Grad Minds events and updates
Recruiting Volunteers for Stress-Free Study Sessions
Are you passionate about improving your fellow graduate students’ mental health? Have you ever personally felt overwhelmed by the stress of graduate studies? Grad Minds is looking for volunteers to help plan “Stress-Free Study Sessions.” These sessions will be virtual platforms where students can gather together and study for exams in a stress-free, friendly environment. Volunteers will be asked to put together a presentation on tips for managing stress and accessing mental health resources, which will be given at the beginning of each study session. There will be at least two study sessions per this semester. Contact Katie Rose at k.rose@mail.utoronto.ca for more details.
Grad Minds Yoga Class with Josh Cooper
Join the UTGSU Grad Minds Team on Wednesday, February 3rd for a free Facebook Live yoga class! The class is led by certified yoga instructor Josh Cooper who will lead you through a restorative Hatha Flow Yoga class. All levels are welcome. The yoga class will be live-streamed on the Grad Minds Facebook page. These classes will run through the semester every Wednesday so don’t forget to check them out! For more info about Josh, click here.
Date: Wednesday, February 3rd @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Livestream Link: http://www.facebook.com/gradminds
Grad Minds Workshop: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Academia
Join Drs. Stefanovic & Aubert for a workshop that will introduce the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and how existing gaps in EDI are present in academia at large and at the University of Toronto. This workshop will engage in active discussion on the causes of these gaps, including unconscious bias and lack of transparency. Finally, strategies for moving the needle toward a more meritocratic academia both on an individual and structural level will be explored, thus providing examples of how existing practices may be adjusted to bolster diversity and inclusion. This talk will be followed by discussions within smaller groups of scenarios based on real world events from academia.
Date: Friday, February 12th @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Eventbrite Link: https://edi-academia.eventbrite.ca
Grad Minds Game Night
We will be hosting a Game Night on Friday, February 12th at 7:30pm. Join us for a variety of fun Jackbox games, including Drawful and Fibbage! This will be a time to relieve stress, meet new friends, and have some fun! Space is limited so registration is required. The event link and details will be emailed closer to the event. We hope to see you there!
Date: Friday, February 12th @ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/138149879007
Grad Minds Power Yoga Vinyasa Class with Gabrielle Forget
Gabrielle’s Zoom Power Yoga classes with Grad Minds are Power Yoga vinyasa classes, with a short meditation at the beginning or the end. These classes are designed for all levels and for everybody. No matter whether you have never practiced yoga before, or if you have been practicing for years, all are welcome! In a Power Yoga class, you will move, breathe, flow, sweat, challenge yourself, and become stronger. Take the class at your own pace, and modify, upgrade, or take breaks as needed. These 60-minute classes allow you to step out of your day and onto your mat for an hour of movement, mindfulness, and fun! For more info about Gabrielle, click here. Registration is required for this event. Please register using the Eventbrite link.
Date: Monday, February 15th @ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Eventbrite Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/yoga-class-with-gabrielle-tickets-138144512957
Mindful Moments with Liam
The School of Graduate Studies is hosting a weekly mindfulness workshop that aims at incorporating principles of mindfulness in your life. This workshop will teach you practical skills to enhance your focus in class and deepen relaxation outside of class. The next class is on Monday, February 1st. Registration is required.
Date: Monday, February 1st @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
To Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TKrran91QIWvtLMOIehWUA
Speaking Truth to Power with Clarity & Effectiveness
Making a request for accommodations or consideration from your professors, teaching assistants, or supervisors can be an intimidating process. You may struggle to : know what to say; maintain a sense of your competence as a student and assess if their response is reasonable or not. Join the Accessibility Services group at U of T for a workshop that will give you practical tools to support your standing in the power of your request. This workshop uses poetry and writing to explore areas in which you feel hesitant in asking for what you need. Please have a pen and paper, or whatever you like to write with on hand.
Date: Monday, February 2nd @ 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
To Register:http://uoft.me/speaking2power
Talking to New People: Grad Student Edition
Do you find talking to new people difficult? Do your fears hold you back from making connections? Are you finding it hard to build meaningful connections in online environments? You’re not alone! This workshop hosted by Student Life at the University of Toronto will help you and fellow grads develop the skills to not only make new connections, but also to manage the fear and anxiety that comes along with it. Date: February 3rd @ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
To Register: https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/gradlife.htm?eventId=30475
Grad Minds Peer Support InitiativeGrad Minds is proud to announce the launch of their new peer support initiative that aims to provide a supportive and confidential online space for all University of Toronto graduate students. In addition to providing social support, the Grad Minds peer supporters will help graduate students navigate mental health resources and find community. To learn more about the peer supporters and how to connect with them, check out their website: gradmindspeersupport.ca
Grad Minds #ShareYourStory InitiativeEveryone has a story to share. Stories are powerful because they bring us together. They let us know that there are others out there who may have or are currently going through similar struggles. Grad Minds is building a collection of stories that aim to inspire, give hope, and empower graduate students on their wellness journey. This is an opportunity for you to #ShareYourStory. There are no rules or requirements. Submissions can be anonymous. The stories will be published on the Grad Minds story webpage. To submit your story, visit gradminds.ca/submit-your-story.
Grad Minds Updated Mental Health Resource Page
We are dedicated to providing graduate students at the University of Toronto with resources for any specific needs and challenges that students may encounter. This is why we have designed a resource page on our website that connects you to different avenues of support for mental health-related issues. Whether you need urgent help, require professional/peer support, or simply want to learn more about mental health, this page can help navigate to a solution.
Link: https://www.gradminds.ca/mental-health-resources
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