Health & Wellness

Healthy, happy…with depression part two

Gurleen and Jordyn tackle common Google searches on depression and share their thoughts about depression and mental health from their student perspective.

November 28, 2024 By Gurleen

Gurleen

YouAlberta is written by students for students.

Gurleen (she/her) is a Canadian student who enjoys our city’s vibrant community. Gurleen brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does and loves playing volleyball and badminton. Gurleen is in her fourth year of psychology and is a passionate mental health advocate. Her goal is to help cultivate resilient communities for those students who remain courageous during times of struggle. You’ll often find Gurleen out in nature or browsing various cozy spots near cafés on and off campus.

Students are encouraged to reach out for professional support if needed. The U of A offers a wide range of support services for students.

What prompted me (Gurleen) to record this video on depression?

Through my personal experiences with psychosis and professional experiences at work, I have learnt that mental illnesses can have drastic impacts on people’s lives. We as a community need to stand together and support people around us in their journeys and our own when we struggle with our mental health. 

In working with the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being of Post-Secondary Students as a student, I learned that I am not alone in my recovery journey as the campus community as a whole is looking to support each other to fight off stigma with mental health. You can read more about the What We Heard report where students of our community have voiced their needs about their mental health on campus.

What is the National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being?

The National Standard for Mental Health and Well-being of Post-Secondary Students is a Canada and university-wide initiative to improve student well-being on campus and make mental health a priority. It focuses on all areas of mental health, such as crisis intervention, mental health supports, accessibility and much more.