Mindful Campus
Mindful Campus is an innovative initiative led by OCAD University in collaboration with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies and post-secondary art and design institutions across Canada. These include Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design (NSCAD) University, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Funded by a nearly $4 million grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada, through the Supporting the Mental Health of Those Most Impacted by COVID program, Mindful Campus aimed to provide students with essential tools for resilience and well-being.
Government and Institutional Support
On February 21, The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, emphasized the importance of Mindful Campus in addressing mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Our government recognizes that the pandemic has added greatly to the pre-existing mental health and substance use challenges that many students and young people face. Today’s funding to the Mindful Campus Initiative will empower students across Canada to learn healthy coping skills, build resilience, and support one another as we continue to adapt to challenging and evolving times.”
— The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health.
OCAD University leadership echoed this sentiment, highlighting the program’s relevance in today’s socio-economic climate:
“As we emerge from the pandemic, students continue to face an uncertain world with climate change, rising housing costs, inflation, and political conflicts. Mindful Campus is designed to help students develop resilience and coping skills to meet life’s challenges and truly flourish. We are grateful to the Public Health Agency of Canada for investing in the health and well-being of students and to our partners for supporting this program.”— Deanne Fisher, Vice-Provost, Students & International, OCAD University.
Empowering Students through Mindfulness
Designed to support emerging creatives in navigating today’s complex world, Mindful Campus integrates mindfulness-based interventions tailored for art and design students. The Centre for Mindfulness Studies played a key role in designing and delivering the initiative’s psychological health and well-being program. The program adopted a multi-faceted approach which includes:
- The Everyday Mindfulness Video Series, introducing foundational mindfulness concepts
- The Mindfulness for Resilience Program (MRP), a live in-person and online mindfulness program
- Community-focused Initiatives, such as Mindful Gathering Spaces and on-campus events, providing students with opportunities to connect and practice mindfulness in a supportive environment
- Peer and Staff Training, fostering sustainability of Mindful Campus
Initially piloted at OCAD University in March 2023, the program expanded to partner institutions in Fall 2023 and Winter 2024.
A Transformative Impact on Student Well-being
Mindful Campus has made a lasting impact by fostering a culture of mindfulness and well-being within creative education. A key highlight has been the capacity-building component, successfully training 82 staff members and 26 student peer facilitators across four partner institutions. These facilitators serve as mindfulness ambassadors, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability and long-term impact on campus life.
The initiative has also addressed broader student needs, including food insecurity, by integrating meals and grocery packs into Mindful Gathering Spaces and events. These creative adaptations have strengthened student engagement and demonstrated responsiveness to their evolving needs.
Community-driven activities like Mindful Gathering Spaces and on-campus events were particularly effective in engaging students and fostering meaningful connections. The program’s approach also extended to addressing broader student needs, such as food insecurity, by providing meals and grocery packs during events. Such creative adaptations demonstrated the program’s responsiveness to student needs.
By integrating mindfulness into everyday campus life and prioritizing community-driven initiatives, the Mindful Campus Initiative has created a model for promoting resilience and well-being in the post-secondary environment.
