In this time of COVID-19, health officials are telling us to ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’. However, for victims of domestic violence, home isn’t a safe place to be.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact A Woman’s Place Chat Line .

Phone or text: (204) 940-6624

Online chat: https://norwestcoop.ca/chat-quick-escape/

Trained counsellors are available Monday-Friday, from 9:00am-9:00pm to give support, information, resources and safety planning ideas. All communication is confidential and secure.

May 4 to May 10 is Mental Health Week 

We are all feeling the effects of the recent changes and challenges to our world. This week, we pause to reflect on the importance of mental health in our overall wellbeing. 

Many people are experiencing challenges with issues such as: 

• fears about the pandemic  
• uncertainty about the future 
• physical isolation 
• stress from care for family and community members 
• information overload 
• stress management 

There are many free resources and people ready to talk and to help you to take good care of your mental health. Here are a few that are available to you. 

Language Training Centre: student support team 

• Personal Support Counsellor – Larissa:  lklymkiw@RRC.CA 
• Student Integration Coordinators – Jillian (jhoogland@rrc.ca), Lauren (ljoyce@rrc.ca) and William (wbarr@rrc.ca)  

WRHA: Virtual Support Group (Sessions will be held virtually) 

• Mondays & Thursday @ Noon! ACCESS WINNIPEG WEST  
• To register, email: ldurling@wrha.mb.ca  

Government of Manitoba: Mental Health Virtual Therapy Program  

• AbilitiCBT is a digital therapy program available to all residents of Manitoba age 16 or older experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety due to the pandemic 
• You will be able to connect to a professional therapist trained to help you 
• To register, go to https://manitoba.abiliticbt.com/home   

RRC Healthy Mind Healthy College 

• https://www.rrc.ca/wellness/2020/03/17/wellness-in-the-time-of-covid-19/ 

Reaching out for support as we go through this together improves mental health.  

For more information, contact: Larissa (lklymkiw@rrc.ca), Jillian (jhoogland@rrc.ca), Lauren (ljoyce@rrc.ca) or William (wbarr@rrc.ca).  

​The deadline to file taxes has been extended to June 1st. However, to avoid delays in receiving payments like the Child Tax Benefit, individuals should file their taxes as soon as possible. For more information about deadlines, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website. 

Students with modest income and a simple tax situation, can contact New Journey Housing for help to prepare and file their taxes. New Journey Housing is offering electronic drop-off and pick-up method of filing taxes. They will even mail in the tax return if students do not have a printer at home. More information can be found here. 

This week’s feature video is about typing! You need to know how to type capital letters and symbols correctly – especially when you create passwords or communicate in general. You may recognize the narrator in this video, an AEPUCE student from last year.  

Find the video, and others here (don’t forget to subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OWUmcChL60 

Get help when you need it. Where you need it.

Caring for your mental health is important during the COVID-19 pandemic. AbilitiCBT is a new digital therapy program that is available to all residents of Manitoba age 16 or older experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety due to the pandemic.

You do not need to be referred by a doctor to use AbiltiCBT. You will be able to connect to a professional therapist trained to help you deal with:

• pandemic challenges
• the state of uncertainty
• physical isolation
• care for family and community members
• information overload
• stress management

Why use AbilitiCBT?

• It’s confidential
• It works and is clinically effective
• It’s supported by experts
• It’s accessible from home
• It’s free and convenient

Ready to sign up? Click here.

For more information or to find other resources to support your total well-being, click here.

Are you missing your computer lab classes at the Language Training Centre? Do you want to improve your computer skills and knowledge about technology? You are in luck! eSkills instructors at the Language Training Centre have created some videos to help you learn. This week’s video is about how to create a professional username for an email account.

Find the video, and others here (don’t forget to subscribe):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGX4IScbwqjccTLTm3lTwTA

New videos will be released soon, so make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive notifications!

If you received the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit  for the four week period of March 15-April 11 and continue to need this benefit, you must re-apply. Click here for information on how to apply / re-apply.

For help, please contact your student integration team:

• Daytime students – Lauren (ljoyce@rrc.ca) and Jillian (jhoogland@rrc.ca)
• Evening students – William (wbarr@rrc.ca)

Red River College COVID-19

Emergency Student Support Fund

Red River College has launched COVID-19 Emergency Student Support Fund to help students who require extra financial assistance as a result of the global pandemic.

To see if you qualify, click here.

To apply, click here.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the fund or for more information, visit the RRC Coronavirus information page.

Computers for Schools is a non-profit organization that provides free desktop computers to students.

If you need a computer, please fill out an application form here.

When the computer is ready, you will be contacted by Computers for Schools and told when to pick it  up. You will need to bring a letter of enrolment from the Language Training Centre.

Please contact your student integration team for information on how to get your letter of enrolment or if you need help to fill out an application.

Daytime students can contact Jillian (jhoogland@rrc.ca) or Lauren (ljoyce@rrc.ca).

Evening students can contact William (wbarr@rrc.ca).

A message from your LTC Counsellor, Larissa:

During this time of not knowing, it’s natural to feel stress. We are always getting updates from the news, social media, our workplace, school and our friends and family.

Our routines are changing quickly. We live every day without knowing what will happen tomorrow. So, our thoughts and feelings will be affected. Some may also have negative memories come back as they live this new experience.

Common ways of feeling stress: 

Everyone is different. Your reaction isn’t right or wrong, it is your reaction. You may be experiencing something else and that’s okay. What matters is that we can do our best to actively manage it. 

What do you normally do to manage stress? If you usually spend time with friends, can you chat on the phone or have a video call? If you usually go to the gym, can you stream an online workout video?

Here are some things to try now:

1. Limit news and social media. Stay informed but be sure to take breaks.
2. Remember the basics. Be sure to eat nutritious food, get fresh air, move your body, and get enough sleep. 
3. Connect with others. Telephone, text, or video calls can be a great way to stay in touch. Remember to laugh as much as possible. 
4. Practice kindness. Everyone around us is likely stressed too. Be kind, be patient. 
5. Breathe. Taking slow, deep breaths that fill you belly. Inhale for 4 long seconds and exhale for 4 long seconds.
6. Reach out for support. Sometimes, in order to be at our best we need to ask for help. There are several people ready to assist you. 

 Counselling and support services for LTC students:  

Larissa Klymkiw: lklymkiw@RRC.CA  

Lauren Joyce: ljoyce@RRC.CA  

Jillian Hoogland: jhoogland@RRC.CA  

William Barr: wbarr@RRC.CA  

We are here. Please email. If you prefer a phone call, we will call you. Just let us know.