Carleton University officially became the 45th Canadian campus to adopt the Okanagan Charter as of fall 2023!
Carleton’s Health Promotion team plans to integrate the key principles for action outlined in the Okanagan Charter. The Okanagan Charter outlines the role that higher education, such as universities and colleges, can have in developing individuals, communities, societies and cultures both locally and globally.
As part of signing the Okanagan Charter, Carleton’s Health Promotion team will commit to incorporating health promotion values and principles into our mission, vision and plans and will embed health into all aspects of campus culture at Carleton University.
Calls to Action
The Okanagan Charter has two Calls to Action for higher education institutions:
- Embed health into all aspects of campus culture, across the administration, operations and academic mandates.
- Lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.
Our Commitment
Carleton University has pledged to sign and implement the Okanagan Charter. By signing the Okanagan Charter, Carleton University is committed to the following themes:
1. Creating Thriving and Supportive Communities
Carleton University is committed to the proactive and intentional creation of an empowered community that fosters a community of wellness. Through the work of our Health Promotion and Wellness team, Carleton is expanding the knowledge of what holistic health and well-being looks like, including (but not limited to):
- Launching the Okanagan Charter and Health Promotion webpage on our mental health and wellness website.
- Integrating health promotion principles into mental health and wellness workshops.
- Incorporating the goals of the Okanagan Charter into trainings for student leaders, staff and faculty.
- Creating additional opportunities for students to be involved in collaboration and community action across the university.
2. Supporting Personal and Social Development
Carleton University is committed to continuously supporting the personal and social development of our students, staff and faculty. We aim to include more workshops and opportunities to build resilience, competencies and life-enhancing skills beyond our current workshop offerings. We aim to develop and implement workshops that focus on nutrition, physical health, finances, recognizing personal strengths, in addition to encouraging overall health-seeking behaviours.
3. Embed a Campus Culture of Wellness
Carleton University is committed to creating and embedding a campus culture of wellness. We aim to increase overall awareness of the signs of mental health distress, strengthen institutional awareness of the impact of policies and practices that create unintended stress and cultivate awareness of the importance of student mental health promotion, including integration at all levels of the university.
With a renewed commitment to continuous improvement and a particular emphasis on equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, we aim to ensure all of our services support equitable access, enhance health and wellness and ultimately promote a supportive organizational culture.
4. Advance Teaching and Training While Integrating Health
Carleton University is striving to create opportunities for staff and faculty to work collaboratively and learn from each other while integrating mental health and wellness practices, seeking to integrate research and evidence-based practices inside and outside of the classroom.
Included in this goal is the development and distribution of a mental health toolkit for faculty and staff that includes curriculum influence, how to recognize when a student may need support, and how to support their own mental health and wellness. This objective is multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary and will involve embedding an understanding and commitment to health and wellness. It will also lead to future training, learning, teaching and knowledge exchange.
At Carleton University, we understand that striving for wellness is an ongoing process that demands continuous growth and input from our community. We are committed to seeking continuous feedback from all members of our community through our Student Mental Health Student Engagement Committee, our Student Mental Health Advisory Committee, as well as the general feedback submission form on our mental health and wellness website.