Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
Stay up to date on all the events happening over MHAW and get tips for taking care of your mental health through the Dal Student Health Instagram page!
Friday, March 10 – Friday, March 17
Halifax Events
Friday, March 10
- Ataraxy Therapeutic Farm Tours | 9am–2pm
- Melda Murray Student Center Fruitful Friday | 12–1pm
- Paint Night with SAMHI | 5-8pm - FULL
Saturday, March 11
- Mental Health Yoga Class | 11am–12pm
- Untoxicated Queers Support Group | 6pm
- Pickle Ball Tournament | 10am–2pm
- Dalplex Free Sports Equipment Rentals
Sunday, March 12
Monday, March 13
Tuesday, March 14
- Self Care & Self Kindness Workshop | 11am–12pm
- DMCRT Kindness Notes | 11:30am–12:30pm
- Paws Room Therapy Dogs | 12:30–2pm
- Needle Felting Workshop | 5–6:30pm
- Games Night | 5–8pm
Wednesday, March 15
- Facing Imposter Syndrome as a Grad Student: Our Experiences and Strategies | 11am–12pm
- Naloxone Training | 12–1:30pm
- Journaling Workshop | 4–5pm
- Upcycled Terrarium Workshop | 5–6pm
- Addressing Misconceptions About Mental Health | 5–8pm
- DMCRT Paint Night | 6–7:30pm
Thursday, March 16
- DMCRT Kindness Notes | 2–3pm
- Graduate Student Mental Health Discussion and Lounge Drop-In | 2–4pm
- Make Your Own Self Care Kit - Chocolate Making & Soy Candles | 11am–2pm
- Mental Health Week Care Packages | 1:30–4:30pm
- Dal Community Dance Class | 5–6:30pm
- DMCRT Mental Health Awareness Kahoot! | 6–7pm
Friday, March 17
- St. Patrick's Day Pancake Breakfast | 7:30am–2pm
- DMCRT Bake Sale @ Sexton Campus | 12–2pm
- DMCRT Kindness Notes | 2–3pm
- Queer Crafternoon | 3–5pm
- Melda Murray Student Center Fruitful Friday | 12–1pm
- Silent Disco | 7–11pm
Learn more about mental health and mental illness
What is mental health?
Mental Health is our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Good mental health is a state of well-being where a person can cope with everyday stressors while contributing meaningfully to their community. Many systemic factors contribute to good mental health, such as getting out in nature or being physically active, getting enough sleep, and connecting with others. Other factors can diminish mental health, such as experiencing discrimination, lack of access to social supports, and food and housing insecurity.
What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a medical diagnosis, just like heart disease. It involves changes in thinking, mood, and behaviour (or a combination of all three). Mental illness is associated with distress or problems functioning in daily activities and may appear in different forms such as substance use disorders, schizophrenia, and depression. Mental illness is common and treatable.
Mental health vs mental illness
Although some may use these words interchangeably, they have different meanings and should be viewed differently. A person can experience good or poor mental health whether or not they have a diagnosed mental illness. It is possible for someone with a mental illness to experience good mental health and someone without a mental illness to experience poor mental health.