Supporting Student Wellness: “De-stressing” Initiatives at Memorial University Libraries

• Published in: Partnership: The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research
• Main Authors: Crystal Rose, Krista Godfrey, Kathryn Rose
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: The Partnership 2016
• Subjects: Wellness; Student Stress; Pet Therapy; Academic; bien-être; anxiété; info; Canada; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.21083/partnership.v10i2.3564; https://doaj.org/article/f460311e846c4cca89bd313aa3da41bb

Student mental health and wellness is a critical issue facing institutions of higher education across Canada. Mental illness is predicted to be the leading cause of disability at Canadian universities. This article looks at some of the recent data on how mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression are affecting academic performance. There is growing consensus amongst university administrators that student mental health is a campus-wide responsibility. Providing students with healthy and positive methods of relaxing and coping with stress is just another way that libraries can support learning and academic success and contribute to a campus culture that is supportive of wellness. Two branches of Memorial University Libraries in Newfoundland, the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) and Grenfell Campus library, have undertaken initiatives to attempt to help decrease students’ anxiety levels during the particularly stressful end of semester, including extended-hours, yoga, pet therapy, games, fun “de-stressing stations”, and free hot beverages and snacks. Both branches surveyed students to obtain feedback on these initiatives and determine what impact students’ felt the initiatives had on their stress levels. These events also garnered positive exposure in both social and local media and provided a great promotional opportunity for the libraries. La santé mentale et le bien-être des étudiants est un problème crucial dont les établissements d’enseignement supérieur font face dans tout le Canada. La maladie mentale est prévue pour être la cause première de handicap aux universités canadiennes. Cet article discute les données récentes sur comment les maladies mentales telles que le stress, l’anxiété, et la dépression affectent le rendement scolaire. Un consensus se dégage parmi les administrateurs universitaires disant que la santé mentale des étudiants est une responsabilité de l’ensemble de l’université. Fournir aux étudiants les méthodes saines et positives de se détendre et de soulager le stress sont d’autres ...