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MOODWALKS @. Alison Macpherson, MEd, RP Reesa Grushka, MSW, RSW, RP. Getting Started. Our Vision: A Walking Program that would generate opportunities for mind/body wellbeing, connection and community, mindfulness in motion.
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MOODWALKS@ Alison Macpherson, MEd, RP Reesa Grushka, MSW, RSW, RP
Getting Started • Our Vision: A Walking Program that would generate opportunities for mind/body wellbeing, connection and community, mindfulness in motion. • Serendipity: From Dreaming to Opportunity to collaborate with CMHA/ MOODWALKS • Institutional: Seeking engagement from Student Life, Management, Risk Management
Considerations when housing Moodwalks within Student Mental Health Services • Safety vs. Barriers • Collaboration with clinical staff at Student Life • Challenge in giving time to the creation of the program past summer time • Opportunity to include Mindfulness exercises and reflection during walk • Student Mental Health Advisory Committee Volunteers could participate and offer connection or added support for students facing challenges with social connection • Time Constraints
North Campus Route uoit moodwalks route While we experimented with changing the route on a couple occasions, we found that the repeated route was enjoyable and diverse enough as the seasons changed.
Downtown route downtown route
STAFF RESONSE • Overwhelming staff enthusiasm • 12 participants in the training program, ten of whom were staff, one student worker, one student volunteer • Training led by Mike Whitmarsh, who is on faculty at UOIT • Most participants in the training facilitated at least two walks—rotating schedule of facilitators • Staff unanimously found the experience of participating in the walk as facilitator or participant to be energizing, pleasurable, and to result in a positive shift in mood
STUDENT RESPONSE Those who participated: • Found the walks lifted mood and energy • Discovered natural environments in the university’s vicinity that they weren’t familiar with prior to the walks • Connected with staff and other students However: • It was very difficult to engage students to participate, especially as the weather became colder. • This is a common challenge for our groups and programs, and our hope is to address this through promotion and collaboration in the winter term.
ENGAGEMENT • More staff than students • All participants reported positive outcomes from the walk • Most effective mode of engaging students was through direct invitation from their mental health or disability counsellor • Successful walks for students included participation of our Student Volunteers who could engage students for whom social interaction is challenging • Difficulty in engaging students • More student participation in early part of term when weather is warm and students are seeking new experiences…plus they are not yet overwhelmed by their schoolwork • Limited collaboration with other departments, and limited promotion contributed to low participation numbers
PLANNING FORWARD • Staff are overwhelmingly committed to continuing the MoodWalks Program through the winter, and into next year. • Emphasis on promotion and collaboration • Inspired by the commentary from the folks at Ryerson in the fall—namely that this is a project of pleasure rather than filling a niche. • Goals and Vision Moving Forward
