ELENA IOSEF, CAMILLE DUNBAR, and MARIA KAIKOVA
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This academic year, the Legal and Literary Society partnered with the Osgoode Mental Health Law Society (MHLS) and the Osgoode administration to deliver the first annual Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW): Creating a Culture of Wellness from November 19th – 21st, 2012. The driving force behind MHAW stemmed from the widespread recognition that students were seeking opportunities to meaningfully engage and challenge the stigma associated with discussing mental health within the law school. Too often, students shy away from speaking out and to others about stresses brought on by a range of law school pressures, ranging from academic demands to personal relationship issues. This apprehension is complex and layered. Reluctance to discuss mental health can be rooted in a fear of appearing weak or ashamed, or an apprehension that some personal issues are insignificant and should not be discussed.
With the myriad of barriers in mind, we wanted to start a conversation about mental health and wellness at Osgoode. As a result, Osgoode hosted MHAW to re-shape the way we construct and address mental health with the support and guidance of Melanie Banka Goela, the new Student Success & Wellness Counsellor, Dean Sossin and Assistant Dean Mya Bulwa, and the Osgoode administration. Our goal for MHAW was three-fold: 1) to initiate discussions about mental health in relation to legal advocacy and the Osgoode community; 2) to assist students in developing strategies to cope with personal stressors and promote mental well-being; and 3) to gather suggestions for ways we can strengthen Osgoode’s support for students.
We kicked off MHAW with an insightful discussion panel led by Dean Sossin, “The Future of Mental Health Law and Justice.” Panelists Justice Richard Schneider and Kelly Bryan reinforced the idea that a better understanding of mental health issues is needed in different areas of the law. The panelists also stressed the importance of legal advocacy and the ways it can be improved through active listening and a compassionate understanding of client needs.
Day 2 of MHAW featured a student wellness fair aimed at offering valuable insights into the range of support services and resources available at Osgoode and York more generally. With the help of adorable and friendly therapy dogs, we aimed to provide students with some of the various stress relief options available. In addition, we hosted the Student Conversation on Mental Health. The discussion included a diverse range of students who generously shared their experiences regarding mental health issues while at Osgoode. Students passionately brainstormed ideas to promote mental health and wellness at Osgoode and ways to build a stronger sense of community. We also hosted the “Healthy Food” student potluck, as well as yoga and mindfulness sessions to nourish the body, mind, and spirit.
To be clear, this year’s MHAW was just the beginning. The Legal and Literary Society and the MHLS are committed to on-going reform and support for student wellness. Together, we are compiling a report with concrete, viable, and responsive recommendations for enhanced mental health supports and an Osgoode curriculum that addresses the unique concerns of first, second, and third year students as they transition through various phases of their law school career. The report will also detail the various changes that have been effected throughout the law school as a result of MHAW, including reform to student programs and support resources. The Mental Health Student Survey has provided us with valuable insight into the needs of Osgoode students, and we will endeavour to find solutions to offer a range of programming and resources that will take into account different experiences and stressors experienced by students while at Osgoode. Our goal is to better educate professors, administrators, and students about mental health biases and issues while offering various coping tools to effectively address personal, academic, and systemic challenges . We hope that this year’s MHAW will serve as a foundation for long-term Osgoode initiatives. We are confident that our student government and other student clubs and organizations will continue to expand and develop programs that foster a culture of wellness at Osgoode.
Elena Iosef is the President of the Legal and Literary Society, and Camille Dunbar is Equity Officer for same.