Helping with the Journey to Mental Wellness: Meet Alfiya Fazil Thangal and Raja Hemchand Nishankarrao

At CBU, the Nancy Dingwall Health and Counselling Centre offers a whole host of mental, emotional and physical wellness supports and resources. Among them are the weekly Mental Health Peer Support Group meetings where a group of students, led by student peer facilitators, gather in a supportive, safe space, offering the opportunity to talk to and learn from one another’s lived experiences.

Two of this year’s student peer facilitators are Alfiya Fazil Thangal, a second-year Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Supply Chain Management student and Raja Hemchand Nishankarrao, a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Health Care Management student currently in his final semester. 

Originally from Oman in the Middle East, Alfiya stumbled upon CBU when searching for her post-secondary path. After exploring the campus virtually, reading student and employee stories and analyzing the many student services and intricate details of the programs, she fell in love and knew it would be the place for her. In September, 2023, Alfiya made the big move and is now happily located in Cape Breton, where she is in the second year of her Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Supply Chain Management. 

A little over a year into her journey, Alfiya finds it difficult to pinpoint what her favourite part has been so far. “It is so hard to pick just one thing because I have been so lucky,” she says. “Among the many things, I have been a Lead Facilitator for the Mental Health Peer Support Group here on campus, as well as the Social Media Strategist for the Nancy Dingwall Health and Counselling Centre (NDHCC). The local Cape Breton community has also been so kind and welcoming, it’s been really wonderful.”

Raja, who hails from a small town in the southern part of India known as Guntur, was initially driven to CBU thanks to the Health Care Management program and his drive to learn more about others’ culture and way of life. This mission to better acquaint himself with the diversity of the world also made the opportunity to become a student peer facilitator with the NDHCC too good to pass up. His community-minded nature extends beyond CBU as well, as he has joined Grand Lake Road’s Station 4 as a volunteer firefighter.

“Cape Breton has been a home far away from home for me,” says Raja. “My favourite part about my time with CBU so far has been my work with the NDHCC, but the best part of my experience so far has been the people of Cape Breton, who have been among the kindest I have ever met in my life.”

By getting involved with the mental health resources offered at CBU, Alfiya hopes to make a positive impact and help in establishing a culture of support and understanding. “Each semester, I’ve witnessed transformative journeys. The way some students have come together to support each other is beautiful,” she shares. “I have found that, initially, students come into these peer support groups filled with nervous energy and hesitant to connect. Yet, by the semester’s end, they walk out with more confidence, having created lasting connections.”

A major CBU event that Raja continues to champion is De-Stress Fest, a week dedicated to providing students with a variety of events designed to help them wind down before exams begin. He has also found the workshops hosted by the NDHCC particularly helpful in his own wellness journey. 

With the 15th Bell Let’s Talk Day having taken place this month, Alfiya and Raja believe it’s important that CBU continues to recognize mental health initiatives on campus. They feel that the stigma surrounding mental health is unfortunately still alive and well, but raising awareness, promoting support and getting the proper information out there is an effective way to combat this.

From Alfiya and Raja’s experiences as facilitators, they believe many people are still afraid to ask for help out of fear of being judged by others. They emphasize that CBU deeply values confidentiality and has worked tirelessly to create a safe and judgement-free environment where individuals can feel comfortable reaching out and openly sharing their struggles. 

Alfiya felt inspired to share a final message with those who may be struggling silently and unsure of how to move forward. “Reach out for help. The bravest thing you can do is ask for help,” she says. “You don’t have to struggle alone or feel judged; we are here for you and there are lots of resources within the community to help you. Your feelings are valid, and your struggles are worthy of compassion and support.”

The Mental Health Peer Support Group meets every Thursday from 11:45am-12:45pm and all are welcome. For any additional questions about the group meetings or mental health resources at CBU, please reach out to the Nancy Dingwall Health and Counselling Centre by calling 902-563-1359 or emailing healthservices@cbu.ca.