MBB Assistant Coach Recognized as Mental Health Ambassador
Men's basketball Assistant Coach Alex Otzyv has been recognized by Conestoga College for his commitment to supporting mental health throughout the Conestoga community.
Alex Otzyv graduated from Conestoga in 2021 and was hired by Athletics & Recreation shortly after as an assistant coach for the varsity men's basketball team. He is a SafeTALK Suicide Alertness Ambassador and participates in the various mental health initiatives organized through Athletics and other campus groups. As a coach, he connects student-athletes with mental health resources on campus and in the community promoting a positive mental health environment.
From the nominator: "Alex is always the first person to check up on me when I arrive to practice. He asks how I'm doing both mentally and physically, and he sees if there's anything I need. Alex is very caring and kind, and brings an amazing energy that draws people towards him."
We are very fortunate to have Alex as an Assistant Coach on our Men's Basketball Team. As a past Condor student-athlete, Alex immediately took on a leadership role and was our team captain during the 2019/20 OCAA season. In his coaching role, he has built close relationships with his student-athletes and through his kindness, caring and empathetic approach, has made such a positive impact on the well-being of his athletes. Thank you for setting such a great example for Conestoga student-athletes, Alex!
Full release below from Conestoga College. For the full list of employees and students recognized for their mental health support on campus click here.
Seven members of the Conestoga community have been recognized for their commitment to supporting mental health on campus.
The group of students and employees was selected following the Mental Health Recognition Campaign that ran in February to tie in with Bell Let's Talk Day. The campaign was the first of its kind at the college and encouraged members of the Conestoga community to submit nominations for individuals who create positive change for mental health on campus.
"Through this campaign we wanted to help decrease the stigma of mental health and open the door to talk about the issue in a positive light," said Conestoga's health promotion specialist, Brayden Lisiecki. "We knew anecdotally that we have individuals on campus who already do this -- a faculty member who does deep breathing with students before class or students who are known to check in on their peers -- but we wanted to identify these leaders and learn more about the ways they create positive change. We also wanted to celebrate them and let them know their efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Recognizing these ambassadors will hopefully inspire others to find ways to make a difference on our campuses and in our community as well."
Conestoga's mental health ambassadors include instructors and coaches who create supportive environments for students to learn and achieve, students who help their peers and volunteer as leaders in the community, and employees who take extra time to connect with colleagues and offer support during challenging times.
"We are so grateful to those who took time to nominate their peers and colleagues," added Lisiecki. "The nominations received really demonstrate the care that our employees and students take to support each other. This is especially inspiring right now given the challenges the pandemic has created for so many. Their actions help complement the supports and services already available to students and employees through the college."
Profiles of Conestoga's mental health ambassadors follow. Each will receive a Certificate of Excellence.
