Resources for Wellness
If there is an immediate danger to the health or safety of yourself or others, call 911
- If you are on the Grande Prairie campus, after calling 911, call GPRC Security at 780-538-2700
- If you are on the Fairview campus, after calling 911, call GPRC Security at 780-835-6664
- Go to the nearest Emergency Department or Urgent Care Centre – Queen Elizabeth II Hospital
Health Topics
Your well-being is not made up of just physical or mental health. While these are important, there are many factors that support your well-being. Click on the health topics below for more information including tips, campus resources, community and online resources.
Mental Health
Tips for Maintaining Good Mental Health
Take care of your body. Making sure we take good care of our physical health helps to maintain good mental health. See some nutrition, medical, and physical activity resources in the sections below.
Face problems and solve them. When something makes us uncomfortable, most of us like to avoid it. Addressing your problems head-on is a good way to keep stress from building about those things. Talk to your roommates about taking out the trash, ask your instructor that question instead of procrastinating on that assignment, the list goes on.
Have fun Balancing the things we have to do with things we want to do is part of maintaining our well-being and work-life balance. Do things you enjoy, spend time with people you love, and be creative!
Reach out. Connecting with others is integral to our well-being. Spend time with friends and family for support. Reaching out to a counsellor or physician can also help if we aren’t sure who to talk to about a problem. See campus and community resources below to find out how to get in touch with a counsellor.
Campus Resources
- Mental Health Counselling
- Sheppell Student Support Program: Professional counselling services and 24/7 phone or chat support for all GPRC students.
- Accessibility and Disability Support Services: Supporting students who may benefit from academic supports for physical, mental health, and learning disabilities.
- On-Campus Friendship Centre
- SAGPRC Health and Dental Plan
Community Resources
- AHS Aberdeen Centre & ICAT – Walk-In Counselling, Crisis Intervention
- Pace Community Support, Sexual Assault, & Trauma Centre – Support for Trauma and Sexual Assault
E-Resources
Friendships and Loneliness
Alcohol
Tips for Safer Alcohol Use
Drink water. Alternate alcoholic beverages with water to stay hydrated.
Eat. Eat a meal before and/or while you are drinking is an easy strategy to help you stay safe.
No mixing. Don’t mix alcohol with other drugs.
Set a limit. Decide how many drinks you want to have beforehand, and don’t drink more than that. Consult Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines below to help set your limit. If you have trouble stopping once you’ve started drinking, this would be a good thing to bring up with your doctor or mental health professional.
Use safe transportation. Assign someone as a designated driver, take a cab, or use a designated driver service. See below for some services available in Grande Prairie.
Community Resources
Online Resources
Cannabis
After alcohol, cannabis is the most widely used substance in Canada and you should know the health effects. For more information and references, please visit ccsa.ca.
Mental Health. Daily or near daily use may increase the risk of psychotic symptoms.
Driving. Cannabis can impair your motor coordination, judgement and other skills required for safe driving.
Respiratory Effects. Greater incidences of coughing and breathing problems are associated with long-term cannabis smoking.
Pregnancy. Cannabis use during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight.
Campus Resources
- Counsellors
- Sheppell Student Support Program: Professional counselling services and 24/7 phone or chat support for all GPRC students.
- Clean Air Policy
- Smoke Free Campus Policy
- Fit to Learn Policy
Community Resources
Online Resources
Sleep
5 Tips for Sleep
These tips are based on the Better Sleep Council Recommendations.
Don’t snooze. Set your alarm for the time you actually need to get up. Those few minutes between snooze alarms hurt your sleep more than help it.
Use your bed for sleep only. By studying, worrying, playing computer games, or doing other activities in bed, you’re taking the stress of daily life to bed with you. Make your bed a place associated with relaxation and sleep, and keep everything else out of it.
Unplug. Lights from electronics interfere with your body’s natural sleep cycle. Keep electronics out of your bedroom altogether if possible, but definitely try to avoid using them while in bed or trying to sleep.
Stay consistent. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day – yes, even on weekends. Make bedtime a scheduled appointment that you have to keep and you’ll notice more consistent restful sleep.
Comfort yourself. Create a comforting, relaxing bedtime routine in the 30 minutes before you go to bed. Do activities that help you settle down, like taking a shower or bath, or reading a book for pleasure. Use lamp lighting instead of bright overheads during this time. Don’t do activities that are too stressful or energizing like work or vigorous exercise immediately before bed.
E-Resources
- Flux – Software for reducing blue light
- Better Sleep Council
- Sleep Hygiene Tips from Anxiety Canada
- Sleep Cycle Sleep tracking App
- My Sleep Button: App to promote better sleep using cognitive science
Religion and Spirituality
Campus Resources
- Visit the meditation and multi-faith prayer space at the back of SAGPRC near Howler's for a quiet space to engage in prayer or meditation.
- On Campus Friendship Centre
- Daily Smudging Ceremony: Alumni Lounge Daily at 8:30am with the Elder-in-Residence
Community Resources
Nutrition
Five Nutrition Tips
These tips are based on Health Canada’s Recommendations
Drink more water. Start by carrying a reusable water bottle with you, or put a glass of water next to your bed at night.
Understand what you’re putting in your body. Learn to read and understand the labels on your food. Check out this guide based on the food labelling requirements at Health Canada
A good rule of thumb is to fill half of your plate with vegetables and fruits. See more at Canada’s Food Guide
Stock up on healthy snacks such as carrots, apple slices, and nuts. Pre-package them in snack sized portions so they’re easy to grab on the go.
Campus Resources
- Room of Plenty: Campus Food Bank - For discrete access please speak with a representative at Campus Financial Aid (H103)
- On Campus Friendship Centre Potlucks: Held the third Wednesday of every month (B205)
Community Resources
E-Resources
- Budget Bytes: Delicious Recipes Designed for Small Budgets
- Alberta Health Services Nutrition Information
Medical
Tips for Proactive Physical Health
Get a checkup. Regular visits to your doctor can help you prevent illness, or catch things early.
Inquire about vaccinations. You may be out of date on your vaccinations, or there may be new ones that your physician recommends for you.
Get your flu shot. This can prevent you from getting the flu all season! It also protects more vulnerable people like young children, seniors, and expecting mothers when others are vaccinated. Check out the College & Community Health Clinic, your local pharmacy, or your family doctor to find out if the flu shot is right for you and how to get it.
Get moving. Physical activity helps boost mood and support overall physical wellness. Check out the resources for this in the section below.
Community Resources
- College & Community Health Centre: Alberta Health Services Clinic conveniently located at GPRC Grande Prairie Campus
Financial Health
Tips for Financial Health in College
Budget for the whole semester. Remember that when you receive student loan funds, they are meant to cover your costs for the whole semester. Budget accordingly.
Think twice before making impulse purchases. Remember that your needs come before your wants; think about this before pulling out your card or cash.
Look for spots to cut spending. Think about places you could be getting a better deal (e.g. mobile provider, internet, cable), and areas where you could spend less, like cooking at home instead of eating out.
Find cheaper entertainment. Going out every weekend adds up! Think about what other fun you can have without spending as much (e.g. game nights at home, exercise with a buddy, watch a movie at home instead of the theatre, etc.)
Campus Resources
E-Resources:
- Government of Canada Student Loans Information
- The Simple Dollar: 103 Things to Do on a Money-Free Weekend
- Money Mentors: An Alberta non-profit that educates on personal money management skills.
Physical Activity
Tips for Increasing Physical Activity
Take the stairs. Skipping the elevator may save you time while building your fitness level.
Park farther away. Parking a little further away can allow you to get in a five or ten minute walk you would have missed otherwise.
Take a walk. Speaking of walking, use your break to take a walk. Outside is great, or if the weather is cold take a walk around inside the building for ten minutes.
Get off the bus. Getting off the bus one or two stops early lets you get a short walk in before your destination. Plan your time accordingly if you want to try this one.
Do house work regularly. House work gets you on your feet and moving! Maybe put some dance music on while you clean to make it more fun. Plus, doesn’t everyone enjoy their home more when it’s clean or tidy?
Shovel the snow. Maybe do your neighbour’s sidewalk as well if you want a little extra cardio.
Campus Resources
- GPRC Climbing Gym
- Campus Recreation
- GPRC Fitness Centre
- GPRC Fairview Fitness Centre
- Intramural Sports
- Campus Walking: Get more information from the Fitness Centre Desk
- Wellness Kits: Home workout kits you can sign out from the Learning Commons. Instructions included!
Community Resources
E-Resources
Contact Us
For more information about Mental Health Services available on campus, please contact;
| Mental Health Services | |
|---|---|
| Office: F307 Phone: 780-539-2069 Toll-free: 1-888-539-4772 Fax: 780-539-2888 Email: mentalhealth@gprc.ab.ca Web: Visit Homepage | GPRC Grande Prairie 10726 - 106 Ave Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada T8V 4C4 |