Making Moves for Mental Well-Being

With the change of seasons and shorter periods of daylight, it’s no wonder that, according to the Canadian Psychological Association, 15% of Canadians will report a mild case of seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.) in their lifetimes while up to 3% of Canadians will report a severe case. Throughout November, Greenwood’s Community Support Committee (CSC) hosted events and activities meant to help mental and physical well-being in support of Movember and also to help combat those winter blues.

Greenwood supports the annual Movember movement each November. As a charity, Movember focuses on men’s mental health and physical well-being. Through the month, students and staff help to raise funds in support of Movember while also participating in various events that highlight men’s health or support general well-being. 

This year, the month kicked off with an assembly and a panel of male staff members who spoke about positive mental health habits, supportive friendships, and taking steps toward talking about feelings and emotions. The CSC hosted Community Talks Tuesdays at lunch and this included poetry readings and a BIPOC Men’s Mental Health panel. The panel was hosted in collaboration with the BIPOC Affinity Group and featured staff members who found common ground in their experiences as a man of colour and navigating stigmas around mental health. The panel was moderated by Ms. Lumsden and the featured panelists were Mr. Kaushal, Mr. Ramkissoon and Mr. Walters. 

The discussion focused on the intersection of race, culture and gender when acknowledging and dealing with mental health. The panelists shared powerful insights on navigating cultural attitudes around mental health, expressed their own personal journeys with mental health and discussed how community has been integral to their understanding of their mental health. The conversation was a means of affirming spaces where vulnerability is welcomed and encouraged.

Other Greenwood Committees also organized initiatives to promote movement and mental well-being. House Captains planned various activities on November 14 and the Athletics Department hosted a morning wellness walk along the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail. With a successful Movember behind them, the CSC is looking forward to future initiatives such as the Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 21, 2026.

Efforts from the CSC and their respective partners support Greenwood’s focus on well-being. Greenwood supports students’ well-being by encouraging students to develop their resourcefulness and also by providing external support through resources available at Greenwood or elsewhere. This shift will help students to draw on their resilience to pull through difficult times.

“We’re putting an emphasis on increasing our students’ ability to problem solve, their resilience and self reliance,” says Catherine Menard, Coordinator, Student Well-Being. “Greenwood’s a great, safe environment for students to practise stepping into discomfort and not being afraid to fail.”