Caring For Yourself During Your Program

Caring for your mental health is a continuous process of prioritizing and taking steps to maintain your emotional well-being while navigating a new environment. In this section, you will find key aspects of caring for your mental health during your residency at Banff Centre.

Self Care Practice

While supporting friends and family may come naturally, it's equally important to dedicate time to building your own self-care practice. This may include key elements such as getting enough sleep, physical activity and adequate nutrition, and grow into a daily gratitude practice or setting achievable goals. Supporting yourself through whichever way you choose is fundamental to your health and wellbeing.

A regular self-care practice develops thoughts and actions which strengthen your resilience; that ability to 'bounce back' from daily challenges. It is about building self-compassion, flexibility and emotional regulation so that you may approach mistakes and criticisms as opportunities to grow.

  • Create a new routine
  • Try to wake up at the same time every day.
  • Plan your day: It is about creating a nice balance between your program obligations, your work, your other life responsibilities, and your down-time.
  • Remember the basics: Eat nutritious food (ideally 3 meals/day); take breaks; drink plenty of water; move your body (e.g., exercise). And leave time for other self-care activities like spending time outside and practicing calming breathing techniques.
  • Set time aside every day to check in with yourself - on your physical, emotional and cognitive state.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Banff Centre campus and its surroundings. Find a map; walk around; get to know the physical space.
  • Identify activities, resources, and services available to you on campus or in the Banff townsite (see below).

Accessing Mental Health Resources

Ask for help! Please contact Participant Resources to make an appointment with our psychologist (for on-campus participants and faculty only) or refer to our online resources and urgent help pages for more options.

Supporting Someone Else

Mental health struggles require significant strength and energy from those experiencing it and their surrounding support network of friends and family. If you fear that someone you know may be struggling and/or in distress, learn how to recognize the signs and actions you could take to support them. If one of your fellow participants are in distress during your residency please let us or a pro

ALGEE developed by Mental Health First Aid Canada

Assess the risk of suicide or harm

Listen non-judgementally

Give reassurance and information

Encourage the person to get appropriate help

Encourage self-help and other supports

For information on specific actions to reach out to a friend in need, visit Mind Your Mind, and don't forget your own self care while supporting others.

Nature Is Healing!

Developed specifically to accompany Participant Resources' mental health and wellness programming for Banff Centre participants, the material below outline the mental health benefits of nature, social connection, and physical activity. Whether your self-care practice is a solo hike, a group run, or a movie night with friends there are numerous benefits to taking the time to pause and recharge.

Nature, Green Space and Mental Health

Social Connection and Mental Health

Suggested Activities at Banff Centre and In Banff

Free

Walter Phillips Gallery – Current Art Gallery Exhibit

Sally Borden – Gym, Climbing, Pool, Hot Tub, Steam Room

Library – Help On The Shelf, board games, outdoor gear, binoculars, LPs and Vinyl Players

Tunnel Mountain Lounge – Kitchen and dining room facility, host a dinner or potluck

Fire Pit - Contact Participant Resources 24 hours in advance to book

Attend a Banff Centre concert or event

Hikes – Parks Canada Visitor Centre for more information on hiking trails, conditions, and wildlife safety. See Participant Resources to borrow Bear Spray.

Public History – Lower Bankhead Interpretive Loop, Banff Merman at Trading Post, Historical Walking Tour

Banff Recreation Grounds – fire pits, tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, skateboard park, picnic table sites, sports field

Cascade Pond – picnic table sites, fire pits

Johnson Lake – hike, picnic tables sites, small beach

Bird watching – Cave and Basin Marsh Loop, Vermilion Lakes

 

Paid

MacLab – Get a coffee, casual meal and/or drink

Banff Upper Hot Springs

Banff Gondola: Sulphur Mountain

Museums:

Lux Cinema

Eureka Banff Escape Room Adventures

Bowling – Fairmont Banff Springs and High Rollers

Banff Trail Riders – Horseback riding (summer) / Horse Sleigh Ride (winter)

Norquay – Skiing and Tubing (winter), Via ferrata (summer)

Lake Louise – Skiing and Skating (winter), Hiking and Canoeing (summer)

Sunshine – Ski Hill (winter), Hiking & Meadows (summer)

Public skating – The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre

Renting:

  • Snowtips Bactrax – Bear Spray, Bike, Camping (tent and accessories), Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing, Skates, Fat Bikes, Snowshoes, Winter Jackets and Pants, Crampons, Helmets, Backcountry Equipment,
  • Chateau Mountain Sports – Alpine Skis, boots, poles, boards, cross country ski gear, skates, helmets, snowshoes and boots, sleds and ice cleats. E-Bikes, Bikes, Fat Bikes.
  • Ultimate Sports – Bike, Skis, Poles, Boots, Boards
  • Banff Cycle – Bikes, E-Bikes
  • Black Diamond Bike Rentals – Bike and Stand Up Paddle Board
  • Banff Canoe Club – Canoeing, Kayaking, Stand Up Paddle Board, Cruiser Bikes
  • Car Rental – Avis, Budget, Enterprise