Mental health
Getting through pandemic stress requires moments of vulnerability
May 9, 2020By: Michelle Young, Staff Writer While for many the switch to social distancing wasn’t very difficult, for others it has been — and that’s OK. These changes were abrupt and we will all respond differently as we’re adjusting. People aren’t meant to live in isolation, and require social connection to remain healthy. It’s unrealistic to expect students to function at the same level as they would under regular circumstances. Many of us are faced with surges of anxiety as we watch the news and hear of the COVID-19 cases rapidly rising by the day. We’re putting on our strong faces; we…
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SFU needs to be more considerate of its neurodiverse community during construction
March 14, 2020By: Sarah Duncan, SFU Student Disclaimer: Everyone is different, so there are bound to be different experiences for people with SPD and sensory sensitivities. Don’t take my word as the only one! I get it, construction is annoying. A survey was…
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Animal therapy is an incomplete remedy for students’ mental health issues
March 7, 2020By: Manisha Sharma, SFU Student Whether you’re one of the 41% of Canadians who experience a significant amount of anxiety, or you’re trying to de-stress before finals, animal therapy at SFU is available to bring some light and happiness to your…
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Health & Counselling executives discuss barriers to access, appointment procedures, and their mission to “make care about the client”
February 3, 2020By: Lubaba Mahmud, Staff Writer What might students expect when they make a mental health appointment with SFU Health & Counselling? The Peak had a chance to conduct an in-person interview with Martin Mroz, Director of SFU’s Health & Counselling Services,…
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Comparing GPAs is a recipe for dissatisfaction and unnecessary stress
January 25, 2020By: Lubaba Mahmud, Staff Writer Success in university shouldn’t be interpreted as a zero-sum game where students are indirectly encouraged to compare grades. Extreme academic competitiveness is evident in some departments more than others, but wherever it goes it creates an…
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How Dungeons & Dragons can help SFU student wellness
January 13, 2020By: Mishaa Khan, Peak Associate In a unique twist on therapy, SFU’s Health & Counselling services have combined group therapy with Dungeons & Dragons in the dungeon (or lower level) of Maggie Benston Centre. To learn more about the program,…
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Self-deprecating humour isn’t as harmless as it seems
October 27, 2019By: Kelly Chia, Staff Writer “Sorry, I’m a such a mess, aren’t I?” “I just want to die right now.” “I know, I’m so annoying.” These are the sort of comments that I hear from students on a day-to-day basis being…
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SFU should follow in Oregon’s footsteps and grant mental health absences to students
October 12, 2019By: Lubaba Mahmud, Staff Writer For students suffering with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, university — and life in general — can be extremely overwhelming. As someone with an anxiety disorder, there have been multiple days when I wished…
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Long story short: I learned to make friends with my future self by putting me first
July 16, 2019By: Kitty Cheung, Staff Writer Spring terms have usually been pretty shitty for me. School stress, combined with the wrath of allergy season, has typically led to burnout detrimental to both my physical and mental health. Ironically, during the spring…
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Long story short: Overwhelming myself in co-op taught me to take care of my mental health and respect my personal boundaries
June 20, 2019By: Tiffany Chang, Peak Associate When I was in Grade 12, I’d already decided on doing co-op during my third year of university; I thought it looked like a good way to map out my academic career. After two years at…
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