World Suicide Prevention Day – September 10, 2025 is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a global moment to shift our conversations from crisis to compassion. With the national theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) is leading this initiative, championing Indigenous life-promoting practices, community healing, and shared hope. Individuals and communities are encouraged to adopt hopeful and compassionate communication to elevate life promotion and decrease stigma around suicide.

How to get involved?

Virtual Event

On September 10, 2025, CASP will host a free virtual event (11:00–12:30 PM CST) titled “Indigenous Knowledge and Life Promotion: Changing Narratives on Suicide.” This powerful session will feature:

• Elder John Rice, a Third-Degree Member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Society and Knowledge Holder at Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child & Family Services, who will weave traditional Indigenous teachings into suicide prevention.
• Métis scholar Lindsay DuPré, who will highlight how relationships with knowledge, grounded in Indigenous Science and lived experiences, can foster life promotion and well-being.

The event will close with a Global Candle Vigil—participants are invited to place a candle in their window at 8:00 PM local time to “Light a Flame of Hope” across time zones.

More information about the event and steps to register can be found HERE

In Person Event

Show your support for suicide prevention efforts, celebrate those who have died by suicide and strengthen our community and connections by joining the Winnipeg Suicide Prevention Network and community partners on September 10 to honour World Suicide Prevention Day.

This year’s event is about changing the narrative on suicide and hearing stories. Those who have been touched by suicide in their lives, and all those who wish to engage in positive ways to improve their own mental health are encouraged to join us. Everyone is welcome.

Last year, we helped plant the Forest of Hope at Whittier Park. Come out to plant more trees, hear from speakers, be part of the Love Notes Campaign activities, rock painting, and reflection. Light refreshments will be provided.

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Whittier Park: Forest of Hope, 836 Rue St. Joseph

On Campus Event

Visit the Campus Well-Being table on September 10 at NDC (11 am- 1 p) or September 11 at EDC (11:30 am – 1p) and learn how to start the conversation today. Every chat, no matter how small, builds a more supportive and understanding society. Together, we can make a difference and prioritize suicide prevention, ensuring everyone gets the help they need.

In Crisis or concerned for someone? Call or Text 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Hotline.

RRC Polytech Counselling offers Same Day Crisis Services during business hours.

Sources:

International Association for Suicide Prevention

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention

The idea of creating art can sometimes feel stressful for folks. We may not consider ourselves artists, or we might be worried about the end product and if it will look nice. Painting and art can be so much more than the final product. Art can be a ritual that represents us staying in touch with our needs, allowing us to take a break from our everyday stress to focus on the colours, feelings, and textures of the painting process. Above are some featured paintings from last months paint night from both students and staff!

Join the RRC Polytech Students’ Association (RRCSA) and Healthy Minds Healthy College (HMHC) for the last paint night of the academic year!

What is Paint Night?

Paint Night has become very popular in the last couple of years, but if you’ve never been to paint night before, you may find yourself wondering what it is! At its core, paint night is a creative way to hang out with your friends and create a masterpiece!

You Learn to Paint

At paint night, you learn to paint. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a pro painter, there will be an instructor to guide you the whole time! Everyone in the class is working toward creating their own version of the same painting. The teacher will lead you through your painting step-by-step. Our paint nights last two hours.

It’s Therapeutic

Painting is good for you! Paint night is great for people who love to try new things, meet new people, and explore new sides to themselves.

Bring Your Own Supplies

• three paintbrushes (large, medium, and small) • any size painting canvas (12″x16″ is the average size) • acrylic paints (all primary colors)

The Details:

Date: March 24^th

Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm

Register Here

Join us for some fun self care to spark your creative side. For any questions please feel free to contact Pamela Villafranca.

Andrea Schroder, from the Creative Dream Incubator, will lead participants through a 60-minute in-person workshop. Join Andrea to relax, get in touch with yourself, and explore the concept of self-care.

We recognize that the last two years have been hard, and the last thing we need right now is to be hard on ourselves. Therefore, this workshop will focus on JOY as a remedy for stress and look for simple and joyful ways to increase self-care.

The workshop is an experiential workshop where you will be guided through different types of meditation and visualization to relax your body and mind deeply. We will go back and forth between meditation and journaling to process your thoughts and feelings and develop new ideas for simple ways to reduce stress and increase joy in your life.

Bring a journal/notebook and something to write with.

About Andrea

Andrea is a life coach, spiritual counselor, artist and avid journaler. She has a degree in fashion design and is an accredited spiritual teacher. Andrea created the Creative Dream Incubator in 2011. Andrea has over 25 years’ experience teaching and studying the intersection of creativity and spirituality.

You can find more information about Andrea on her website here

Event will be held in person at the Notre Dame Campus in the eTV Immersion room. Masks are required. To register contact Pamela Villafranca. Registration is limited so contact Pamela quick!

The Details

Date: March 29th 2022

Time: 12:00pm -1:00pm

Location: eTV Immersion Room

In person: Masks required

For questions or accessibility need, please contact Pamela.

While war and strife are not new or rare occurrences, Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has evoked a great deal of concern in our community. Perhaps due to Manitoba’s deep connection to Ukrainian culture or the blatant disparity in power between these nations, many are feeling distressed, angry or generally troubled. This is understandable, given the situation. So, how do we take care of ourselves and our communities during such tragic times, when violence and war are so clearly on our minds? Here are some ideas:

1. Be a good friend. It would be good to check in with your friends, classmates, and coworkers who have connections to Ukraine. Let them know that you’re thinking of them. Offer practical support and help. Let them know you stand in solidarity and speak out against the invasion.
2. Take media breaks. Sometimes, in our efforts to remain informed, we become glued to news, radio, and social media updates. While it’s important to know what’s going on, taking breaks from media is key to maintaining our well-being. Select certain times of the day when you will be media free. If images of war keep you up at night, get your news from radio to reduce that impact.
3. Practice self-care. When times are hard it’s even more important to practice good habits like getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals regularly, and being active. Find a bit of time to do something to nurture yourself. It can be as simple as chatting with a friend, sipping a cup of tea, or playing your favorite game. Self-care may feel selfish when horrible things are happening, but we need to care for ourselves so that we can maintain our strength, stay well, and support others.
4. Act in solidarity. When things happen that remind us of the bad or negative in the world, we can act in ways that support peace and good. Attending a rally or gathering of others can be helpful. Donating money or time to organizations assisting people impacted can help ease the suffering of those individuals, while also increasing our own feelings of well-being. Consider attending the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’ rally at the Manitoba Legislature on Sunday, March 6. Or, you may wish to contribute to a registered charity that is assisting affected people.
5. Limit ruminating thoughts. If you find thoughts about the war are keeping you from sleeping or concentrating on other tasks, take a few moments to write your thoughts down and then put the piece of paper away. Alternatively, you could imagine the thoughts being placed inside a balloon and floating away. Limiting your ruminating thoughts doesn’t mean you don’t care, it simply means you’re protecting your own mental state and are saving your energy for other ways to show you care.
6. Reach out for help. Tragedies and uncertain times affect us all differently, depending on our personal circumstances, relation to the tragedy, and our coping skills at the moment. If you could use some support in coping, reach out.
   • Staff can access the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
   • Students can access Student Counselling Services.

In addition, members of the RRC Polytech community are invited to attend a live Connection Session to mutually support one another.

• A Student Connection Session will take place Wednesday, March 9 from noon-1pm.
• A Staff Connection Session will take place Wednesday, March 9 from 2-3pm.

Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow

Gender and sexual identity play a significant role in mental wellness across the globe. International Women’s Day (IWD) brings awareness and challenges the stereotypical discourses surrounding gender identity. The goal of IWD 2022 is to promote access to affordable mental health programming, adequate medical services, and create a world that is free from gender discrimination.   

 Explicitly and implicitly, gender bias influences behavior and attitudes, leading to discrimination that reinforces the experience of inequity and oppression against women. Since the mind and body are connected, to be well we not only have to take care of ourselves, but also critically analyze the systems we interact with. On IWD we can discuss and deconstruct the stereotypes that affect women’s experiences and work to find ways to honor our wellness while challenging the status quo. This might include assessing your boundaries, practicing self-care without guilt, asking for what you need, rejecting diet culture, and identifying the values that ground you.  

Below is a list of FREE virtual events, organized by individuals across the world in celebration of International Women’s Day

•  Celebrating IWD: Proactive Mental Health & Performance for Women 
• Recentering What It Means to be a Womxn 
• Nurturing Spiritual Health- Crones of Consciousness 
• Celebrating Women who Redefine the Future of Business  
• IWD Truth and Reconciliation: Paddles Up – Getting Ready 

Find out more about IWD 2022 and the theme #BreakTheBias here. 

MindWell has some incredible trainings and programs coming up for you this month:

• Mindful Cooking: Healthy Meals Made Simple – Part 4
• Performance Management from the Inside Out: Mental Health for Leaders
• Building Fitness Habits
• Improve Your Sleep

These programs are included as part of your MindWell account. All MindWell Events and Workshops are FREE of Charge for students, faculty and staff at RRC Polytech. Be sure to spread the word to your classmates and colleagues about these events, and make a plan to attend together! Working on our wellness can be a group activity!

Mindful Cooking Thursdays at 1pm ET / 10am PT | Begins Thursday, March 3rd

In Mindful Cooking Part 4, Chef Kristin will show you how to take the stress out of health eating through easy-to-prepare recipes that will keep you full and fueled throughout the day.

Register Here 

Performance Management from the Inside Out: Mental Health for Leaders Wednesday, March 9th, 2022 | 1pm ET / 10amPT

We continue to face new challenges and stressors inside and outside of the workplace as the pandemic continues. As leaders, supporting our own mental health is critical for clear decision-making, effective communication, achieving goals and supporting the success of our teams.

Register Here

Studio Be Build Fitness Habits- Every Monday in March

Lasting habits begin small.

This March, join Lucia’s fitness class every Monday to build the foundation of movement with a focus on the core and explore how a small but consistent commitment to showing up can shift your mindset around lifelong exercise.

Register Here

 Improve Your Sleep – Every Friday in March

For the month of March, join Ross each Friday in our Studio Be class, ‘Experience Mindfulness’ to learn how to tackle restlessness and get a better nights’ sleep.

Register Here

Sign up for a MindWell Account to access all training and workshops for Free! Click here to sign up. 

In January, we asked staff, students, and faculty to share the art they created at our January Paint Night- Below are the wonderful creations!

Art can be used to decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels in our brain and releases endorphins that help us manage the experiences of anxiety. Creating art is a fantastic stress reliever! Paint night can mean taking care of yourself in a different way than what we usually do for ourselves. Keep an eye open in the staff news/student news for our next paint night updates.

Painting is just one way that creativity can promote stress management, but if painting is not for you that’s okay! We curated a list of accessible and beginner friendly crafts, take a look at the list below.

Creative Projects

• DIY Copper Pipe Lamp
• Daisy Chain Bracelet Tutorial
• DIY Copper Coffee Maker
• Clay Coasters
• Origami paper milk box – YouTube
• 100 DIY HOME DECOR IDEAS + HACKS

February Paint Night

With a Cold and Dreary winter, we may be searching for hobbies or ways to help promote our own self-care. We will be holding another paint night for folks to join in and tune in to their creative side. Practicing art and embracing our creativity can help us to feel grounded, assist with managing stress, and an opportunity to focus on creating with our hands. Please join us for a free Paint Night to tune in to that part ourselves as we approach spring.

The Details

Date: February 17^th, 2022

Time: 6-8pm

Platform: WebEx

Register Here

About the Artist

Kisa MacIsaac, RRC grad and owner of Power of Painting, will (virtually) lead you through an evening of self-care as you create your very own painting.

THRIVE events encourage balance and self-care that in turn supports good mental health. All THRIVE events are offered at no charge to participants and are open to staff, students, and faculty.

Need Supplies?

For this virtual paint night, you’re welcome to use your own supplies or sign up to borrow a supply pack. Supply packs will include the canvas, paint, and brushes and can be requested when you register. Brushes and unused paint must be returned to your campus so they can be reused.

We have a limited number of supply packs, so be sure to register early.

There is abundant evidence that taking time to express ourselves through creativity in a social group improves mental health and overall well-being. Don’t miss this chance to make yourself a priority.

More on the Instructor

Kisa MacIsaac (she/her) is Métis, a mother, artist, educator, and a RRC graduate (ECE diploma 2005). She works in a nonprofit early learning and

childcare program in Winnipeg’s inner city and leads wellness painting events as well as creating custom artworks. Making art is medicine –

it has the power reduce stress and anxiety, it is relaxing. Everyone can make art, it’s all about letting go of fear and just creating and going with the flow!
Check out: Power of Painting – Workshops and Art by Kisa
Facebook.com/powerofpainting
IG: @powerofpainting204

Many of us feel the continued pressure that the global pandemic has brought into our lives. Many of us are still working and learning from home, which can feel not very reassuring for some. In contrast, others may feel comfortable with the continuation of virtual life. Many of us are also sitting in a place where we feel tired and unsure of what the future has to bring. The Campus Wellness Team curated resources that approach wellness through a holistic lens- meaning the body and mind are parts of ourselves that require care during challenging and difficult times. Prioritizing caring for our mind and body during grief helps us combat isolation. And It gives us the tools to be able to support our mental health.

Below you will find some resources to help maintain physical and mental wellness during a time of social distancing. For additional information, continue to check www.rrc.ca for updates. 

RRCP Recreation Services

• Monthly fitness challenges – challenge your friends to see how many you can accomplish at home!
• New: Weekly Fitness classes facilitated live- Check out staff and student news 

Fitness Apps 

Several are free, but check to ensure before you download. Some examples include: 

• Tone It Up (Apple and Google Play) 
• New: BodySpace – this includes an online community component (Free)
• New: 7 Minute Workout: Fitness App (Apple and Google Play) (Free with paid options) 
• New: NIKE Training Club App (NTC)  (Free with paid options)

Fitness Bloggers 

Follow your favorite fitness professional on social media, or check out a new community to share your progress. 

• New: Reebok Fitness Blog (Free)
• New: Tanya Poppett and Morgan Rose Moroney 
• New: Well For Culture – Indigenous Health x life-ways 
• New: Budget Friendly Easy Gluten-Free Recipes | Bites of Wellness *A delicious blog 
• New: Home – Fitty Britttty

  Many fitness facilities and companies are live streaming classes or providing online content. Check your local yoga studio, gym or other fitness facility to see if they are hosting anything. Alternatively, check out one of the options below. 

Fitness Subscription & Online Classes 

Please note that these options may involve fees. 

• Peloton * free 60 day trial 
• New: Animal Flow (Subscription fee of $19.99 month, can be performed at home and all movements are bodyweight, no equipment)
• New: FitOn * Free virtual workout classes  
• New: Joyn- Joinful Movement – One month free  
• New: Workout Videos | Fitness Blender – * free workouts from bodyweight to stretching 

Fitness Streaming  

• New: The Fitness Marshall-  Free youtube videos optional subscription for live classes  
• New: eHowFitness – YouTube – *Short 2min clips on everything fitness related 
• New: Group Fitness Classes — My Body Fitness & Nutrition (mybodywpg.ca)– First Class Free- Winnipeg Based  
• New: Little Sports – YouTube – * exercise at home for kids….parents also encouraged 

Mindfulness & Meditation 

• MindWell-U 30 Day Mindfulness Challenge ^ 
• MindWell-U Virtual Drop-in Mindfulness Class ^ 
• New: The Science of Wellbeing– Free Course from Yale University  
• New: A 12-Minute Meditation to Reconnect with Yourself – Mindful 
• New: All articles – Headspace ( Free Trial for one month)  

  Mental Health Bloggers 

• New: The Holistic Pyschologist youtube
• New: Theempoweredtherapist Instagram
• New: The Latest Kate Instagram
• New: Nedra Tawwab instragram 

Relaxation 

• ADAM* audio guided relaxation 
• Clear the Deck exercise to calm worry* 
• New: Free Relaxation Downloads (innerhealthstudio.com)– Free guided relaxation 
•  New: Ergonomic Assessment Tool
• New: TimeOut app – ensure that you are taking necessary breaks
• Drink tea 
• Put on music and dance
• Mindful walking, eating, sitting
• Take a bath
• Take a shower
• Audibly Sigh
• Spend time with a pet
• Right down your worries
• Connect your breathe

Social Connection 

• Check staff news for events organized by Campus Wellbeing  
• Connect with mental health coordinator 
• Schedule a fitness and lifestyle consultation 
• Schedule an informal coffee break on WebEx. Grab your beverage and just chat about whatever you feel like. 
• Challenge yourself to reach out to colleagues and friends  
• Send voice messages or hold video calls with friends and family 
• Plan a skating day at the Forks 
• Send in a Cheers for Peers to a colleague
• If children are home from school, consider creating a daily schedule 
• New:  Take a course at McNally Robinson 
• New: Meet friends at the Winnipeg Art Galley- Free and Paid Classes  

Creativity 

• Stream an Opera performance 
• Virtually tour a museum* 
• Dance! Or learn a tik tok dance 
• Cook or bake 
• Join our virtual paint night event monthly 
• Doodle or colour 
• Put on some music or play an instrument 
• New: Make your own Mukluks in a local Leather Creations class
• New: Learn how to Urban Sketch 
• New: Arts Alive | Programs | National Arts Centre (nac-cna.ca)- Free and Paid classes and workshops on art

Stress and anxiety are normal reactions to abnormal situations. Now more than ever, it’s important to prioritize self-care and finding activities that help us feel grounded.   Reach out to the Campus Well-being Team if you have any questions about campus Mental Health and Fitness resources.

Bell Let’s Talk focuses on destigmatizing, building awareness, acceptance, and action in mental health. Of course, events will look slightly different this year, but continuing conversations about our mental health is more important than ever.

Hearing the stories others have to tell about their experiences overcoming and navigating mental health barriers helps us normalize and minimize the stigma or shame that we may feel concerning our own mental health.

Bell Let’s Talk Day represents a community coming together to learn about ourselves and the experiences of others and to create dialogue about what it means for us to support our mental health and wellness.

The Healthy Minds, Healthy College strategy focuses on ensuring that mental health resources in various capacities are accessible to the staff, students, and faculty at Red River College Polytechnic

For Bell Let’s Talk Day, we have compiled a list of self-led & facilitated activities to encourage participation in the mental health narrative by understanding and destigmatizing our experiences.

Please join us on January 26th from 12:00-1:00pm for a live facilitated workshop where we watch films curated by Student Life on Mental Health and discuss together ways to destigmatize and open up the conversation about mental health and wellness.

Explore Resources

Browse through the Wellness and Counselling Services websites and get up to speed on the variety of resources available to students. Staff resources can be found on the Staff Forum.

Pick up Bell Let’s Talk Merchandise

On January 26^th drop by the Student Association Office at the NDC and receive a free Bell Let’s Talk Package including a toque, worksheets, and key fob. For questions about this please contact Pamela Villafranca

Contribute to the Virtual Photo Booth

Capture and share a photo of you wearing a digital Bell Let’s Talk toque and add a message about how you are taking care of your mental health. Access the virtual photo booth here.

Participate in Self-Led Activities

Download the Bell Let’s Talk Toolkit that has self led activities, such as Self Care Activity Challenge, Kindness Box, Chatterbox, and Mandala Art. Access the toolkit here

Jack.org Pre-Recoded Jack Talk (online)

Attend the Jack.Org event on Mental Health 101- a course designed to help and develop an understanding of mental health through storytelling, and hearing individuals lived experiences.  Jack.org

Join the Social Media Campaign

On January 26, Bell donates 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for every applicable text, local or long distance call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, every Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video, and every use of the Bell Let’s Talk Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.

Mental Health Film Viewing- Facilitated Live Event

When: January 26^th

TIme: 12:00pm-1:00pm

Platform: WebEx

Join us on January 26^th to spend time together and watch a few short films on the topic of mental health, isolation, and stigma. Together we will discuss the films and practice grounding activities. Films are curated by the Student Life team and are chosen to represent various parts of ones mental health. Support will be available to all participants during the event. Register Here

The holiday season is the perfect time for gathering with friends, new and old, and sampling sweet treats.

This heart-warming combination came together in a special virtual event planned by RRC Polytech’s Language Training Centre (LTC) and Student Life as part of the Healthy Minds, Healthy College Strategy. 

“Cookies with Kerri,” hosted by Kerri Korabelnikov, dean for the School of Education, Arts & Sciences, saw 50 students register for an online chocolate chip cookie baking lesson. While everyone got to enjoy a tasty treat at the end, the aim of the event went beyond baking.

“This wasn’t about just chocolate chip cookies, it was about connecting with people and creating a community,” says Korabelnikov. “It was very energizing; everyone was laughing and having a lot of fun.”

Students now living in Winnipeg but originally from around the world, including Korea, Mexico, and Colombia, collected ingredient kits in advance. On a blustery December evening, they joined together to participate step-by-step in a two-hour online session, hosted by Korabelnikov and supported by Michelle Johnson, manager of Student Integration and Employment Outreach at the LTC.

Students were also encouraged to involve their children in the cookie-making class, which made the experience even more special, says Korabelnikov.

The online baking activity was a family affair for LTC student Heidi Novelo Poot and her eight-year-old daughter, Maya.

“It was something different that you can enjoy with the kids and meet other people,” says Novelo Poot. “She (Maya) was so proud, and I think that was the best part. And those cookies were very good, and the recipe was easy.”

Another student, Gabriel Novelo (no relation to Novelo Poot), has been in Manitoba since moving from Mexico in August and is taking classes with the LTC. Activities like “Cookies with Kerri” are a good way to connect with people, Novelo says, something that is more challenging in the middle of a pandemic.

“I wanted to participate with students from other classes. As a newcomer, I need to be in touch with as many students as possible,” Novelo says. “As a newcomer, you need to integrate and take part in all of the activities.”

For Novelo, who operated a food truck in Mexico, the experience marked another first.

“It was fantastic because I used to cook in my food truck, but I never baked. This was the first time I had the chance to bake something,” says Novelo, adding the cookies “magically disappeared” quickly.

In addition to building a stronger sense of community, there are other positive mental health benefits to activities like baking, says Pamela Villafranca, Mental Health Coordinator at RRC Polytech.

“We want to introduce students to different self-care activities. We may not think of it this way, but cooking, baking and prepping food can be a form of self-care; it can be therapeutic for some folks, the process of working with your hands, mixing the ingredients, and getting to sample the final product can feel really good,” says Villafranca. “This workshop promoted connection and community building, and taking a break from your studies to learn a new skill.”

Villafranca shares some key wellness tips to stay connected and support your mental health:

• Find ways to stay connected with your peers and your instructors – join group chats, use instructor office hours, turn on your video in class, and participate, such as asking questions in class
• Recognize that we need a variety of forms of self-care, and we may need varying types of self-care at different times of our lives
• Try something new! Baking cookies is one example of a self-care activity that helps you get creative, learn something new, and work with your hands
• Learn about the services that you can access for support, including the Mental Health Coordinator and Student Support Services department

Above all, Villafranca notes: “We want the students to know that staff and faculty are here for them, and we want to support them.”

To learn more about wellness initiatives at RRC Polytech, the Healthy Minds Healthy College Blog. 

You can also try out Kerri’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

Baking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix white sugar, margarine or butter and brown sugar together
3. Combine baking soda and hot water in separate dish
4. Add baking soda/water, eggs, vanilla, salt, and flour to sugar mixture and stir
5. Stir in chocolate chips
6. Form dough into small balls and place on cookie sheet
7. Bake at 350F for 9 -11 minutes
8. Remove cookies from cookie sheet and let cool
9. Enjoy your delicious cookies

And feel free to reach out and let us know what you think!