Overwhelmed by exams? Here's how a Waterloo student navigated the stress
'Take care of yourself, take care of your body,' says Tina Chan, student who created PASS Kits
This time of year can be an extremely stressful one for university and college students, and it's more than making sure they do well on final exams, says Tina Chan.
Chan is a University of Waterloo student who created PASS kits, mental health first aid kits students receive during orientation week.
Students are currently in the midst of final semester exams, but Chan notes there are other stressors including wrapping up on-campus groups and clubs with end-of-semester events, co-op placements and moves out of residences or other locations.
She says she remembers feeling extremely stressed in her first year of university during exams because the structure was so different than high school exams.
"When I was doing these exams, it felt like a lot of weight and burden on my shoulders and how I performed would dictate what would happen in the future," she said. "Every little question that I had I would calculate in my head, 'Oh, this would be point five per cent off.'"
She says her coping skills weren't great and included extra eating, pulling all-nighters, self-blame and avoiding thinking about the stress.
In second year, she was able to manage her stress with healthier coping strategies, such as studying with fellow classmates, exercising, eating properly and sleeping.
Listen to the whole interview with Tina Chan on The Morning Edition:
'Sleepless nights and restless days'
On April 3, the University of Waterloo issued a statement after a second-year student in the applied health sciences faculty died by suicide on campus.
The student's family didn't want the student identified publicly, but they did ask the school to release a message the student wrote about mental health.
"Let's talk about mental illness. Let's talk about how debilitating it can be. Let's talk about fear and worry. Let's talk about sadness and hopelessness. Let's talk about sleepless nights and restless days. Let's talk about tears and pain. Let's talk," the student wrote.
The university set up a committee to address student mental health. In March 2018, the committee came up with 36 recommendations to better address mental health.
On April 5, the committee on student mental health said 72 per cent of those recommendations are either in progress or have been completed.
The university has set up a dashboard so anyone can see what those recommendations are and where the university is at in addressing them.
Ask for help
Tran is a teaching assistant and says when she sees people struggling, and they don't appear to be speaking to anyone, she simply asks them if there's anything she can do to help.
"I just like to approach them as a peer," she said. "If they ask for advice, I would just say, 'Take care of yourself, take care of your body.'"
Brooke Young is a director of services at Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and says there are many options for students, but the most important thing is that first step of asking for help.
"There's a lot of resources available on campus, typically within health services, counselling services or various peer-support networks," Young said.
CMHA also has options, including Here 24/7
She said there's also online resources like Big White Wall where they can access 24 hour peer support online.
"It really depends on what works best for the student," said Young.
If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, there is help out there:
- Here 24/7 1-844-437-3247 (TTY: 1-877-688-5501) or visit here247.ca.
- K-W Counselling Services 519-884-0000.
- Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington general information 1-844-264-2993.
- Contact ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600 for help funding local addiction, mental health and problem gambling treatment services.
- Kids Help Phone 1-800-688-6868.