Staff member Adriano De Oliveira Macedo is a culture of wellness champion at the Department of Economics. Since earning a certificate in the Science of Well-Being, he has been behind several initiatives designed to promote positive mental health habits and resilience building among members of the economics community at the University of Toronto. In March, he designed and implemented a weeklong program of micro-events centred around International Day of Happiness. These micro-events engaged students, staff, and faculty in brief, fun-filled activity moments in which they shared their positive mottos, shared chocolate, and learned more about turning evidence-based keys to happiness.
Macedo’s interventions are inspired by a growing body of global research into the links between mental health and academic culture. One study of Swedish PhD students, for example, found that PhD students accessed mental-health services less often than the general population before they started their programs, but accessed them by the same rate by the time they ended their studies. Over the past several months, Macedo has interviewed five PhD students with the department about the skills they have developed, tools they access, and mindsets they cultivate to dealt with the pressures of their work.
The result is a series of five articles that reference immediate and practical steps students can take as they navigate the very difficult tasks that deep engagement in academic work demands. At the same time, respecting that everyone’s experiences are different and mixed solutions, try what feels right approach, may be required.
“After completing my Graduate Certification in Human Resources Management in 2016, I became deeply interested in happiness and well-being,” Macedo said. “Since then, I’ve been part of various initiatives aimed at inspiring people to develop greater self-awareness and resilience. I saw an opportunity to create an initiative where students could share their personal stories of dealing with stress, hoping to inspire others to embrace well-being as an essential aspect of their lives.”
Macedo’s interview with Devin Bissky Dziadyk highlights the need to evaluate research ideas early, to work regular hours, and to take some kind of physical exercise.
Learning to appreciate the happiness small things, like a good book or movie, can bring is how Anubha Agarwal manages her work while being far from the home and family she grew up with.
Anthony McCanny works in the new field of happiness economics. He talks about navigating his 20s while trying different things without feeling the need to figure it all. This freedom has made him happy.
Throughout her career as a student, Olivia Yu has maintained her creative practices through playing violin, drawing, and painting.
Macedo and Renato Zimmerman talked about the realities of PhD life and keeping curiosity at its centre.
In closing out this series of articles, Macedo was clear about what he hoped to achieve and what he learned from the interviewing and writing experience.
“In a high-pressure academic environment, it is crucial to create spaces for reflection and self-awareness, Macedo said. “Through this initiative, I wanted to give students a voice to share how they were coping with strategies for balancing life and study and their stress and mental health, fostering a sense of community and encouraging others to take active steps towards their well-being.”
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