Mental health resources
UVic is committed to fostering environments for work and study that are safe, supportive, inclusive and healthy, encourage mutual respect and civility, while recognizing that people are our primary strength.
Assisting someone in need
How can I help a colleague?
It can be difficult to know what to do when a colleague is dealing with mental health issues. Knowing how to support your colleagues can make a difference in their ability to cope. How do you know if a colleague has a mental health problem? At times it will seem obvious when someone you work with is going through a hard time, but there is no simple way of knowing if they have a mental health problem and sometimes you don’t need to know. It’s more important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out whether or not they have a diagnosis.
Possible signs of distress
- Significant changes in behaviour or performance (e.g. decreased interest or involvement in work, tardiness, increased absences, showing signs of lethargy, agitation, confusion, outbursts, excessive anger, changes in physical appearance)
- Social withdrawal or isolation (e.g. uncommunicative, avoidance, not showing up for meetings, lack of cooperation)
- Signs of excessive drug or alcohol use
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making decisions
- Expressed feelings of hopelessness, despair, behaviours that indicate a likelihood of harm to self or others (e.g. suicidal ideation, verbal or written communication that includes plans to harm self and/or others)
- Preoccupation with/or expressions of violence, or persons who have engaged in violent acts or with weapons
Supporting a colleague
- Take time to ask others how they are. After all, we’re all in this together.
- Pay attention to changes—notice when someone is not quite themselves.
- If you notice changes and are concerned about a colleague, it’s best to express concern without making assumptions or judgments or diagnosing.
- Offer a listening ear—simply being there will mean a lot.
- Ask how you can help—and respect your colleague’s wishes.
- Suggest resources both on campus and community resources.
- Depending on your relationship, you can still keep in touch with a colleague who takes time off.
- When a colleague returns to work after time off due to a mental illness, make them feel welcome and appreciated. Saying nothing because you’re worried about saying the wrong thing can make your colleague feel worse.
Campus resources and support
Campus Security and Personal
Safety Coordinators
250-721-7599 | uvic.ca/security
Equity and Human Rights Office
250-721-7007 | uvic.ca/eqhr
Human Resources
Work Life Consultants
250-721-8085 | uvic.ca/hr
Office of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment
250-721-8971 | ohs.uvic.ca
Office of Indigenous Affairs
250-472-4913 | uvic.ca/services/indigenous
Office of the Vice-President
Academic and Provost – Faculty Relations
250-721-7114 | uvic.ca/vpacademic/administrators/faculty
Employee Groups
CUPE 4163
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe-4163-1-2
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe-4163-3
CUPE 917
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe-917
CUPE 951
uvic.ca/bargaining/cupe-951
Faculty Association
uvic.ca/bargaining/faculty
Professional Employees Association (PEA)
uvic.ca/bargaining/pea
EFAP
Employee & Family Assistance Program Services
1-844-880-9142
On Campus Services
Multifaith Services
250-721-8338 | uvic.ca/multifaith
How to assist a student in distress
The Student Mental Health webpages have resources and services available to assist you in responding to students who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Mind and body - Your health, your way
As a faculty, librarian or staff member, it’s important to take steps to maintain your own wellness. Our daily lives can be stressful and demanding and at times we may feel overwhelmed. Whether it’s workload, family issues, illness, loss or other concerns sometimes we need assistance in managing.
Well-being is much more than just physical health, exercise or nutrition. It is the complete integration of states of well-being. To find resources to support your wellness see our balanced living page.
How UVic supports you
We all have mental health and our positive sense of mental well-being is unique to us. On this page we have compiled a number of resources and tools to assist you to find the right resources to help your mental health
Download a copy of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Reference Guide.
- Meditation - Wednesdays Noon Meditation for staff and faculty
- Vikes Recreation Register for staff only yoga classes or drop-in for free lunch time Aquafit
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- Mental Health Training
- Practices of Inclusion and Respect
- Work Life Consulting
Top 10 places on campus to find calm and relaxation
- Finnerty Gardens
- Mystic Vale
- Sitting by Petch fountain
- Respite rooms in the McPherson Library and Diana M Priestly Law Library in the Fraser Building
- Interfaith Chapel – Meditation times or Labyrinth walks
- The Quad
- Pick a bench anywhere on campus and people watch
- Michele Pujol – Upper room in the SUB
- Library silent floors
- University Centre – second floor grey couches
External resources
Try the Mental Health Meter or the Stress Index or the mental well-being screening tool:
More information
Campus policies and procedures
The University of Victoria actively promotes and communicates coordinated practices of inclusion, respect, wellness, accessibility, safety and accommodation as the foundations of a healthy campus community. (Objective 1(d) of the Strategic Plan (2012)
As a campus community we recognize that we all play a part in an inclusive community. We are committed to a supportive campus which includes a comprehensive approach to Mental Health and well-being. The following components are part of a preventative and systematic approach to address Mental Health and wellness for faculty members, librarians and staff.
Institutional Policies & Practices/Supportive Policies and Procedures can be found on the University Secretary’s website.