Covid-19

As UBC continues to navigate the situation regarding COVID-19, we recognize that members of our community may have questions and concerns.

Within British Columbia, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the BC Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Vancouver Coastal Health are leading the coordinated response to COVID-19. UBC continues to take direction from the BC Provincial Government as we plan and consider next steps.

This website contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to appointments, immigration, professional development, Tri-Agency funding, and more.

You are also encouraged to visit https://covid19.ubc.ca/ for the latest updates regarding COVID-19 and UBC's response.

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, and in support of physical distancing, the PDFO Reception is currently closed and it is not possible to make in-person visits to our office. During this time, we ask that Postdoctoral Fellows, faculty and staff contact our office by email. We will do our best to respond in a timely manner, but may have limited capacity due to a high volume of emails.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Please direct any questions about your Postdoctoral Fellowship appointment to your department administrator.

BENEFITS, HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Medical Services Plan (MSP) Response to COVID-19

The Government of British Columbia has announced temporary changes to aspects of the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) during the COVID-19 outbreak. Please refer to the Government of BC website for detailed information about MSP coverage.

Internal UBC Resources:

Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) - Free Confidential Counselling and Support Services

Mental health resources are available for currently-appointed UBC Postdoctoral Fellows through the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). This confidential and voluntary counselling support service, provided through Morneau Shepell, is available in multiple languages and formats, and counsellors can help with a range of issues including stress, depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. The Morneau Shepell Care Access Centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-387-4765 or through workhealthlife.com.

Mindfulness and Meditation

The UBC community offers a number of opportunities to learn mindfulness and practice meditation in the 30-Day Online Mindfulness Challenge and Meditation groups at UBC. Visit the UBC Human Resources website for information and meditation resources.

Substance Use and Addiction Support Resources

For people who struggle with substance use and addictions, it can sometimes be difficult to seek out help and support. If you are looking for help, or you want to support someone you know in finding assistance, the following resources are available.

Resilient Living™ Recovery

UBC HR has partnered with Boreal Wellness Centres Inc. to offer Resilient Living™ Recovery, anon-12 step, mindfulness-based addiction treatment program to help reduce or stop problematic substance use. The program is available to staff, faculty, and their dependents, who are experiencing mild to moderate problematic substance use. Resilient Living™ Recovery uses a values-based approach that consists of motivational interviewing and developing a resilient living plan. Participants will learn about healthier coping strategies, managing relapse triggers, and increasing resiliency.

On-Demand Substance Use Support by ALAViDA TRAiL

The ALAViDA TRAiL is your one-stop-shop to a life where you’re in control of your relationship with substances - no matter if you're just curious, or facing mild, moderate or severe challenges. You can access ALAViDA directly from your smartphone. No awkward conversations, no shame and 100% confidential.

Learn through self-guided resources, or message and meet coaches, therapists and physicians who deliver a personalized program proven to reduce substance use. All supported by a wide range of digital resources – from journaling to activities that help you reach your goals. Along the way, master vital coping skills to manage depression, anxiety and difficult emotions.

Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace: Not Myself Today

Since 2015, UBC has been an active participant of the Canadian Mental Health Association's Not Myself Today (NMT) Initiative. NMT includes digital toolkits and activities, online learning tools, and resources.

For more information, visit the Central Human Resources website.

UBC Mental Health and Wellbeing Events and Resources

UBC Human Resources offers a series of free health and wellbeing events and resources. For more information and to register, visit the Central HR website and the Healthy UBC Newsletter online or subscribe to the emailed Healthy UBC newsletter.

Free External Resources:

24/7 BC Crisis Centre

The BC Crisis Centre provides confidential, non-judgmental, free emotional support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Their Distress Services are a resource where youth and adults in distress can:

GET HELP by having a real-time online chat with a trained volunteer, or by getting email support from the Crisis Centre’s professional staff
LEARN MORE about common issues and concerns such as bullying, disordered eating, depression and self-harm
FIND RESOURCES by connecting to our online library of useful websites and community resources

Phone Support

The Crisis Centre's Phone Distress Services are available if you are worried about something, feel upset or confused, or you just want to talk to someone. The phone lines below are available in over 140 languages using a language service.

Greater Vancouver: 604-872-3311
Toll Free: 1-866-661-3311
1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
TTY: 1-866-872-0113
Senior’s Distress: 604-872-1234
1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433

Web Support

CrisisCentreChat.ca is a web-based hotline for adults (25+) in distress where they can access free, confidential, non-judgmental support (noon – 1am, 7 days a week) from dedicated volunteers, supported by a small team of professional staff.

24/7 Crisis Services Canada

Crisis Services Canada provides a safe place to talk - any time, in your own way. If you are having thoughts of suicide, you don’t have to face them alone. This service is available if you need a safe and judgement free place to talk. Our responders are here to listen to you, support you, and keep you safe. Crisis Services Canada can help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and connect you with local support resources, but are ultimately here to listen and share this difficult moment with you.

Phone: 1.833.456.4566 - available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Text Message: Send a text to 45645 - available 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM Eastern Time. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Online Support Programs

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) offers a number of free online mental health support programs. These programs include:

BounceBack: Offers weekly calls and homework with a personal coach to combat depression, anxiety, stress, and worry.
Living Life to the Full: An interactive, 8-week online course based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy delivered in 90-minute sessions. Available for adults and for youth ages 13-18.

The CMHA is regularly adding support resources to their website. Please visit the CMHA website for more information and to access these supports.

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Helpline

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use their chat box below to connect with a counsellor on-line

Experienced and culturally competent Help Line counsellors can help if you:

want to talk
are distressed
have strong emotional reactions
are triggered by painful memories

If asked, counsellors can also work with you to find other wellness supports that are available near you

Phone and chat counselling is available in English and French. On request, phone counselling is also available in:

Cree
Ojibway
Inuktitut

HealthLink BC

HealthLink BC's health service navigators can help you find health information or health services, or connect you with a nurse, dietitian, exercise professional, or pharmacist. Translation services are available in over 130 languages. To get service in another language, simply state the language you are looking for (example say “Punjabi”), and an interpreter will join the call.

Call 8-1-1 to speak with a navigator anytime of the day or night. If your telephone service provider is not able to support the 8-1-1 number, the service can be accessed by calling 604-215-8110.

Medimap BC

Medimap.ca is Canada's largest and fastest growing online resource for connecting patients with same-day access to care. Currently, over 900 medical clinics in 5 provinces update their wait times to Medimap.ca in order to improve access to care for their patients.

Substance Use and Addiction Support Resources

The following community resources are available to provide substance use and addiction support:

HealthLink BC: Mental health and substance use information
StopOverdoseBC.ca: Overdose awareness and support
Toward the Heart (BC Centre for Disease Control): Harm reduction and overdose response
Here to Help: Mental health and alcohol and other drug use information

Wellness Together Canada

Wellness Together Canada provides connections to mental health and substance use support, resources, and counselling with a mental health professional. This hub allows you to choose from a variety of resources to motivate and support your wellness journey. Wellness Together Canada provides tailored support programs and general resources for adults and for youth.

Visit the Wellness Together website for additional information and supports.

Articles and Info Sheets

COVID-19 and Anxiety (Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division)
Mental Health First Aid - COVID-19 Self-Care & Resilience Guide (.PDF Document) (Mental Health Commission of Canada)
Wellbeing Resources for Postdoctoral Fellows (.PDF Document)

CHILDCARE

Childcare at UBC is managed by UBC Child Care Services. Please refer to their website for COVID-19 news and updates. Child Care Services has also created a frequently-asked questions document (.PDF format) with information and updates on a wide range of COVID-19-related questions and concerns.

Are there any other resources for finding child care at UBC Vancouver?
Faculty, staff and students in Vancouver who are looking for childcare support in their homes can post a request on the CareersOnline job board, which is available to match diploma and certificate students in the Faculty of Education’s Early Childhood Education program (who are experienced caregivers and have current criminal record checks). To use this service, faculty, staff and students can create an employer profile on CareersOnline, using an UBC email address. Once your employer account is approved, you can create a job posting with a description of the position, salary/wage, and qualifications. Select “Education/Teaching” as your preferred degree/discipline to indicate you are looking for Early Childhood Education students. Please see the tip sheet for items of consideration when posting a childcare job.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND AID PACKAGES

The PDFO is currently researching the various government supports and aid packages that have been announced at both the federal and provincial levels. For additional information, including eligibility criteria and application procedures, please refer to:

Federal Support: Government of Canada - Support for Individuals
Provincial Support: Financial Supports in Response to COVID-19
- BC Recovery Benefit

IMMIGRATION INQUIRIES AND ISSUES

Please contact the Housing and Relocation Services Office with any questions or concerns relating to your immigration status during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can reach this office via their consultation form.

INCOMING POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

Please be advised that the Postdoctoral Fellows Office staff is not able to advise on issues related to immigration. Please contact Housing and Relocation Services for any questions related to immigration.

Start Date Information

Please contact your department administrator with any questions about your start date. If you do not know your department administrator, contact the PDFO. So we can best assist you, please include the name of the department or unit listed on your offer letter.

Self-Isolation Resources

If you are an incoming Postdoctoral Fellow and will need to self-isolate, please refer to the self-isolation section below.

PDF Town hall

The PDFO held a virtual Town Hall for Postdoctoral Fellows on Monday, June 29, 2020 featuring Dr. Gail Murphy (Vice President, Research & Innovation), Dr. Susan Porter (Dean and Vice Provost, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies), and Karen Vaughan (Director, UBC Child Care Services).

Click here to read a summary of the information discussed in this PDF Town Hall.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PDFO Workshops and Events

We are currently reviewing all of our current professional development programming, and will be looking at alternate-format delivery when feasible. Those events that cannot be accommodate via alternate-format delivery may be cancelled or postponed.

For a list of currently-available professional development sessions, including registration information, please refer to the Professional Development page of the PDFO website.

Available Online Learning and Professional Development Opportunities

The following online learning and professional development resources are available for the UBC postdoc community:

Online Learning with Mitacs Training:
- Online, on-demand and self-paced learning on subjects including:
  - Communicating Your Research
  - Cross-Cultural Team Communications
  - Managing Project Timelines
  - Practical Tips for Growing Your Network
  - Time Management
  - Writing Effective Emails
  - Writing Strategic Business Reports
Individual Development Plans
- Free online career exploration and planning tools:
  - For postdocs in the Humanities and Social Sciences:ImaginePhD
  - For postdocs in the Sciences: myIDP
National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD)
- Workshops and programs on a variety of topics, such as increasing research productivity, dissertation success, and maintaining work-life balance, as well as networking opportunities.
- To create an account:
  - Visit UBC’s page at www.facultydiversity.org/institutions/ubc
  - Click “Activate my Membership”. Please note you will need an email address ending in “ubc.ca”.
  - Create a profile.
  - If you have any problems creating your profile or accessing the site, please contact membership@facultydiversity.org
NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education (OITE)
- Offers weekly webinars on a variety of topics.
  - Sessions include Industry Careers: Job Search Skills and Strategies and Tools for Dealing with Stress During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Beyond the Professoriate
- An online career planning and development tool.

Please view the Professional Development page of the PDFO website for a list of additional upcoming online webinars and workshops.

RE-occupancy & resumption plans

Re-occupancy and resumption plans are being handled by each faculty. Please contact your department administrator for information about plans for your specific unit.

General information about re-occupancy & resumption plans can be found on the UBC COVID-19 website.

Information specific to UBC Vancouver can be found on the Safety & Risk Services website.

Information specific to UBC Okanagan can be found on the UBCO Finance and Operations website.

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

BounceBack (for Youth age 15+)

A free program provided through the Canadian Mental Health Association. Provides access weekly calls and activities including workbooks, activities, videos, or trained mental health coaches who can provide up to 6 phone sessions. Delivery formats include coaching, an online program, or online video.

Please visit the BounceBack website for more information and to register.

Everyday Anxiety Strategies for Educators (EASE) at Home Program (for K - 12 Students)

Provides parents and caregivers of children in grades K - 12 with activities that focus on strategies for creating calming routines, speaking about difficult emotions, and managing anxiety.

Visit the EASE program website for additional information.

Here2Talk (for Post-Secondary Students)

Provides post-secondary students with free, confidential, single-session services by app, telephone, or online chat, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Visit here2talk.ca for additional information and to access this resource.

Living Life to the Full Program (for Youth ages 13-18)

An interactive, 8-week online course based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy delivered in 90-minute sessions and provided through the Canadian Mental Health Association. Available for youth ages 13-18 and for adults.

Please visit the Living Life to the Full website for more information and to register.

WE Well-Being Program (for K - 12 Students)

Provides free, virtual learning tools aimed at students experiencing anxiety and social isolation, with an emphasis on social-emotional learning and resiliency.

Visit the WE Well-being Initiative website for additional information.

SELF-ISOLATION RESOURCES

UBC Student Housing and Community Services offers self-isolation packages on both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses. Visit the following websites for additional information:

TEACHING

To better support postdocs and others with teaching remotely, UBC has created a Keep Teaching website that offers resources and support to help you develop your own strategies for meeting the needs of your courses online. The website also has guidance on how to prepare to offer lectures, group work and discussion, assignments and assessments online.

Faculty and teaching assistants at UBC Vancouver are invited to learn more about the process for transitioning classes to an online delivery format through the website of the VP Academic + Provost.

For postdocs at UBC Okanagan, the Center for Teaching and Learning has additional resources.

TRI-AGENCY FELLOWSHIPS

If you hold a tri-agency fellowship, please refer to the appropriate tri-agency website for updates on COVID-19 and its impact on tri-agency policies, programs, and operations.

General Information

Tri-Agency Message on COVID-19

Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund Stage 4 funding launched

CIHR
NSERC
- Making Connections - Industry, Not-for-Profit, and Public Sector Organizations: If you are from an industry, not-for-profit or public sector organization that is addressing a challenge related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and could benefit from expertise in natural sciences and engineering, please complete this survey.
- Making Connections - Researchers: If you are a researcher from a Canadian college or university who is eligible to apply to an NSERC grant and is interested in helping an organization address a challenge or question related to the COVID-19 pandemic, please consult the list of project opportunities.
SSHRC
- SSHRC has created a new Extranet for Applicants, a portal designed to allow applicants to access the results of their SSHRC applications.

Funding Agency Deadlines / Funding Updates

Visit the Office of Research Services (ORS) website for updates from funding agencies related to application deadlines and other process changes and announcements.

UBC ANNOUNCEMENTS

September 29, 2021 - Update: UBC’s COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program

Breadcrumb