Saturday 10 October is World Mental Health Day, which is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
Mental Health Week aims to improve community awareness and interest in mental health and wellbeing.
The VU Student Life, VU Counselling and VU Sport teams have teamed up to host a virtual Mental Health Week.
The mindful journal includes fantastic resources with pages to help you:
Download your very own mindful journal to get started.
Competition opens Sunday 4 October, 4pm.
Visit the VU Student Life Facebook page to enter our Mental Health Week competition.
Tag or name someone who has helped you through a difficult time in your life to go into the draw to win a hamper filled with essential goodies!
Competition closes Thursday 15 October, 5pm.
All entrants must be VU students. Please read the competition terms and conditions.
Tuesday 6 October, 11-11.15am
The VU Elevenses program is held live each Tuesday at 11–11.15am, and is also available on demand through recordings hosted on a number of platforms.
The sessions focus on a range of topics with the aim of improving the wellbeing of participants.
To celebrate Mental Health Week the topic this week will be nutrition. Join this Zoom session.
The topics most often address one of six lifestyle medicine areas:
If you’d like to attend the live sessions all you need to do is register and you'll receive online meeting invitations via email each week. You can attend as many or as few sessions as you like.
If you can't attend the live sessions, recordings of the sessions are also available.
Hosted by: VU Counselling
When: Thursday 8 October, 2-2.15pm
VU Counselling are offering a live 15-minute workshop to learn 10 of the best tips to look after your mental health!
This session will be delivered via Zoom and all students are welcome to attend.
Virtual Team Training is a series of fun but challenging sessions run by personal trainers and targeting different areas of the body.
Each person works at their own pace, making it perfect for beginners through to the advanced, with different progressions available for each exercise.
The program changes week to week, so there is no chance of getting bored. You'll be part of an awesome group, with every member striving towards their own health and fitness goals.
We'll keep you inspired while you are living, studying, working, and keeping active all in your own home.
Sessions run for 45 minutes.
VU Sport offers the following group exercise classes live online via Zoom:
Sessions are held Monday–Saturday each week.
In addition, a pre-recorded session will be posted on Facebook every Saturday morning for you to do anytime on your weekend.
To join for free please sign up, and you will receive a weekly email including all the session links.
The Outfield is a free initiative for all male Victoria University students.
The six-week online program starts on Monday 28 September and you can join at any time. The program provides engagement opportunities for male students to shift repetitive routines, and address feelings of social isolation and loneliness associated with COVID-19.
The program offers structured activities in a weekly timetable.
Activities include show & share, Broga (yoga for men), run club, eSports, guest presenters and more.
The first 50 registrations will receive a special edition The Outfield t-shirt.
When: Mondays, 1–2pm
The VU Women Get Active Program is a free initiative for all female Victoria University students.
The four-week virtual program starts Monday 5 October with weekly sessions held 1-2pm. It includes a mini workshop component (20 minutes) followed by a physical activity component (40 minutes).
It is suited to anyone who wants to be more active, start good exercise habits, and get back into exercise after taking a break, or who is just finding it difficult to create consistency with an exercise routine.
Hosted by: VU Counselling
Watch a series of workshops facilitated by the VU Counselling team where you will hear from our counsellors about how to understand yourself better, what it’s like to see a counsellor, practical strategies and how to ask a friend “R U OK?”
If you’re feeling stressed and need support, please call VU Counselling on +61 3 9919 5400.
Join Sara as she discusses the components of self-compassion, how to be kind to yourself, how to activate the soothe system, and some simple steps in implementing self-compassion into your daily life.
Watch 'understand self-compassion'
Find out more about the VU Counselling Services as Liz shares what it is like to see a counsellor, how to make an appointment, and all the things a counsellor can help with.
Join Noor as we find out more about the six types of self-care (Emotional, Practical, Physical, Mental, Social and Spiritual), and learn some practical skills to take care of yourself in difficult times and how to make your very own self-soothing box.
Find out how and when to ask a friend 'R U OK?'. Margret shares the simple steps that could change a life though asking R U OK? and explains how to Ask, Listen, Encourage Action and Check In with a friend.
For more support resources check out our community support resources for mental health and wellbeing.
