Holiday Support

With COVID-19 restrictions preventing travel across Canada and much of the world, we understand that our students may need additional support and connection opportunities over the upcoming holiday season. 

We've compiled the following list of offerings from within and around the McGill community to help you feel supported, connected, and joyful during the holidays. 

One-on-One Support

Although the University will be closed over the break, you can still access support. The Student Wellness Hub wants everyone to know that you are not alone this holiday season.

McGill students who are in the province of Quebec with an active student ID and mail.mcgill.ca email can connect with a qualified mental health professional during this time. These appointments are here to help you find relief from current emotional distress, explore coping strategies, and safely assist you with managing any immediate need.

Hub appointments for well-being support

• Well-being support appointments at the Hub will be available between December 24^th and January 3^rd from 9 am to 5 pm, via videoconferencing or telephone.
• Please note, these are not clinical appointments. Our aim is to assist you in finding coping strategies and support services available to you. If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 9-1-1 or consult our online resources
• Click here to book your appointment

keep.meSAFE

If you're feeling overwhelmed and need support, Keep.meSAFE , an online resource available through SSMU, can connect you with counselling by fully licensed professionals 24/7. Support is available worldwide, in more than 60 languages. Whether you're looking for someone to talk to regularly, or just need to vent by chat before your exam, Keep.meSAFE can provide you with the support you need. 

Mentoring Circles

Mentoring Circles are a new way for students who are looking to build connections and community over the holidays. Campus Life & Engagement and McGill Alumni Association have teamed up on this new offering specifically to help students through the 2020 holiday season by partnering them with young alumni in a variety of industries, to not only improve career and personal development but also to create new connections with recent grads just like you. 

To learn more and to register, visit the CL&E website. 

Student Quarantine Connection 

The Quarantine Student Connection Group will run through the holidays to support students in isolation across Canada. The Quarantine Student Connection group is a part of the keep.meSAFE family, and exists to provide connection for students in mandatory isolation.  If you are in a quarantine period because of travel, exposure, or any other reason, join the group to meet other students in the same situation! Sessions are free, last 30 minutes  and are only held in English. 

Library E-Resources

Looking for an alternative to Netflix this holiday season? Haven’t read something just for fun in a while? McGill students have 24/7 access to some great e-resources found at the Library including streaming video and audio, colouring books, games, e-books on health and wellness topics, and digital exhibitions.

Healthier McGill Holiday Programming

The Student Wellness Hub is offering a month of special programming to support you through the exam period and the holidays.  Whether you're looking for help managing exam stress, cozy holiday recipes, or advice on setting and keeping New Year's goals, the Student Wellness Hub is there to support you! 

• Visit the Remote Workshops & Programming page to register for special events!
• Check out the Hub's On-Demand Programming to learn about stress management, managing test anxiety, and more, from Hub professionals and Peer Health Ambassadors.
• Follow Healthier McGill on Instagram and Facebook for up to date information and special holiday content!

Athletics McGill 

Stay engaged and keep moving with McGill Recreation! The McGill Sports Centre will be closed from Thursday December 24 to Sunday January 3 inclusive.  However, Starting Monday December 21, McGill Recreation will be offering a variety of on-line content including fitness classes, board game nights, baking challenges, and outdoor activity challenges. New activities will be available daily on the McGill Recreation Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Drop-in activities will resume on Monday, January 4, including badminton, individual basketball, jogging on the indoor track, tennis, lap swim, and skating at the McConnell arena.

11 Days of Reflection

The end of the year often invites a pause for reflection. It’s a great time to take stock of the year behind and look ahead. McGill Career Planning Service invites you to write and reflect on daily reflection questions for eleven days over the holidays. They've created a helpful guide to help you to delve deeper into determining your skills and strengths and focus on career aspirations. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Staying in Montreal and hoping to give back to the community? The McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (MORSL) has compiled an extensive list of volunteer opportunities around the island to help you help your fellow humans this season. 

Spiritual Resources from MORSL  

If you're looking for a religious community or spiritual support during the holidays, or just have questions about religion or spirituality, check out MORSL's list of online resources and faith-based podcasts. They can help you find an online place of worship to observe the holidays with, or just offer you resources to feel more connected to your faith community!

Holiday Cheap Sheet  

Celebrating the holidays on a budget? The Frugal Scholar has compiled a Holiday Cheap Sheet, where you can find cheap and free resources around Montreal for holiday activities, restaurants, movies, and more that won't break the bank. If you're staying in Montreal for the holidays for the first time, the Cheap Sheet is an essential guide to having a good time on a student budget!