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This professionally facilitated trauma informed resistance training group enables female identified students to access the benefits of resistance training and body based trauma therapy to mitigate symptoms of trauma, that have been interfering with daily and academic life. The program is based on recent research that indicates the effectiveness of exercise in managing symptoms of trauma, including anxiety and depression and building resilience and confidence.  This program will involve weekly resistance training sessions coupled with a psychotherapy component. Each week we will work with our bodies and minds to build strength and resilience together.  

In this group you will: 

• Learn some body based ways to manage your symptoms of trauma 
• Learn some body based ways to manage your symptoms of anxiety and or depression 
• Have an opportunity to build physical as well as emotional/mental strength 
• Connect with other folks who understand most of what you are experiencing so that you know you are not alone 
• Become familiar with the ARC in case you want to continue to use that space  

Criteria: Female identified student, with self-identified trauma or adverse childhood experiences (sexual assault, childhood trauma, bullying etc.), and an interest in resistance training and group therapy.

W2024 dates/times: Wednesdays 10:00-11:30am, February 5th to April 2nd (excluding February 19th)

Offered in-person

Gender Diverse (trans, non-binary, agender, bigender, genderfluid, and more) are questioning folx are invited to join this bi-weekly support group focused on all things gender.  This group comes from a lens of queer joy, holding space for sharing personal experience, may involve mindfulness, art mediated discussions and more. 

Gender Splendor is facilitated by gender diverse professionals: 2SLGBTQ+ therapist Shannon (they/them) and Sexual and Diversity Advisor Kel (they/he).

W2025 dates/times: Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00pm (biweekly starting January 22nd)

Find out more on the Yellow House events calendar

This professionally facilitated group is EXCLUSIVELY for Queens Grad students. Grad students have a unique set of circumstances and challenges that they juggle. If you are one of them, you deserve the support this confidential group of like-minded students can offer you. Don’t struggle alone!  

In this group you will: 

• Have an opportunity to share your concerns and receive support from other grad students and from a therapist. 
• Share solutions and coping mechanisms to better manage the unique pressures you face. 
• Learn some strategies to manage your mental well being.  
• Experience the benefit of a community who understands exactly what you are going through.  

W2025 dates/times: Thursdays 1:30-3:00pm, January 23 to March 13 (excluding February 20)

Offered in-person

Register for Grad Students Are People, Too!

This group offers support to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. The Chaplain will work with the group to provide a safe and brave space for sharing and listening.  We will also explore ways to integrate grief and loss into our lives.

Offered in-person

Email chaplain@queensu.ca for more information and to register.

This group will focus on providing students who have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) with strategies to navigate university. Students do not need to have a formal diagnosis of ADHD to attend this group and can be at any phase of university. Participants will be encouraged to share areas of struggle as well as solutions they have found helpful.  Each week students will discuss a different topic and leave with strategies they can try during the week.

Topics include: dealing with stuck-ness and avoidance, feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, feeling unmotivated, getting more organized, and learning how to prioritize.  Topics may change depending on the needs of the students in the group. This group is professionally facilitated by a psychotherapist with lived experience of managing ADHD as well as by a psychotherapy intern. 

Offered in-person 

W2025 dates/times: Wednesdays from 1:30-3:00pm, January 29th to March 12th (excluding February 19th)

Register for Navigating University with ADHD

This professionally facilitated therapy group is for students who are struggling to manage overwhelming emotions. It is designed to help you deal with crises and teaches you to control unhelpful behaviours. 

At the end of this group, you will learn:

• Why you may be struggling to manage your emotions
• To describe and understand the function of your emotions so you can better regulate them
• How to reduce your tendency to get swept away by overwhelming emotions
• How to implement concrete strategies, including mindfulness, to improve your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours so that you are no longer feeling overwhelmed

W2025 dates/times: Wednesdays 1:30-3:00pm, February 26th to April 2nd

Offered in-person

Register for Managing Powerful Emotions

This professionally facilitated group is designed to help students with autism succeed in a university environment.  This group takes the view  that there is no one “normal” or “right” brain.  There are diverse forms of processing social information, cognitions, and sensory information. In the same way that there isn’t a “right” gender, race, class, or sexual orientation, there isn’t a “right” way for the brain to be wired. Neurodiversity can be a powerful asset for society, a business, or a family. However, it does pose more challenging trying to operate in a system like a university, that is designed only for “neuro typical” brains.  

In this group you will have an opportunity to come together with other autistic students to: 

• Share common concerns and Identify challenges you may experience at university and learn/share coping strategies. 
• Gain the supports of a community who understands exactly what you are experiencing. 
• Identify and share your strengths to increase your self-esteem. 
• Explore topics like identifying and managing emotions, relationship issues, masking, stimming, sensitivities and more.

W2025 dates/times: Tuesdays 3:30-5:30pm, January 28th to March 25th (excluding February 20th)

Offered virtually

Register for Navigating University with Autism 

This psycho-educational group will be a mix of theory and  practice. It is for students who want to improve their focus and decrease signs of anxiety and stress, without having to spend hours in sitting meditation.  During each of the weeks, you will get the opportunity to experience a variety of mindfulness exercises (e.g., body scan, mindful eating, and mindful self-compassion) in an environment that allows you to ask questions and receive feedback. Many of them do not require you to sit still!  The group also provides accountability to keep you on track as you integrate the practice of ‘mindfulness-based stress reduction’ into your daily life. You will  learn ways to regulate your mood and improve focus during stress filled times.    

In this group, you will: 

• Learn the theory and practice of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: a clinically supported program for alleviating stress, anxiety, panic, and improving  focus and signs of depression.  
• Learn how to focus on the present moment to permanently change the way you handle stress. 
• Practice a variety of formal and informal mindfulness techniques.  

W2025 dates/times: Wednesdays 4:00-5:30pm, January 29 to March 12 (excluding February 19th)

Offered in-person

Register for Overwhelm, Stress and Anxiety

This professionally facilitated group is a safe space for students who have experienced sexual violence. Through support and education, you will get an opportunity to gain skills and strengths that build resiliency and lead to a sense of self-empowerment.

At the end of this group, you will:

• Understand the impact of sexual violence
• Develop effective coping skills to deal with the emotional aftermath
• Explore issues such as trust, intimacy, setting boundaries, assertiveness, and positive body image

W2025 dates/times: Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm from January 28 to March 25th (excluding February 18th)

Offered in-person

Email pegasus.group@queensu.ca to register.

This is a bi-weekly therapeutic creative writing circle open to all 2SLGBTQ+ students.  This group uses writing as a way to deepen self-exploration and experiences as queer folx navigate the world.  It offers opportunities for quiet self-reflection and privacy, as well as options to share with the group and engage in discussion.  Facilitated by 2SLGBTQ+ psychotherapist Shannon (they/them).

W2025 dates/times: Mondays 4:30-6:30pm (bi-weekly starting January 13th)

Find out more on the Yellow House events calendar.

Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers put together Fresh Food Boxes that contain all the fresh produce and key ingredients to prepare a quick, easy and healthy recipe which makes approximately 4 servings.  

Cost: $5.00 per student

W2025 dates/times: January 30th, March 6th and April 3rd from 1:00-4:00pm

*Registration opens 1 week before the session dates 

Visit events calendar to register 

Join Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers for this hands-on educational workshop that covers nutrition basics, how to meal plan and create grocery lists.  Participants will head out to grocery shop at Food Basics together and each student will be given a gift card to purchase food. 

Cost: $5.00 per student

W2025 dates/times: February 4th and March 11th from 5:30-8:30pm

*Registration opens 1 week before the session dates 

Visit events calendar to register 

Peer Health Educators have recorded webinars and podcasts to help students increase their health-related knowledge. Topics include: financial literacy, sexual health, mental health, healthy eating, interviews with predominant professors on campus, and more!

• Rest & Relaxation Webinar:
• Sexual Health Webinar:
• Mental Fitness Webinar:
• Substance Use Webinar:
• Financial Literacy Podcasts:
• Healthy Eating Webinars:

Join our Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers and/or student staff for a 60 minute interactive cooking session to learn how to prepare a quick, easy, inexpensive and healthy recipe.  Upon registration, students will receive the location, time and safety details.  All students are welcome, regardless of your skill level in the kitchen.

Cost: $10.00 per student

W2025 dates/times: January 23rd, February 27th and March 7th from 5:30-8:00pm

*Registration opens 1 week before the session dates 

Visit events calendar to register 

Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers put together Mason Jar Meals for students to order and pick up on campus. Mason Jar Meals contains all the ingredients and spices to prepare a quick, easy and healthy soup or stew.

Cost: FREE

W2025 dates/times: January 16th, February 13th, March 20th and April 17th from 1:00-4:00pm

*Registration opens 1 week before the session dates  

Visit events calendar to register 

Join our Peer Health Educator (PHE) volunteers for weekly beginner/intermediate runs during the fall and/or winter terms if you want to start running, increase your distance, improve your time, and/or simply find some running buddies.

How to sign-up:

1. Visit gogaelsgo.com and select "Recreation"
2. Select Register for a Rec Club
3. Register for a QRec Clubs account or sign-in
4. Upon completing registration, you will receive an email
5. Follow the link in the email to pay your club fee
6. Attend your rec club events; our runs!

To receive regular updates on the run club or for more information, follow @queens_run_club on Instagram and/or email qrun@queensu.ca

Join our St. John’s Ambulance (SJA) Therapy Dog Oscar and his handler John as they wander through the Mitchell Hall atrium and Student Life Centre.  

See events calendar for Dogs on Campus dates/times.

Unable to join us on campus? Check out some .

This interactive training in suicide first aid teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety.

At the end of this 2-day training, participants will:

• Be able to recognize when someone is having thoughts of suicide
• Be able to work with someone who is having thoughts of suicide to create a plan to support their immediate safety
• Develop important skills to keep someone with thoughts of suicide safe for now through audio-visual learning aids, discussion, and practice
• Recognize other important aspects of suicide prevention including life promotion and self-care

All participants must attend both full days.  Participants will receive program materials including a workbook and a certificate of completion.

Queen’s University subsidizes cost for LivingWorks Trainings to increase accessibility for staff, faculty, and students.  

The standardized pricing for non-students, staff, or faculty is $250+tax. 

W2025 dates/times: February 19-20 from 8:30am-4:30pm

2024-25 costs: $65+tax for students, $95+tax for staff/faculty 

The purpose of this workshop is to give students, staff and faculty a chance to understand and appreciate health from a holistic lens. Participants will reflect on what they are currently doing and learn evidence-based practices to proactively take care of themselves and approaches to managing stress. During the session, participants will learn how to create an action plan that they can implement easily into their current habits.  

By the end of this workshop, participants will: 

• Learn about the different dimensions of wellness  
• Identify how your feelings, thoughts, and behaviours differ along the mental health spectrum 
• Gain knowledge of different strategies to maintain wellness and manage stress 
• Create your own action plan around health behaviours 
• Explore wellness resources available to you 

W2025 dates/times: March 5 from 3:00-4:30pm

Cost: free

Offered in-person

Not able to attend this training? Take the 

This training gives an overview of what contributes to stigma and the various types that exist. Participants will learn how prevalent mental illness is among students on campus and discuss the impact stigma can have on people living with a mental illness. Using lived experience videos, interactive case studies and discussion, participants will learn how to spot stigma using the S.T.O.P approach and learn how to stand up and/or speak up against stigma using a bystander intervention model.

At the end of this training, participants will:

• Increase knowledge and awareness of mental illness
• Gain insight into the various components of stigma and its' impact
• Learn how to spot subtle and over stigma
• Learn approaches that help you stand up and speak out against stigma  

Cost: free

Available to groups upon request (please email mhp.sws@queensu.ca)

The purpose of this session is to help students, staff and faculty recognize when someone is struggling with their mental health and what to do to support them.  Participants will learn about the dual continuum model for mental health and be given strategies to help someone who is in immediate distress and/or in crisis. Practical tips on what to say and do will be discussed so participants leave the session knowing how to connect someone with the appropriate resources.

At the end of this training, participants will:

• Gain mental health literacy skills
• Be able to recognize when someone is in distress
• Know steps to take to help someone with a mental health problem
• Discover what mental health resources exist on campus and in the community

Cost: free

2024-25 dates/times: Wed. Jan. 22 from 11:00am-12:00pm

Offered virtually 

Register for Identifying and Responding to Someone in Distress

Not able to attend this training?  Content is available in our

We do not offer MHFA on campus however you can through the .

As an alternative to MHFA, your group/department may benefit from bundling some of our existing trainings into a 1-day professional development session.  By taking Identifying and Responding to Someone in Distress (1.5 hours), How to Spot, Speak Out and Stand Up to Stigma (1.5 hours) and safeTALK suicide alertness (3 hours), participants would gain mental health knowledge, learn effective helping skills, and better understand campus and community resources.  By also taking Caring for Present and Future You (1 hour), participants would be better equipped to take care of their own mental well-being.

We invite you to reach out directly to discuss a customized session that would best support your training needs at mhp.sws@queensu.ca.

This 2-hour self-directed evidence-based online training module introduces learners to a four-step model for helping keep someone safe from suicide.  It uses simulations and interactive videos to build and practice helping skills.  

By the end of this training, participants will:

• Learn the importance of suicide alertness
• Learn how to recognize people who are having thoughts of suicide
• Be able to connect people who are having thoughts of suicide with resources.

2024-25 Costs: $40 for students, $50 for staff/faculty 

Available to groups upon request using the form above.  Because this is a standardized training, we recommend that groups pair this with a 30-minute live debrief to review campus and community resources with one of our safeTALK trainers.

This training prepares participants to recognize when people are having thoughts of suicide and connect them to intervention resources.  Powerful videos illustrate the importance of suicide alertness, while discussion and practice stimulate learning.

 At the end of this training, participants will be better able to:

• Move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss, or avoid suicide,
• Recognize people who are having thoughts of suicide, and
• Apply the TALK steps to connect a person with thoughts of suicide to a suicide first-aid intervention caregiver

Queen’s University subsidizes cost for LivingWorks Trainings to increase accessibility for staff, faculty, and students.  

The standardized pricing for non-students, staff, or faculty is $60+tax

W2025 dates/times: January 30 from 1:00-4:00pm

Offered in-person

2024-25 costs: $20+tax for students and $30+tax for staff/faculty

This workshop will help support a successful EL experience, by offering an opportunity to proactively reflect on what might be stressful and how to manage those challenges. The session will include a mix of lecture, small group discussion and independent reflect to create a personalized self-care plan.

At the end of this training, participants will be better able to:

• Understand the stress response
• Determine how to maintain empathy while setting healthy boundaries
• Develop personal positive coping strategies to support your well-being
• Learn about resources available to support your mental health
   

This training is only available to groups upon request using the form above.