental health in the classroom. Through working with our whole campus and beyond, we are creating a caring and thriving community.
Dr. Andrew Szeto
Director, Mental Health Strategy
Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office Strategic Plan
Recent global events point to the critical need to advance equity, anti-racism, inclusivity, decolonization and reconciliation. The Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office set out a Strategic Plan 2021-2024 to champion a health- and social-equity oriented medical school by nurturing respectful relationships with diverse communities, promoting collaborative and innovative models of engagement, informing curriculum and research, and co-designing initiatives for impact.
Research
The City of Calgary's new Mental Health and Addiction Strategy
UCalgary members brought research and knowledge of our caring campus to the conversation for Calgary's new Mental Health and Addiction Strategy. Some of the focus areas like better coordination of services, and improved information sharing, are important to our own Campus Mental Health Strategy.
Calgary Women's Health Research Symposium
The inaugural Calgary Women’s Health Research Symposium is an interdisciplinary event connecting faculty, staff and trainees from across our institution to share ongoing research in women’s health across the lifespan and share ideas to build capacity for women's health research at UCalgary.
Female-focused health-tracking app
After the realization that menstrual cycles affect women's desired weight goals and introduce uncertainty while preparing for competition, UCalgary athletes created a fitness application for women. My Normative, is a mobile app that focuses on female-specific fitness and health data by tracking both fitness and menstrual cycles together.
Teaching, learning and student experience
Indigenous Hub at Foothills campus
The new Indigenous Hub at UCalgary’s Foothills campus offers a space for staff, students, faculty and Elders to gather, share and connect in an environment that is designed for reconnection with Indigenous culture and traditions in a way that is both inspirational and supportive. Elders in Residence will gather and offer guidance, learning and support to Indigenous students.
New Bachelor of Nursing degree
UCalgary and Old Sun Community College marry western health-care practices with Siksika traditional ways as they launch a pilot program. A Bachelor of Nursing degree is being offered to widen opportunities for southern Alberta Indigenous students. Components of the program embrace the traditional ways of the Siksika people by teaching their values and traditions.
Centre for Wellbeing in Education
The Centre for Wellbeing in Education within the Werklund School of Education has a mandate to provide a centre of excellence in research, education and service for the wellbeing of children, youth and transition-age youth (ages 4-25). Students in psychology programs at Werklund gain hands-on experience at this centre by providing psychoeducational assessments and interventions.
Refugee Health YYC
A clinician-led research, innovation, and education platform at the O'Brien Institute for Public Refugee Health YYC evaluates, designs and refines innovative refugee care programs. They are closely partnered with the Mosaic Refugee Health Clinic in Calgary where clinicians provide care for newly arrived refugees and asylum claimants.
Campus and community impact
Monitoring wastewater for COVID-19 and real-time data
UCalgary researchers, the City of Calgary, and Alberta Health Services teamed up to test wastewater for early signs of COVID-19. The findings of this project in collaboration with the University of Alberta led to a website that shares live, public data of both COVID-19 and influenza in Albertan communities.
The Working Mind
Designed as a workshop, The Working Mind aims to increase awareness of mental health, reduce the stigma of mental illnesses, and offer resources to maintain positive mental health and increase resiliency. 133 workshops have been held since 2016, providing more than 1,500 UCalgary staff with resources to maintain positive mental health and increase resiliency.
Experience Ventures National Hackathon
Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at UCalgary, hosted the Experience Ventures National Hackathon, which celebrates the power and potential of entrepreneurial thinking and design-thinking to find innovative solutions to real-world problems facing society. This year’s focus was on solutions that can improve wellness for students.