Universities across the region working to raise awareness around mental health

From March 14-25, 2016, Mount Allison University students will join their peers at universities across Atlantic Canada in the MoodCheck Challenge.

Initiated by the student mental health working group of the Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU), students at nine participating universities will be encouraged to ‘check-in’ with their mood, using the MoodCheck app. The goal is to motivate students to be mindful about how the things they do affect the way they feel. This increased awareness is known to be a strong predictor of improved mental health and well-being.

“We’re really excited to be part of the MoodCheck Challenge at Mount Allison,” says Karen Geldart, the University’s mental health educator. “The more we talk about these issues and challenges and ‘check in’ with our moods, the easier it is to address the stigma around mental health and illness.”

Twice a day, at random times, participating students’ phones will prompt them to check in and enter their mood, the activity they are taking part in, where they are, and who they are with.

Students will gain points each time they check in on the app, and gain bonus points the more often they check in. At the end of the challenge, the university with the most points will receive a $1,500 donation to be used toward a campus mental wellness initiative.
Universities participating in the MoodCheck Challenge include Acadia University, Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Mount Allison University, Mount Saint Vincent University, St. Thomas University, University of King’s College, University of New Brunswick, and University of Prince Edward Island.

The MoodCheck app is part of a larger program called WellTrack, which was developed by Dr. Darren Piercey, a psychology professor at the University of New Brunswick. The program provides students with a number of online tools and resources aimed at helping them manage stress, anxiety, depression, and some phobias. Many of the universities participating in the MoodCheck Challenge are already using the WellTrack program as part of their wellness supports for students. For those universities who were not already using the program, WellTrack is offering free usage for the challenge.

More information about the MoodCheck Challenge can be found at mun.ca/moodcheckchallenge. The MoodCheck app is available for free on iTunes and for Android devices.

The MoodCheck challenge results will be announced on Tuesday, March 29.