Supporting Student and Community Resilience through Mental Health Resources and Programming

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Supporting Student and Community Resilience through Mental Health Resources and Programming

Students arrive on university campuses with varying life experiences, which adds to the rich diversity of campus communities.

Many individuals experience mental health issues for the first time during their postsecondary education. In fact, with 75% of mental health illnesses beginning before the age of 24, postsecondary students are particularly vulnerable to these experiences.

Ontario’s universities play a critical role when it comes to prevention and early intervention, as well as mental health and wellness education, including communicating to students how they can access supports and services, both on campus and within the community.

As campuses are often the first point of contact for students, universities work to ensure a whole-of-community approach to mental health care, taking a triage role and partnering across the mental health-care system to direct students to appropriate care.

Recognizing the continuously growing need for student mental health supports, universities across the province remain focused on delivering the student mental health resources and services needed to support the mental health and well-being of university students and communities.

A Continued Commitment to Support Students

Ontario’s universities are committed to supporting students and ensuring student success, both on campus and beyond, and remain focused on meeting the evolving needs of students to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Through coordinated, sector-wide initiatives and individual efforts underway at institutions across the province, universities are working to support a whole-of-community approach to student mental health and well-being. The services offered by universities help alleviate pressure from emergency rooms and other community health providers, while enabling targeted care for postsecondary students.

In addition, universities have student mental health strategies, action plans and frameworks in place, which are publicly available on their individual websites. These are under a continuous process of review and evolve with the needs of students. Through regular engagement, universities work closely with their campus communities to enhance their mental health strategies and ensure they remain responsive to the real needs of students, staff and faculty.

Another way universities are working to improve access to mental health services is through the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH). CICMH works with campuses and community partners to share resources that help campus mental health workers on the frontline address student needs. 

Below are links to more information on student mental health services and supports and student mental health strategies, action plans and frameworks at every Ontario university.

University

Student Mental Health Services and Supports

Student Mental Health Strategies, Action Plans and Frameworks

Algoma University

Brock University

Carleton University

University of Guelph

Lakehead University

Laurentian University

McMaster University

Nipissing University

OCAD University

Ontario Tech University

University of Ottawa

Queen's University

University of Toronto

Toronto Metropolitan University

Trent University

University of Waterloo

Western University

Wilfrid Laurier University

University of Windsor

York University

Provisional Members