November 27, 2019
This November our campus celebrated 10 years of Thrive at UBC with a month of events and initiatives focused on building mental health. The Thrive 5 plan focuses on these five easy-to-implement ways:
- Thriving by Moving More
- Thriving by Sleeping Soundly
- Thriving by Eating Well
- Thriving by Giving Back
- Thriving by Saying Hi
Our resident-led wellness committee at the College did an amazing job hosting two weeks full of activities. Check out their calendar of activities and these resident testimonies.
For resources on mental health that you can access throughout the year, click here.
We had an amazing Thrive week at St. John’s College this year! As we all know, graduate school can be extremely busy and stressful, and it is a constant struggle to find the time to do the things we need to do to maintain our mental health. Thrive week was an excellent opportunity to get together with other residents and find the time to do some fun, relaxing, and nourishing activities. Most importantly, we had great opportunities to engage in dialogue about stress and mental health issues that we face, and to work together to find healthy ways to deal with these problems. Many of us would normally find ourselves too busy or tired to participate in these types of events normally, but the convenience of having the activities and workshops within our own building made it so convenient and accessible for everyone, and really encouraged people who might not normally attend to come. Overall I thought it was a very positive and educational experience, and I’m looking forwards to Thrive week next year!
– Rehan Higgins
Thrive month at St. John’s College was a great opportunity to reflect on how to improve your wellbeing during graduate school. A number of residents organised a variety of events for the College, including an animal therapy session and stress management workshops. Some of the workshops provided valuable insight about leading a healthy lifestyle, whereas other activities simply demonstrated the importance of taking a break. This mix of activities meant that there was something for everyone and it was a real pleasure to have been involved.
– Daniel Di Benedetto
As a member of St John’s College’s Wellness Committee, participating in Thrive week was a rewarding, introspective, and engaging experience. On a personal level, I saw Thrive as a great opportunity to break down stigmas surrounding mental health. I was greatly pleased to see the resident’s positive response to our activities, the open discussions we had about mental health, and the role it plays in all our lives. I enjoyed the time spent with my fellow residents during the activities and developed a greater appreciation for the strong support network of friends and colleagues at the College.
– Conan Omori
