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January 25^th is Bell Let’s Talk Day

Dedicated to moving mental health forward in Canada, Bell Let’s Talk promotes awareness and action with a strategy built on four key pillars: Fighting the stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research and leading by example in workplace mental health.

Meet Katie Molnar and the activities taking place on the Agricultural Campus through Peer Education and Health Services that promote healthy behaviors and attitudes and ultimately a healthy campus environment.

All You Need is a Little RESPECT

Some may know her as Katie Molnar, others may know her as “Little Lugene.” And as with any good nickname, there is a story.

During the summer of 2014 Katie worked very closely with Lugene Young, the manager of Health Services in the Student Success Centre on the Agricultural Campus. Here she discovered her passion for learning and promoting health and wellness.

“Lugene became a mentor to me and as we started working together more, the Student Success team noticed that we had very similar personalities and they began to call me ‘Little Lugene’,” explained Katie.

Learning gives Katie a feeling of self-achievement.

“I feel the more I learn, the more that I have to share and help the people around me. Knowledge is power,” she said.

Katie has been actively involved with RESPECT on the Agricultural Campus. RESPECT is an acronym which stands for Real Energy Supporting Peer Education on Current Topics. The RESPECT team works collaboratively with Health Services and Student Services to promote and educate their peers to adopt health enhancing behaviors and attitudes to create a healthy campus environment.

“RESPECT provides health education outreach on topics such as sexual health, responsible drinking, stress management, healthy eating, active living and positive body image to name a few,” Katie explained.

“After working in the Student Success Centre and seeing the positive impact that everyone in the office had on students, I was really inspired to be a part of enhancing student’s lives on campus. Promoting health and wellness was the perfect opportunity for me to do this and also learn more about the health field which I have been interested in pursuing.”

 Katie’s time at the AC has and continues to be a learning experience.

“I grew a lot, academically and personally as a student. I am the same person I was when I started here at the AC, but a better version. I have gained so many friends and mentors – It's like I now have a second family!”

Following Convocation last May Katie worked at a dairy farm throughout the summer and is now working full-time in the Student Services offices continuing her good work.

Another initiative of the Student Success Centre is The Blue Elephant in the Room -  a national anti-stigma campaign designed to address the stigma associated with mental Illness.

The Student Success Centre has been educating students on what the campaign is and what the opportunity means for students on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus. Katie has completed the Elephant in the Room training and is a Mental Health Champion herself.

“We want to decrease the stigma around mental illness, it’s no different than having a physical illness.   We want it to be the same parallel, for students, they are looking for a safe place,” explained Faculty of Agriculture Registered Nurse Lugene Young.

Displaying a blue elephant shows that you care about the wellness of others and demonstrates that this is a safe place to talk about mental illness, without fear of being viewed differently. If you see a little blue elephant, you know it's a safe place to speak about any mental health issues you or your family may be having. You will be treated with respect and dignity and you will find the support and understanding from a person who cares.

Faculty, staff and student leaders are invited to be champions of the project across campus with 59 blue elephants currently on display across the Agricultural Campus.

“We are really happy with the uptake from faculty, staff and student leaders,” she added.  “It’s about the students feeling better and decreasing stigma. Whatever the student shares at the moment, if we can help students, we will be successful.”

Champions are provided with a resource booklet and a step-by-step guide of the expectations of the Champion and when necessary will refer students to the services available to them through Health Services on campus and in the community.

One little word-but a very big idea-makes the elephant in the room disappear -   RESPECT.

If you'd like more information or would like to become a champion contact Katie