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Student Wellness Centre

Programs

The Student Wellness Centre has a wide variety of programs designed to cater to the wellness needs of the student population. Please note that while some programs are drop-in, others do require registration.

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GradChats: Drop-in for Graduate Students

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Tuesdays, September 14 - November 30
1:30pm - 2:20pm

Location: Online

GradChats is a weekly drop-in group created by and for graduate students, brought you by the Student Wellness Centre. This weekly drop-in is a space for graduate students specifically – from any program, faculty, or stage in degree - to come together and talk about topics related to the grad experience. Come to one session,…

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International Students: Meet Your Neighbours

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Wednesdays October 6 - December 1
2:30 - 3.20pm

Location: Online

Meeting new people can be difficult as an International student (even without a pandemic!).This weekly virtual drop-in group will help you connect with other International students at McMaster. Bring your lunch if you'd like, or just come and chat about what's on your mind! This group is facilitated by Zeinab Khawaja, a Health Promoter at…

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ACT on Anxiety

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Sept 15 - Oct 6 and Oct 20 to Nov 17
Wednesdays 1:30 PM-3:30 PM EST

Location: Virtual

Participants will learn Acceptance & Commitment Therapy strategies to decrease the impact of anxious thoughts, feelings, sensations, and memories on living a valued life. For more information or to register, email Carla Glanville (MA) at glanvic@mcmaster.ca or Kerri-Ann Fitzgerald (MSW, RSW) at fitzka@mcmaster.ca.

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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

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Fall 2021 - starting Sept 21
Tuesdays 1:30 PM-3:30 PM EST

Location: Virtual

In a supportive small-group environment, participants will learn helpful ways to cope with periods of intense emotional distress. The group will focus on understanding painful emotional experiences and developing concrete strategies to prevent, decrease or manage painful life experiences. There are 3 modules that rotate through the year which include emotion regulation, distress tolerance and…

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Managing Your Worry and Anxiety

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Group 1: Sept 17 to Oct 8, Group 2: Oct 22 to Nov 12
Fridays 10:30am - 12:30pm

Location: Virtual

Participants learn about the connection between worrying and generalized anxiety through an exploration of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) concepts/strategies. Weekly experiential exercises will be used to challenge thoughts, manage worries, and provide a greater sense of calm to mind and body. For more information or to register, email Sheila Ortlieb (MA, RP) at ortliebs@mcmaster.ca.

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Mend Your Mood

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Sept 24 to Dec 3
Fridays 12:30 PM-2:30 PM EST

Location: Virtual

This group will focus on developing a better understanding of depression, and learning evidence-based skills to change patterns that trigger depression symptoms. This group will be appropriate for those with mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Pre-group meeting required. For more information or to register, email Michelle Charles (MSW, RSW) at charles2@mcmaster.ca.

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Emotion Regulation Skills

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Fall Term
Wednesdays 1:30 PM-3:30 PM EST

Location: Online

Participate in this 10-week coping skills group, where you will learn mindfulness and how to manage emotion dysregulation, distress, and interpersonal difficulties For more information or to register, email Debra Earl (RN) at earld@mcmaster.ca.

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Walk in Nature

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Fall Term
Wednesdays 12:30 - 1:30pm

Location: Cootes Paradise

Connect with nature and leave your worries behind as you unwind on a walk through Cootes Paradise! Guided by a Health Promoter from the Student Wellness Centre and staff from McMaster Altitude, you’ll be guided on an 50-minute walk through Cootes Paradise and be guided through mindfulness exercises. Meet new friends, learn new skills, and…

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ADHD - Drop-in

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Fall 2021
Fridays 11:30am - 12:30pm

Location: Virtual

This group provides a space for students to develop new skills and approaches to help minimize the effects of ADHD on daily life.  The group will offer opportunities to share with others.  Come to one session or come to all. Offered through Webex.  Students must be registered with the SWC and have completed a confidentiality…

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Free Fruit Fridays - Drop-in

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Fridays
Starting at 9am (while quantities last)

Location: Wellness Lounge - PGCLL 201

Need more fruits in your diet? Drop by the Wellness Lounge for some free fruit on Fridays! Fridays, September 24, 2021 - December 17, 2021

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Grief Support Circle - Drop-in (Via WebEx)

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Fall 2021 - 2nd Thursday of each month
2:30PM to 4:00PM EST

Location: Virtual - WebEx

This drop in style group is for students who have experienced grief and loss due to the death of a loved one. The group is facilitated by Marybeth from McMaster Open Circle and Simone (Counsellor) from the Student Wellness Centre, and it is open to all students. This group will provide a safe and confidential…

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Caring Communities Network

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Winter term (Various dates)
Self-paced

Location: Online

Promote wellness within your community (MSU Club or other student group) through the designation of a Wellness Liaison. A Wellness Liaison is someone in your community that can share experiences, resources, and opportunities surrounding health promotion and how to care for your community. They’ll be connected with the Student Wellness Centre as we share learning…

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IBPOC Tea and Talk

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Ongoing, Thursdays
5:30PM to 6:30PM

Location: Virtual

Join weekly to discuss various topics ranging from personal, social, political, and academic challenges and pressures faced uniquely by Indigenous, Black and People of Colour at McMaster University. This virtual drop-in group intends to create a safe space to share our voices and uplift one another. Topics for discussion include mental health, self-care, wellbeing, self-empowerment, self-esteem, addressing…

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Did You Know? HPV

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Ongoing

Location: Online

The Did You Know? HPV webinar is designed to give students knowledge about what HPV is and how the vaccine can prevent at least six types of cancers from forming. While HPV and other sexually transmitted infections can be tough to comprehend, this webinar makes HPV easy to understand, provide key Canadian statistics, and a…

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LivingWorks Start

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Fall Term (Various dates)

LivingWorks Start teaches valuable skills to everyone 13 and older and requires no formal training or prior experience in suicide prevention. When you sign up for LivingWorks Start training, you'll learn a powerful four-step model to keep someone safe from suicide, and you'll have a chance to practice it with impactful simulations. Safety resources and…

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McMaster Pen Pals

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Fall and Winter Term (Various dates)

Location: Online

The McMaster Pen Pals program is an initiative to help connect McMaster students who would like to meet new friends virtually (at first!). After filling out a questionnaire, the Health Promotion team will match you with someone else who also filled this form and introduce you to one another via your McMaster emails. Discussion topics…

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Fostering Self-Compassion and Mindfulness

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October 20, 2021 - November 17, 2021
Wednesdays 10:00 AM-11:30 AM EST

Location: Virtual

A 5-week online psycho-educational group which explores self-compassion, self-love, and mindfulness. The sessions will focus on defining self-compassion, techniques to challenge the 'inner critic', and strategies to foster self-compassion and mindfulness. To register, contact Simone Gomes (gomessf@mcmaster.ca).

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Exploring the Procrastinating Mind

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Tuesdays, October 19 to November 30 2021
1:30PM - 3:30PM

Location: Virtual

Did you know that procrastination has neurobiological roots? This 5-week group is structured to review skills and strategies to increase efficiency and focus when completing tasks. Additionally, this group will explore how to create and maintain new habits. This group will run on Tuesdays from 1:30PM - 3:30PM during the weeks of October 19 to…

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Love Better - A Healthy Relationships Group

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Wednesdays, Sept 29 to Oct 27
10:00AM to 12:00PM

Location: Virtual

In this 5-week group, participants will learn to identify the differences between healthy and unhealthy romantic relationships. Group topics will cover the following: the qualities of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, red flags to watch for in dating relationships, attributes to look for when choosing a partner, how to make relationships last, and the importance of…

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Mindfulness Approach to Food and Eating

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Oct 22 to Nov 19
Fridays 1:30PM to 3:00PM

Location: Virtual

This group will us a mindfulness and acceptance approach to address issues surrounding food and eating. The group will provide support with daily struggles related to food, eating and body image. Please send an e-mail to nifakis@mcmaster.ca for more information or to register.

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SMART Recovery — Addiction Support

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Thursdays from October 21-December 9, 2021
3:30-4:30 PM EST

Location: Virtual

At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction (to drugs or alcohol or to activities such as gambling, over-eating, video gaming, etc). Participants find and develop the power within themselves to change and lead fulfilling and balanced lives guided by SMART Recovery's science-based and sensible 4-Point Program Despite the SMART Recovery Program being abstinence-based, people are welcome…

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You Belong in the Room

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Wednesdays, October 13th - November 10th
1:30pm - 3pm

Location: Online

Why do feelings of inadequacy follow me? Let’s explore the imposter syndrome phenomenon from a unique Black perspective that is internalized through structural anti-Blackness. In this 5-week group session, Black students will reflect on lived experiences to identify, understand feelings of impostering and learn its impact with mental distress. We will discuss what’s harming your…

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