The Wellness Desk is an initiative coming from a partnership between MacOdrum Library and the Office of the Associate Vice President Student Health and Wellness.
The Wellness Desk, located at 204A MacOdrum Library, is a space for students to learn about resources, connect with a Wellness Navigator, and decompress during stressful times of the year. The Wellness Desk is overseen by the Wellness Coordinator as well as a team of dedicated student staff.
You can pop into the Wellness Desk any time during its hours of operation – no appointments necessary! When you enter, you’ll be greeted by either the Wellness Coordinator or one of our Student Wellness Navigators, who are ready to support you with your mental health and wellness needs. You can chat with the team about what areas you need support on, explore resources with the team, and walk away with services and/or resources to better support you.
The team can support you with anything mental health and wellness related, ranging from feeling anxious around coursework, to struggling financially, to wanting to build your interpersonal skills.
The office has a variety of self-care related activities as well. Be sure to visit and check it out!
Education: Social/Personality Psychology and Stream in Mental Health and Well-being
About:
Why did you decide to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team?
University can feel overwhelming, distressing, and fast-paced for many students. I look forward to being a welcoming presence at Carleton University, positively impacting the student-workplace atmosphere, and offering support as needed.
What do you do to stay well?
I enjoy taking outdoor walk breaks, planning easy grab-and-go meals, and scheduling time to connect with friends.
What’s some advice for incoming students?
It is always helpful to start your day with a plan, incorporating at least one thing to look forward to – whether that is a meal, a walk, a workout, or a nap. Prioritize your well-being, and always remember to be kind to yourself.
Hobbies outside of work
I enjoy physical activity, reading, and writing poetry. William Wordsworth’s, ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ and Robert Frost’s, ‘The Road Not Taken,’ are some of my favourites.
Why did you decide to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team?
I decided to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team because I think it is a great resource that Carleton offers and I wanted to be part of a team that directly helps students navigate academic and personal challenges while empowering and equipping them to thrive. I am also committed to creating a healthy and positive environment on campus.
What do you do to stay well?
I try to engage in some fun activities every week and I keep my schedule manageable.
What’s some advice for incoming students?
I know coming to university might be a big change so, I recommend getting involved to meet new people. It’s also natural to feel overwhelmed and anxious but taking care of your mental health is important.
Hobbies outside of work
I’m a travel enthusiast who loves to discover amazing food and experiences around the world!
Why did you decide to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team?
I decided to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team because I am interested in helping fellow students with struggles I have faced as well.
What do you do to stay well?
To stay well as a student requires a healthy balance between academics and personal life. Understandably, other events and factors will play into daily life, but keeping a proper schedule leads to balance and stability.
What’s some advice for incoming students?
Some students rely on memory or perhaps a small planner. Making a full schedule for the school year helps immensely.
Hobbies outside of work
I like to sketch, weight lift, and go hiking
Why did you decide to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team?
I decided to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team because I think wellness and mental health care are essential. I want to give back to my community and help other students at Carleton with their own wellness and mental health care.
What do you do to stay well?
I like to have self-care days after a busy week or a big assignment. This can either be me watching a movie or reading a book with some snacks or spending time with my friends.
What’s some advice for incoming students?
My advice for incoming students would be not to rush yourself and to take your time. University can be overwhelming. But try to make time for yourself to relax even if it’s going on a 15-minute walk, talking with friends or watching an episode of TV.
Hobbies outside of work
Outside of work, one of my hobbies includes baking. My favourite thing to bake at the moment is maple chocolate chip oat bars.
Education: Bachelor of Social Sciences in Sociology, Minor in Social Sciences of Health (University of Ottawa)
About:
Why did you decide to get involved with the Wellness Desk Team?
I understand firsthand how it feels to want support but also feel overwhelmed by the process of finding what works for you. I think the Wellness Desk is a great space for students to take a breather and also learn about what supports could help in a particular situation. I would have loved to have this kind of support when I was a student, so I’m happy I get to be that support for others now.
What do you do to stay well?
I journal regularly to organize my thoughts and feelings and try to do some physical activity every day, even if it is just a little.
What’s some advice for incoming students?
Feeling overwhelmed and nervous are normal and can sometimes seem out of your control. Just remember that it is okay to reach out for support when needed. You don’t have to go through it alone!
Hobbies outside of work
I love to paint and play video games to relax.
Fall 2024 Hours of Operation
Monday 9:00am-4:00pm & 5:30pm-8:30pm
Tuesday 9:00am-8:30pm
Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm & 5:30pm-8:30pm
Thursday 9:00am-8:30pm
Friday 9:00am-8:30pm
Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm
Sunday 11:00am-8:00pm
Frequently Asked Questions
The Wellness Desk is located at 204A MacOdrum Library – the same floor as Starbucks and the main entrance. There is a sign hanging from the ceiling with “Wellness Desk” – make sure you look up!
Sometimes, life and school can get pretty overwhelming and it’s hard to know where to go for support. The Wellness Desk Team can help you in finding the resources that might work for you – they take away you having to comb through websites and guides to provide you directly with information that will support your mental health and wellness.
The Wellness Desk is also a really great space to take a step away from your studies and de-stress.
The Wellness Desk can help you with anything related to mental health and wellness! They can support you in navigating to resources for a variety of concerns including, but not limited to:
Academic stress
Financial distress
Relationship support
Skills building
Options for counselling
Just remember, the Wellness Desk does not offer counselling services, but will rather talk with you and figure out together what support would be best for you.
No appointments are needed! Just drop on by whenever the space is open.
Please be mindful that another student might be in the space when you go in, so we ask you knock on the door and remain respectful of others in the space.
No. The Wellness Desk is designed to navigate you to mental health and wellness resources on and off-campus. If you’re looking for Counselling, we recommend checking out Counselling Services or you can chat with the Wellness Desk Team about counselling options.
No. The Wellness Desk area doesn’t allow for students to come and do their course work inside. However, if you need a few minutes to decompress or relax, feel free to pop by. We have plenty of items and materials to help you de-stress!
At this point, we are not looking for volunteers. However, that may change in the future so make sure you stay connected!
If you need to contact the Wellness Desk, please email wellness@carleton.ca. Please note, this email is not monitored 24/7.
Your feedback is important to us. If you have any comments about your services, please complete the Student Feedback Form.
