Residence Support Living in Residence can be exciting. There are activities, new friendships, a bright future and an entire team to support you along the way. You are making your way forward academically, socially, physically and mentally. Growth is exciting but can also be demanding, challenging and at times, isolating. That’s why the Residence Outreach program is in place. It is a place to connect, learn and grow. We are profoundly social creatures. At the root of all of our desires is a need to be understood and to belong. A sense of social connection is one of our fundamental human needs and it impacts our mental health, physical health, and longevity. Residence Outreach program The Residence Outreach program allows you an opportunity to join wellness focused activities, meet one on one to discuss challenges and develop goals to meet your unique needs. Your Residence Outreach Services (one to one appointments) and Programming are located in-house for your convenience. These services are a part of the broader Campus Health and Wellness team. Facilitating connections, exploring needs and challenges with a focus on solutions are what you can expect when accessing the services. You can expect to receive services delivered by registered health professionals, with a focus on overall health and wellbeing. Services are offered to Durham College and Ontario Tech University students living on the on-campus residence buildings. Some aspects of the service include: Provide one to one appointments to gather information on students' issues and needs in order to provide ongoing support; Organizing outreach programs for residence community members who want to create, explore and grow; Provide direct services and support for students navigating campus services, refer and connect students needing additional assistance; Support and guide students toward development of life management skills Collect data to evaluate the success of support programs and identify innovations for new programming through student feedback; Provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space where students can unload their difficulties and work towards resolution; Provide education surrounding mental health, treatments and outcomes; Respond to crisis and provide support to those impacted, there is no issue too big or too small! Students might want to talk with Residence Outreach about: prioritizing balance and wellness in their lives self-development and personal growth, exploring barriers and challenges connecting to other residents, students and clubs making life, academic, career or relationship changes or decisions identifying strengths, values, and limiting beliefs finding solutions that feel realistic and achievable exploring interpersonal relationships struggles or room mate conflicts stress management and coping strategies Like most other Campus Health and Wellness Services (CHWC), Residence Outreach is a free service to access: Email residenceoutreach@dc-ot.ca to book an appointment Visit the CHWC Monday-Friday 8-4pm or phone 905.721.3037 Check out our range of activities via Instagram @dcotresidence Recommended Reading Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, by Robert M. Sapolsky This is an eye-opener on how stress can cause our bodies to go haywire. Neuroscientist Sapolsky explains the evolutionary purpose of the stress response, and how ours differs from other animals. He delves into why humans have a useful stress response—but one that’s not always used in helpful ways. Written in both an informative but at times humorous tone, the book describes how stress affects your weight, sleep and overall health. The Miracle of Mindfulness The Miracle of Mindfulness, by Thich Nhat Hanh After reading Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, you’ll want to calm your mind with Hanh’s work. He’s created an inspirational, thoughtful book on meditation and how to live a richer life in every sense of the word. Many of the messages are simple but require mindfulness. For instance, appreciate the present. Hanh’s advice is informed by his own life, his suffering as a Vietnamese monk and his transformation of that suffering as an activist for peace. The Stress-Proof Brain The Stress-Proof Brain, by Melanie Greenberg Prepare to take control of those brain chemicals. Greenberg describes how to put a stop to unhealthy “fight, flight, freeze” responses to chronic stress and become more cognitively and emotionally resilient. She lists out “thinking traps” to avoid and talks to emotional awareness and reducing perfectionism. You’ll leave the book with actionable tips to survive and thrive. The Joy of Missing Out: Finding Balance in a Wired World The Joy of Missing Out: Finding Balance in a Wired World, by Christina Crook If you find yourself looking at your phone instead of your friends or refreshing your Instagram feed instead of writing that paper, this book is for you. In 2012, award-winning author and TEDx speaker Crook disabled the data on her smartphone, turned off her email and said goodbye to the internet for 31 days. Gasp. Based on her experience, she abandons the concept of FOMO and instead focuses on JOMO and the importance of being involved with the people around us. May we all find technology balance in our lives instead of feeling the compulsion to check our phones multiple times a day … or hour … or minute. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 Emotional Intelligence 2.0, by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves Emotional intelligence, otherwise known as soft skills, is a hot topic as you move into the workplace. These skills are now seen as ideal for everything from leadership to marketing. You might as well start honing your emotional intelligence now. This book teaches you about self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness and relationship management. With this book, you get a code for an online assessment of your emotional intelligence. You’ll also have guidance for how to improve your score. The Art of Extraordinary Confidence The Art of Extraordinary Confidence, by Dr. Aziz Gazipura College comes with presentations, social events and meetings that are undoubtedly hard if you are insecure, shy or just not feeling yourself. This book is honest and full of tips, tools and strategies to improve your confidence, relationships and find deeper meaning in all that you do. It’s one that will benefit you throughout your entire life. Questions about housing? Click here.