Bell Let’s Talk, a barking good time

Kezwick the therapy dog visited students at St. Thomas University for Bell Let’s Talk Day. Students could pet Kezwick or make her perform tricks, like giving them her paw, in exchange for treats.

STU Mental Health coordinator Kelly Humber Kelly said there’s always a research-based reason why events are held. She said there’s research showing that dog therapy can have a “significant” impact on heart rate, stress levels and hormones.

Humber Kelly said it’s a balance of having students interact with each other while also helping their mental health.

“[It’s] trying to provide some of those opportunities for students to connect with one another, but also do something that helps reduce those stress levels and help them build some coping [skills] and some resiliency,” she said.

Aside from therapy dogs, STU Mental Health provided free cookies and fruit, hot apple cider, pencil cases with note books and Bell Let’s Talk toques.

Students could also write what mental health means to them on Bell Let’s Talk posters and stick them on the wall in James Dunn Hall.

Some posters encouraged students to love themselves and put their mental health first, while others criticized Bell and asked the company to lower their prices to combat financial insecurity.

One in five Canadians experience mental health problems, according to The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

STU Mental Health aims to help students with these problems by hosting events like Bell Let’s Talk Day and other initiatives like the Peer Support Centre.

The student-run centre is open Monday to Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Students can come and chat with the trained volunteers over a cup of coffee and snacks.

Lauren McWilliams, a fourth-year STU student, said it’s important to have a space where students can to talk to someone they can relate to.

“I really connected with the idea that fellow peers could have a space to relate to other peers and talk about mental health in a more casual and less intimidating environment,” McWilliams said.

She said the number of students visiting the centre varies. Some weeks there could be two students coming in a night, then none for a while.

Regardless, McWilliams said it’s important to keep the centre open so students can visit when they need to.

Third-year STU student Mary Baker said she visits the Peer Support Centre because speaking with the volunteers is like an informal counselling session.

But sometimes, she said sitting in silence is nice too.

“Sometimes it’s nice to be around people who understands and don’t ask you a bunch of questions about it,” Baker said.