Health & Wellness
Selkirk College is committed to promoting and integrating health and wellness into our day-to-day operations, practices and services. We embrace a holistic approach to wellness and offer programming for physical, mental, social and financial wellness.
The Pathway vs The Destination
Well-being is the overall goal of wellness and it’s important to recognize the difference. The state of being comfortable, healthy or happy is a destination that varies depending on how an individual perceives their life. Wellness is the active process of becoming aware and making choices that chart a course to the place you want to be.
Making a deliberate effort in our behavior is vital to wellness and takes a variety of different forms that impact our greater mental, emotional and physical health. No matter what your ultimate well-being destination is, taking steps through wellness is crucial for success.
Homewood Health Resource
When the Next Celebration Isn’t Just Around the Corner
How to Combat your Post-holiday Depression - As we begin to pack away decorations and enjoy the last of the leftovers, it’s important to realize that we’re also packing away the experiences, feelings and memories that we’ve just experienced. Depression or sadness may set in as we return to routines and remove ourselves from the excitement of the season. Here are a few small things to help yourself through post-holidays.
Webinar on COVID-19: Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder
Hosted by Homewood Health: In this one-hour webinar, participants will increase awareness of seasonal depression and anxiety and the importance of being able to recognize symptoms and learn ways to determine if they or someone they know may be suffering from seasonal depression and/or anxiety. We will also provide strategies to manage seasonal depression and anxiety, and increase well-being and effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
- Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) - Register Here
- Wednesday, Jan 20, 2021 7:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) - Register Here
Four Pillars of Wellness
Physical Wellness
Free Fitness – Take advantage of Selkirk College's fitness classes and weight rooms free for employees and students. This includes gym access and free yoga, for example. Catch a class on your break or after work to destress!
On-site health services such as Flu Clinic when applicable. Selkirk College brings in programs when they recognize a benefit to employee health.
Benefits for Health: Selkirk College offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees through Manulife Financial. See MySelkirk for more information specific to your employee group. Benefits include:
- extended health (eyewear, massage, chiropractor care, physiotherapy and prescription coverage)
- dental
- short-term and long-term disability
- accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance
- emergency travel assistance
- Referrals to Best Doctors
Mental Wellness
- BC Campus - Adapting to COVID-19
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- COVID-19 "Self care and Resilience" guide/workbook
- Mental Health Commission
- Kelty Mental Health
- Anxiety Canada
- Seven Cups
Homewood Health
Homewood Health is Selkirk College's Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP). They give professional, confidential counselling services to employees and their dependant families. The service is voluntary and the goal of the program is a short term solution focused to help employees resolve personal and/or work life issues. Homewood Health can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-663-1142 as well as online at homeweb.ca.
During this unsettling time, the resources found here are of great value in supporting our health and wellbeing.
Staying Connected to Combat Lonliness and Isolation During the Holidays - Ideas and information on recognizing signs of loneliness and isolation in ourselves and those we care about, offering tips on what we can do to support one another. As we move into the last month of 2020, we know that traditional holiday celebrations will need to be reframed due to COVID-19.
Celebrating Safely During the Holidays - Knowing how to gather safely for celebrations is essential to minimizing risks and doing your best to avoid exposure to and the spread of COVID-19. Getting together should be done safely, and there are many ways to approach the upcoming holidays with safety in mind. Here are some ideas for the coming celebrations and precautions to take if you are considering hosting a gathering.
Uncertain Times: Managing Uncertain Reactions/COVID-19 Resource - Read this handout to help understand what you are experiencing as well as how to support others through these uncertain times.
- Scroll to the bottom for an up-to-date resouce on COVID-19 including links to Wellness Together Canada, staged reopening and links to province by provice work-place guidelines.
Self Care: Time for You - What does "self care" actually look like? Beyond rewarding and treating yourself, there are some valuable efforts that can improve your well being. This hand-out gives practical tips for looking after yourself.
Employee Fatigue, Isolation and Lonliness - As the pandemic continues and new norms and routines evolve, changes can be linked to psychological effects including feelings of fatigue, isolation and lonliness. This handout addresses employee fatigue.
Experiencing Disruptive Events - Recovery and Coping Strategies: In response to the recent social unrest taking place throughout the United States and around the world, you may experience or observe various reactions. You may become preoccupied with your safety, feel distracted or feel less productive. This handout is an aid to support yourself and others.
Social Wellness
Here to Help: Human Resources at Selkirk College is accessible. Tune into their weekly zoom help sessions on Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. Zoom with them...
Campus Activities: Take advantage of music performances, Mir Centre for Peace programming, cafeteria services providing healthy meals, trail walks on campus (or just off) and authentic multi-cultural events. You can also connect with others in our free recreation classes and facilities. Enjoy free parking, depending on your campus.
Financial Wellness
Homewood Health financial planning resources: Through Homewood Health, Selkirk College employees have access to Life Smart financial consultation. Life Smart provides information and support to empower you to achieve greater financial peace of mind.
Overcoming Financial Fatigue and Concern - Under normal circumstances, different situations can affect our available time and income disproportionately. The continued pressures and uncertainty many people feel while living life in the pandemic can increase stress exponentially. This handout looksat ways to acknowledge and manage financial fatigue. It also shares some tips that could help alleviate some of your concerns about money management in the coming yea
Manulife financial planning questionnaire: Stay tuned...
Strategic Plan - Building Remarkable Futures
Read Building Remarkable Futures: Strategic Plan 2019-2024 for our advanced pledge of enhancing the lives of students, employees and members of the community. Here is an excerpt:
Health and Wellness
Selkirk College will continue to promote and integrate health and wellness into day-to-day operations, practices, services and educational programming. This includes physical health and wellness, mental health, safety, compassion, acceptance, social justice and belonging. We recognize the critical importance of education as a key social determinant of health. Selkirk College is a proud signatory of the Okanagan Charter, 2015.