Grad and Post-doc Wellbeing

Hi Everyone!

We know that its probably been extra difficult for you to take care of yourself during this time so we've decided to put something together to reward you for treating yourself well! Take the next few months to practice some self care and get the chance to win a gift card to a local Vancouver business! See details below.

In order to be eligible, you will need to do the following:

1. Download these instructions.

2. Choose your "four in a row" bingo spots on either card and fill out the instruction card accordingly.

3. Email the signed instructions card with the answers to your bingo ​to a GrasPods Wellness Coordinator.

If you wish to enter the raffle, please complete a bingo with a signed instruction card by 1st June, 2021! Please let us know if you have any questions about the event.

Take care everyone!

All the best,
GrasPods Wellness Team

BINGO Resources

1. Fostering Kindness

   • Kindness Cards

   • Your Role in Fostering a Positive Work Culture

   • Quick and Easy Ways to Practice Gratitude Every Day

   • Why Kindness Matters

2. Tips and Tricks to Building Good Mental Health

   • Building Emotional Intelligence

   • Train Your Brain to Master Your Mood

   • Train Your Brain

   • Navigating Disclosure

3. Stress Busters

   • Tips On How to De-stress at Work

   • De-stress Tips for Teams

   • Awareness of Breath Practice

   • Identifying Job-related Stressors

   • Stop Stressing Out

4. Mental Health 101

   • How to Tell If Someone Is Struggling

   • Mental Health and Mental Illness 101

   • Language Do’s and Don’ts

   • UBC Thrive 5

What is the Wellbeing Resource Folder?

The Wellbeing Resource Folder was created by the Graduate Student Wellness Network (GSWM) and was made for students by students when recognizing that no consolidated source of information containing on-campus, off-campus, and online wellbeing resources was available. While this Wellbeing Resource Folder is not exhaustive, we do hope that the folder can help guide you towards beneficial health resources. These resources include, but are not limited to, psychiatric, psychological, and counselling related services, health education resources, specialized support services, and subsidized fitness and recreation opportunities.

What are Some Options for Coverage as a Graduate Student or Post Doc?

UBC's Student Health and Dental Plan (Studentcare) covers $300 per year toward mental health services provided by a registered psychologist or clinical counsellor. Eligible prescription drugs are covered up to 80%. All students, including international students, who pay AMS fees are automatically covered.

BC's Medical Services Plan (MSP) covers services from psychiatrists and other physicians, in addition to many medications. You can ask your psychiatrist or GP about which medications are covered and download the Wellbeing Resource Folder for more information on coverage.

Please click here to access more resources for mental wellbeing.

What is the difference between psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors?

There are many different mental health professions, and their distinctions are easily blurred. We focus on psychiatrists, psychologists, and counsellors below, but mental health professionals also include social workers, psychiatric nurses, and others. In general, we recommend you do some background research to determine which type of mental health professional training and area of expertise are right for you, but we hope that the information below can help guide you.

Psychiatrists go to medical school to receive their degrees (MD), and specialize in diagnosing and prescribing medications for mental health issues (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics for anxiety, stimulants for ADHD, antipsychotics, and more). Their ability to prescribe medication is what sets them apart from other mental health professionals (only MDs can prescribe medication). Some psychiatrists also provide therapy (see below).

Psychologists go to graduate school in Clinical Psychology programs to receive their degrees (PhD or PsyD), and specialize in diagnosing mental health issues and providing various kinds of therapy, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and others. Many psychologists are trained in more than one type of therapy and can integrate them to suit your individual needs. Psychologists can provide therapy in individual and/or group formats.

Counsellors go to graduate school in Counselling programs to receive their degrees (typically Master's-level), and can provide counselling for a wide range of mental, emotional, and relationship difficulties. Although they typically do not specialize in mental health difficulties that are as severe as those treated by psychiatrists and psychologists, they help their clients through struggles with mild to moderate anxiety and depression in addition to grief, stress, difficult life transitions (e.g., career), LGBTQ+ specific issues, family conflict, and more.

What are some commonly experienced stressors in academia?

Dr. Zoë J. Ayres has created some informative posters for the #AcademicMentalHealth series, at various stages of an academic career:

master’s degree

ph.d degree

postdoctoral fellow