Mental Health Awareness Club
 | |
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Location | 6138 Student Union Boulevard Vancouver, BC V6T1Z1 |
| Focus | Mental health |
| Mission | Working together to destigmatize, connect and educate. |
| Website | http://ubcmhac.com/ |
The UBC Mental Health Awareness Club (or UBC MHAC) was established to provide opportunities to discuss and promote mental health awareness throughout the UBC campus and community. Our aims are to eliminate stigma towards mental illness and create an environment where students, staff and faculty members can discuss and learn about mental health together.
History
The UBC Mental Health Awareness Club (MHAC) is a student-run initiative that was founded in the summer of 2010 under the direction of Michael Lee, OSOT professor and curriculum coordinator, the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) advisory group, and OT masters students. The group initially consisted of mainly OT students; however with persistent effort from the previous executives, the club was able to reach increase their target audience within the UBC community by the end of the summer 2012. With every new academic year, the MHAC strives to not only complete each section of the mandate, but to also ensure club sustainability through internal mentorship.
Mandate
- Raise awareness about mental health and mental illness through our events (e.g. Speaker Series, special lectures, symposiums) to create an environment where individuals can freely communicate about their questions about mental health and mental well-being.
- Eliminate stigma towards mental illness by disseminating information through our events and communications, and helping individuals understand mental illness is non-discriminatory in who it affects.
- Provide connections to mental health resources and establish an inclusive, understanding campus environment to help students achieve optimal mental wellness.
- Encourage interdisciplinary and interprofessional participation by interacting with students and faculty in health science disciplines and non-health science disciplines through the promotion of our events.
- Offer professional and volunteer opportunities within the UBC MHAC and external organiziations to allow students to gain knowledge on relevant mental health topics.
Membership
UBC MHAC membership registration commences in early September. The $5 membership fee is used to fund speakers, meetings, and workshops within the club. Prospective members can sign up at our booth during AMS Clubs Week on the UBC campus, or through contacting us directly.
Benefits
As a member you:
- are invited to our general meetings and social events
- can attend our Monthly Speaker Series/potlucks free of charge
- are given the chance to attend networking events with mental health professionals
- have access to volunteer opportunities within UBC MHAC or referred to external organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
- are entered into our mailing list, which provides up to date MHAC news, exclusive resources and professional opportunities
- get free promotional products!
Events
We hope to bring to our members a wide variety of events this upcoming year. In the past, UBC MHAC has held monthly Speaker Series, movie nights, potlucks, seminar events, and Lunch & Learn sessions. This year, we plan to continue these events, along with launching some awareness campaigns to better educate and connect our members together!
For more information, please visit the link here.
Volunteer Opportunities
There are two types of volunteer opportunities within MHAC that are listed below. If you are interested in volunteering with the UBC MHAC, please check the link here for available positions.
Events Team Member
- Work with the clubs’ VP Events and Events Coordinators in the area of event creation and event logistics
- Preferred qualifications and skills include: good spoken and written communication, desire to learn and grow, prior event planning experience, and high proficiency in Microsoft Word and e-mail
- Commitment ranges from 2 to 4 hours per week
Mental Health Correspondent
- Contribute at least one original piece of work to the UBC MHAC website per week
- Work in conjunction with the clubs’ VP External and Communications Coordinator to promote mental health awareness through various social media
- Commitment is a minimum of 1 hour per week
Connect With Us
E-mail: ubcmhac@gmail.com
Facebook: /UBCMHAC
Twitter: @UBCMHAC
For monthly updates, please subscribe to our newsletter here.