3 students walking outside on VIU Nanaimo Campus

Health and Wellness Resources

Need help Now? Crisis and Emergency

Below, find a list of some resources with links that you can access.

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self harm or suicide | resilience and self compassion | stress and anxiety | mood and depression | relationships | disordered eating support | neurodivergence | sleep and lifestyle | other resources

If you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide:

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Resilience and self-compassion

Have you been feeling like you’re extra hard on yourself, or very self critical when you make mistakes? Giving yourself compassion and inward support can be helpful in difficult moments and to encourage your well-being and motivation.

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Stress and anxiety

Stress and Anxiety can easily take over your brain and become overwhelming. Using strategies and skills to manage this before it becomes overwhelming can be a big help. Some places to look for these strategies include: 

  • Anxiety Canada - Mobile apps, articles for all age groups, links, and much more
  • Bounceback BC - Learn skills to manage low mood, stress, and worry with the support of a coach. With the right tools and practice, you can bounce back to reclaim your mental health.
  • Islandhealth anxiety-disorders-clinic  Groups for anxiety disorders
  • Breathr (Canada) Kelty MH - free apps with refreshing meditations, video introducing mindfulness, guided meditations on many topics, including body scans, mindful eating, coping, etc.

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Mood and depression

Everyone can feel down or sad, but depression can be more than that. If you have been consistently feeling empty, hopeless, or lacking energy, there are resources available to help. 

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Relationships

Relationships can influence your mental health and well being. Knowing where to look for help if you are worried about yourself or others in relationships can be helpful. 

  • Haven Society - Programs and services that help those in immediate need find shelter and support for tough transitions in their lives
  • One Love www.joinonelove.org - an organization dedicated to promoting health and helping us learn about love. Offers signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships
  • Love is respect (USA) - Resources and information about relationships, spectrum of health and abuse, sex, communicating, boundaries, dating and hooking up, teen and LGBBTQ relationships as well
  • Optimal Sexual Experiences (Canada) - Dedicated to creating positive sexual experiences. Research, blogs, books
  • Ending Violence Association (Canada) - Provincial association to developing programs in communities in addressing violence. Many resources and a lot of information
  • Let's get consensual - Great video from UVIC on what consent is, and what it is not with some statements on sexual violence

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Disordered eating support

Eating habits and worries about body image can be quite common concerns people face. Find out more about disordered eating here: 

  • Kelty - Connecting you with resources and information for every stage of the eating disorder journey.
  • NARSF - The Eating Disorders Program provides a pairing of prevention and treatment services to lessen the impact of harm associated with persistent and serious eating patterns for referred youth and families in the Nanaimo/Ladysmith area.
  • At Looking Glass Foundation™, we support individuals affected by eating disorders and disordered eating. Through innovative and accessible programs and services, we provide community members with the support they need, no matter where they are on their recovery journey. We welcome all bodies, are weight inclusive and proudly 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly. You are welcome here.
  • Eating Disorders Meal Support - Video on how family can be supportive around meals
  • Anorexics and Bulimics anonymous (Canada) - adapted from 12 steps of AA, see their webpage for both in-person and on-line meetings
  • National Eating Disorder Info (Canada) - Information, resources, library, Helpline, M-F, 1.866.633.4220 6am-6pm (PST).  NEDIC is Canada’s source for eating disorder education and support, guiding people to trustworthy information and resources relevant to their situation.

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Sleep and lifestyle

Sleep has a big impact on our physical and mental health. There are things you can to do to adjust your sleep habits and be able to get quality sleep. 

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Neurodivergence

Have you been wondering if you may have ADHD or Autism, or if your brain is working differently than many other people? Check out these resources on ADHD and Autism testing: 

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Listening with empathy and respect

University life can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. When someone we care about is having a tough time, it can be hard to watch, and even harder to know how to help. We might want them to feel better right away or think we know what would fix things. But real support isn’t about giving answers or pushing someone to change. It’s about giving them space to understand their own thoughts and feelings, and to make choices that feel right for them—including whether they want to seek counselling or other support.

Some of the most meaningful things we can offer a friend who’s struggling are our care, attention, and presence. If you feel able to, let them know that you’re there for them, that you’ll do your best to understand, and that it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. Try to listen without judging or jumping in with advice. Stay curious about their experience, and be compassionate—both with them and with yourself.

As poet Marc Nepo says, “To listen is to lean in softly with a willingness to be changed by what we hear.”

Everyone goes through ups and downs in their mental health, and university is no exception. Periods of stress, sadness, or uncertainty are part of being human. Sometimes those difficult moments even lead to important insight or growth. But other times, the challenges feel heavy and unending, and it can be hard to figure out how to find balance again.

Remember: it’s not your job to “fix” your friend or the situation. What you can do—showing genuine interest, offering a nonjudgmental ear, and helping them feel less alone—can make a real difference during their hardest moments.

  • Brene Brown - short video that captures essence of what empathy is (and isn't)

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Some other great resources 

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