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news.library.ualberta.ca
  • BLOG HOME
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Wellness

    The Library and Your Well-being: A Message for World Suicide Prevention Day

    by Guest Author September 10, 2025
    written by Guest Author

    The U of A Library is proud to partner with the U of A’s Wellness Supports Team for the Days of Action. This collaboration is dedicated to fostering a supportive community by providing information and resources, encouraging open discussion, and actively working to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health at the University of Alberta. The following article is co-authored by Lucinda Johnston, Faculty Engagement Librarian and Heather Ritz, Community Social Worker.

    The Library and Your Well-being

    On September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day, your University of Alberta Library joins a global conversation about mental health and well-being. More than just a place for research and study, the library is a vital community hub where you can find support, resources, and a space for quiet reflection. As we return to campus and the rhythm of a new academic year, we want to remind you that your mental health matters and that the library is here for you.

    Taking care of ourselves also means planning ahead. Think about what you might need to support your well-being as the semester progresses. The library offers unique resources specifically designed for de-stressing and finding a moment of calm:

    • Light therapy lamps available for borrowing from most locations.
    • Video games that you can borrow.
    • A wide selection of physical or digital films from streaming databases like Criterion-on-Demand, Films on Demand, Kanopy, and NFB Education. 
    • Music resources from streaming databases like Berliner Philharmoniker: Digital Concert Hall, medici.tv, Naxos Music Library, and OperaVision 
    • A huge collection of books and graphic novels on a variety of topics.

    Where, When, and How to Ask for Help

    A holistic approach to mental health recognizes that we are diverse people with diverse needs—and that help doesn’t always come in one form. Knowing where, when, and how to ask for help is a powerful first step. On our campus, there are a range of supports available, from health and wellness services and mental health education, to culturally grounded resources like First Peoples’ House and peer-to-peer support through the Peer Support Centre. Off-campus resources also play a critical role, and we encourage you to explore what’s available in the wider community.

    Suicide prevention starts with breaking the silence. We all have a role to play in challenging the stigma around suicide and mental health struggles. These challenges don’t always look the same, and the reasons people struggle are shaped by their unique circumstances, identities, and stages of life. Each experience is valid, and each person deserves support.

    Suicide prevention is more than knowing where to turn when experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiety or hopelessness. It’s about creating a culture where people feel safe to speak openly and ask for help—without shame. It’s about reaching out when we notice someone struggling, and learning how to respond in caring, informed ways. These are skills we can all build.

    Understanding Suicide Prevention

    This week, and throughout the year, we invite you to join us in learning more about suicide prevention and how we can care for each other in compassionate, meaningful ways. Our library collection offers many resources that might be helpful in understanding suicide prevention. Some titles include:

    • Suicide Prevention by Kristine Bertini
    • Alternatives to Suicide: beyond risk and toward a life worth living edited by Andrew Page and Werner Stritzke
    • The International Handbook of Suicide Prevention edited by Rory O’Connor and Jane Pirkis

    Together, we can create a campus where no one feels like they have to face things alone.

    If you or someone you know is struggling, visit Need Help Now for campus and community mental health supports.

    Call 911 if there is an immediate risk of harm to yourself or others.

    This content is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Creative Commons licence.

    September 10, 2025 0 comment
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  • Journée internationale du bonheur

    by Guest Author March 19, 2025
    by Guest Author March 19, 2025

    La bibliothèque a invité Heather Ritz, assistante sociale communautaire auprès de Wellness Supports (uab.ca/wellness), à partager ses réflexions sur la Journée internationale du bonheur à l’Université de l’Alberta.   Le 20 mars est la Journée internationale du bonheur. En cette période de l’année où les pressions sont fortes, il est légitime de se demander pourquoi célébrer le bonheur. Est-il vraiment possible dans ce contexte ? N’est-ce qu’une platitude? Cependant, je pense qu’il est…

  • Days of Action – International Day of Happiness

    by Elisabet Ingibergsson March 13, 2025
    by Elisabet Ingibergsson March 13, 2025

    The Library invited Heather Ritz, Community Social Worker with Wellness Supports (uab.ca/wellness) to share her reflections about the International Day of Happiness at the University of Alberta.  March 20 is International Day of Happiness, and given the time of year, you may be wondering why on earth we would celebrate happiness as end-of-term pressures are mounting. Is happiness even possible? Is talking about happiness at this time of year merely a platitude? …

  • Days of Action – World Day of Social Justice

    by Guest Author February 19, 2025
    by Guest Author February 19, 2025

    The U of A Library invited Heather Ritz, Community Social Worker with Wellness Supports (uab.ca/wellness) to share her reflections about World Day of Social Justice and the Days of Action’s plans for a Living Library at the U of A.  February 20 is World Day of Social Justice. This day is meant as a global reminder to actively make choices at all levels of society that help our communities prioritise social justice…

  • Happiness Reflected welcomes submissions of creative works

    by Guest Author December 16, 2024
    by Guest Author December 16, 2024

    Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama Since 2013, International Day of Happiness has been celebrated every March 20. Initiated by the United Nations “to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world,” it reminds us that we can actively participate in our own—and others’—wellbeing by engaging in practices that cultivate lasting happiness.  While challenges are often beyond our control, Happiness…

  • Days of Action: World Hello Day :)

    by Guest Author November 21, 2024
    by Guest Author November 21, 2024

    To bring awareness to the Days of Action at the University of Alberta, the Library invited Heather Ritz, Community Social Worker with Wellness Supports (uab.ca/wellness) to share her reflections as well as resources to explore for World Hello Day – November 21. Hello, I’m so glad you’re here! (This seems to me to be the most appropriate way to begin a reflection on World Hello Day, but truly, I mean it: Hello!). …

  • Days of Action: World Mental Health Day with Heather Ritz

    by Guest Author October 10, 2024
    by Guest Author October 10, 2024

    To bring awareness to the Days of Action at the University of Alberta, the Library invited Heather Ritz, Community Social Worker with Wellness Supports, to share her reflections and resources to explore for World Mental Health Day – October 10.  Tending to Self Care I live in a rental house and quite miss having a garden, so this summer I got into container gardening. I had cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, beans, peppers, and…

  • Unwind Your Mind returns to the Library

    by Junelle Mah April 9, 2024
    by Junelle Mah April 9, 2024

    As the 2024 winter semester draws to a close this month, the Library welcomes back our friends from U of A’s Wellness Supports for Unwind Your Mind exam-time mental health initiatives in our various library locations starting Wednesday, April 10 until Friday, April 26. And yes, the bunnies are back! In addition to the activities listed below, all locations have apples as a healthy snack option. During the evenings of April 16…

  • Happiness Reflected: Creative Expressions welcomes submissions of creative works

    by Guest Author December 13, 2023
    by Guest Author December 13, 2023

    Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama Since 2013, International Day of Happiness has been celebrated every March 20. Initiated by the United Nations “to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world,” it reminds us that we can actively participate in our own—and others’— wellbeing by engaging in practices that cultivate happiness.  While it is important to acknowledge the significance…

  • #LightUpPurple Today and Everyday

    by Guest Author October 10, 2023
    by Guest Author October 10, 2023

    This blog post was written by Heather Ritz (Community Social Worker, Student Services – Wellness Supports) The University of Alberta will #LightUpPurple on October 10th for World Mental Health Day. Various buildings on North Campus will be illuminated in purple light, and many offices across all campuses will be decorated with purple flags, a reminder that checking in with our peers and talking about mental health is important.  Incorporate #LightUpPurple into your…

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