October 10th is recognized globally  through the World Health Organization (WHO) as “World Mental Health Day“. This day holds special importance for students – including student teachers – who research proves are becoming more and more susceptible to stress and mental health issues. In recognition of the WHO’s aim to raise awareness about mental health issues, we take a look at some of the most important mental health issues facing GA/TAs in the classroom and how to

More on stress and mental health:

• When Does Healthy Competition Become Unhealthy?
• Monday Motivation: Monday, October 7th, 2013
• World Mental Health Day in a GA/TA’s World

What Is “Mental Health”?

We’ve come a long way in our ideas about mental health. As the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) explains, mental health, in the contemporary sense, not only means removing or minimizing risks to our mental well-being, but also possessing “positive aspects” of mental health. PHAC also suggests some indicators for mental health – both positive and negative – that can be found internally (emotionally) and (externally). For more on those indicators and how they measure mental health, read “The Health of Canada’s Young People: A Mental Health Focus“.

Teaching Your Students About Stress

The same stats that show how so many university students suffer from stress that leads to mental health disorders often also show that a startling percentage of those students feel they have no solutions to their stressors. As a GA/TA, you’ll likely witness first hand just how stressed your students get. Providing them with strategies they can use to combat stress could save your students from developing worse problems – academic or otherwise – down the road. But how do you do that?

Gabrielle Siemion of Santa Barbara City College suggests leading students in an open discussion and encouraging them to share their stressors and their stress reducing strategies. Find a detailed script of Siemion’s “learner-centered activity” here: http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/facdev/guidebk/teachtip/top10stress.htm

You can also supplement Siemion’s activity with the stress busting tips published by Santa Clara University’s Wellness Center. For instance:

Plan ahead.  Don’t let the gas tank get below one-quarter full; keep a well-stocked “emergency shelf” of home staples; don’t wait until you’re down to your last bus token or postage stamp to buy more; etc.

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Pollyanna-Power!  For every one thing that goes wrong, there are probably 10 or 50 or 100 blessings.  Count ’em!

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When feeling stressed, most people tend to breathe short, shallow breaths.  When you breathe like this, stale air is not expelled, oxidation of the tissues is incomplete, and muscle tension frequently results.  Check your breathing throughout the day,  and before, during, and after high-pressure situations.  If you find your stomach muscles knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax all your muscles and take several deep, slow breaths.

Resources on Campus

Mental health awareness is an increasingly prevalent issue at UWindsor, and there are a number of resources you and your students can use to improve mental health for yourselves and others.

UWindsor’s Student Counselling Centre provides a number of online resources through its website at http://www1.uwindsor.ca/scc/mental-health-resources. The UWindsor Mental Health group also provide outreach to students through Twitter (@UWinMentalHealth) and Facebook (fb.me/UWmentalhealth). Student Health Services also provide suggestions on how to ease the physical effects of stress in their discussion of the “Stress Triangle.” In addition, keep an eye out for special mental health awareness events throughout the semester such as PAWs for Stress.