NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND ACTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

On December 6, 1989, fourteen female engineering students were murdered in the Montreal Massacre at Ecole Polytechnique. December 6 has been proclaimed the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women by the Canadian Government and commemorative events occur annually across Canada to remember the women killed and to continue action to end violence in all its forms.

Conestoga College will honour these women and all women who have be killed, abused and inflicted at the hands of abuse with a moment of silence on the school day closest to or on December 6th. Please see Security Services for more details.

Definitions of mental health are changing. It used to be that a person was considered to have good mental health simply if they showed no signs or symptoms of a mental illness. But in recent years, there has been a shift towards a more holistic approach to mental health.

Today, we recognize that good mental health is not just the absence of mental illness. Nor is it absolute – some people are more mentally healthy than others, whether you are mentally ill or not. These realizations are prompting a new kind of focus on mental health that identifies components of mental wellness and mental fitness and explore ways to encourage them. -CMHA

Take the first step towards your success at Conestoga by attending the free study skills and transitional workshops. All workshops are in the Main Building of the Doon Campus but students from all campuses are welcome to attend. You can attend as many workshops as you like.

To register, confirm the session(s) you would like to attend by e-mailing mgiansan@conestogac.on.ca or phoning Counselling Services 519-748-5220 Ext 3360. (Please identify your name program, and the session you would like to attend.)

Thursday January 7, 2010

1:00 p.m. “Survival Skills for College” (1 hour) 2E26
Being organized doesn’t necessarily mean living by a lot of rigid rules; rather, it means making choices about what’s important to you and then arranging your time and space to focus on those choices. Want some strategies for balancing school, work and life commitments? This workshop will provide you with practical tips to help you manage your time well.

3:00 p.m. “Transition to College” (1 hour) 2E31
The Transition to College workshop is designed to assist all new students in making a successful transition to Conestoga College. It will help you prepare for the college experience and the road ahead. Together we will dispel the myths, reduce your fears, and answer your important questions. You will also be introduced to the many resources and services available at Conestoga that will support your success in college.

1:30 p.m. “International Diploma Student Transition Workshop” (1.5 hours) 2E27
This workshop is open to all international students new to a certificate, diploma, or degree program at any campus at Conestoga College. If you are new to the country or have finished the ELS program as you begin your new program, come to this workshop to network with other international students and discuss topics such as program hopes and fears, cultural adjustment, and academic expectations while learning tips for success from senior international students.

2:00 p.m. “Academic Writing” (1 hour) 2E29
Do you have questions about academic writing? Come and get some answers. This workshop addresses academic writing, plagiarism, and APA style. We’ll take some of the mystery out of writing and give you information about further supports.

1:00 p.m. “Computing @ Conestoga” Location: LRC Instructional Lab
We’ll cover the Conestoga specific computing information you need to know to get started. This hands-on session will include how to login to the computers, the Student Portal, your email, and the Library resources. We’ll also tell you what you need to know about printing, saving, laptops, wireless, and where to get help.

World Suicide Prevention Day is held on September 10 each year as an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), and is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO)

The WHO estimates that one million people die in the world each year by suicide. These figures represent an annual world mortality rate from suicide of 14.5 per 100 000 population. The reality is that every minute there are two more deaths by suicide.

The early identification of risk factors and appropriate treatment of these conditions is an important strategy for preventing suicide.

If you are feeling suicidal during office hours, come to Counselling (1A101) immediately. After hours, access assistance at the Mobile Crisis Team, 519-744-1813 or 1-866-366-4566 or go to the nearest emergency department at the hospital nearest you (see Emergency Contacts - Community)

www.iasp.info/
www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/index.html
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)

Conference Host: UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research

Marlene Raasok, Executive Dean, School of Health and Life Sciences & Community Services will be presenting an oral presentation entitled "The Role of the Health Professional Training Establishment in Facilitating or Impeding HHR Innovation" at the 2010 Health Policy Conference in Vancouver British Columbia. For more information, visit their website.