Health &amp; Wellness Centre

The University of Toronto is launching a new online portal that makes it easier for students to find mental health services and resources on all three campuses, as well as those of partner organizations in the community.

Part of U of T’s commitment to develop a more harmonized and student-centric approach to student mental health, the Student Mental Health Resource website – developed in consultation with students – allows students to quickly and easily find the mental health services they need, when they are needed.

The site also allows students to support their peers by suggesting mental health resources they have personally found valuable, with U of T clinicians and practitioners vetting and adding new resources to the site as appropriate.

“We know that it can sometimes be difficult for students to find the services and supports they’re looking for – particularly during a time of duress,” said Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s vice-president and provost. “That’s why the university has worked to develop an innovative, easy-to-use hub that students can use to navigate the wide range of mental health services and resources available to them across our three campuses.

“It’s also important to curb the stigma associated with mental health and create a supportive and inclusive environment that allows U of T students to flourish – and it’s hoped the Student Mental Health Resource site can play a role in helping achieve those goals.”

The website is one of several recent initiatives U of T has launched in response to the findings of the independent Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health, which spent months consulting with students, staff and faculty across U of T’s three campuses. Others include: the addition of same-day counselling on the St. George campus and drop-in counselling during exam periods; the creation of the IBM-powered Navi virtual chat assistant; expansion of the free, on-demand, multilingual counselling service My SSP and a partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

“Our students are the heart of our university – and we care deeply about them,” Regehr said. “We’ve been working hard on the redesign of student mental health services that we announced back in January – and we’re going to keep working with students and student organizations, as well as our partners at CAMH, to make sure that we have the right supports in place, and that everyone knows where to get the help they need, whenever they need it.”

Students, both graduate and undergraduate, were the focus of the development of the new Student Mental Health Resource site. They helped test its search and filter functions and helped select the site design they felt would work best for their peers.

The site offers multiple search and filter functions that students can use to customize their search results to specific interest and need. Programs and services can be filtered by campus, U of T or community provider, and by topics such as anxiety, relationships and stress. Additionally, students can filter using the care category that may suit their need, such as peer support, self-directed informational resources or individual and group programs. Beyond this function, students can search the content of the site, as well as over 60 linked partner sites, using any keyword, as with a standard web search.

A student who is not interested accessing in-person supports, particularly during COVID-19, can type “online” into a filter to access only remote and virtual services.

Students can use the “Build Your Toolkit” feature to access resources recommended by clinicians and practitioners. These can include apps, podcasts, books or social media initiatives that deal with topics such as relationships, equity and financial stress. Students can also use the toolkit feature to suggest new resources they have personally found helpful be added to the site.

The website features a prominent “Book An Appointment” button that provides quick links to appointment-booking services on all three campuses, as well as for graduate student wellness counselling and an events calendar that students can use to identify in-person and virtual events they are interested in attending.

“Students are at the core of U of T’s mission of higher education and research, and it’s vital that we continue to find ways to improve their ability to access mental health resources and services,” said Joseph Desloges, a professor in the department of geography and planning in the Faculty of Arts & Science and former principal of Woodsworth College who heads U of T’s mental health services redesign team.

“It’s important to note that this new resource is not static but will serve as a dynamic and ever-evolving gateway that will help with mental health wayfinding for our students.

“It is our hope that this website contributes to strengthening the culture of caring at U of T by empowering students with the tools they need to care for their own mental health as well as contribute to that of their peers.”

New instructional centre to be a hub for students at U of T Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 13:36:05 +0000

New instructional centre to be a hub for students at U of T Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 06/25/2020 - 09:36

Cutline

When it opens in late 2023, the Instructional Centre 2, or IC-2 (Sam Ibrahim Building), will have nearly 18,500 square metres of academic space, including technology-enhanced classrooms and lecture halls (image courtesy ZAS Architects and CEBRA Architecture)

Don Campbell

Topic

Accessibility

U of T Scarborough

A new building planned for the University of Toronto Scarborough will create a major student hub on the north part of the campus.

Located at the corner of Military Trail and Pan Am Drive, the Instructional Centre 2, or IC-2 (Sam Ibrahim Building), will have nearly 18,500 square metres of academic space, including 21 technology-enhanced classrooms and lecture halls, labs, as well as study spaces, lounges and open seating areas for students.

Among the innovative teaching spaces is a 500-seat theatre-in-the-round auditorium where no seat is more than seven rows away from the lecture stand. Many of the other classrooms will also be flexible in their arrangement, allowing students to easily gather around tables to collaborate on class projects.

“This is an exciting project that will offer students more space to learn, study and connect with each other outside of the classroom,” says Desmond Pouyat, dean of student experience and wellbeing at U of T Scarborough.

The new, five-storey building will have a large, open atrium and a series of naturally lit lounges and meeting spaces (image courtesy ZAS Architects and CEBRA Architecture)

Student services will be housed on one entire floor, including the Health & Wellness Centre, Academic Advising & Career Centre, the Office of Student Experience & Wellbeing and AccessAbility Services.

“Not only will IC-2 enhance learning opportunities through state-of-the-art classroom design, it will also create a one-stop shop for student support services on campus, which supports U of T Scarborough’s vision of inclusive excellence,” Pouyat says.

The five-storey building, designed by ZAS Architects in collaboration with CEBRA Architecture, features modern glass façades to create open and inspiring spaces. The building will have a large, open atrium, a series of naturally lit lounges and meeting spaces, as well as a large green roof with two garden courtyards on the fourth floor.

The ground floor will have numerous social spaces for students, including a café, student welcome areas, student lounges, informal collaboration spaces and natural landscape beds.

Many of the classrooms will be flexible in their arrangement, allowing students to easily gather around tables to collaborate on class projects (image courtesy ZAS Architects and CEBRA Architecture)

IC-2, which will also be the future home of the department of computer and mathematical sciences, will be an anchor building in the north part of campus.

“Our goal is to seamlessly connect the north and south parts of the campus, with our ultimate ambition of converting Military Trail into a pedestrian-only boulevard that runs through the heart of the campus,” says Andrew Arifuzzaman, U of T Scarborough’s chief administrative officer.

“The stunning design of the building will make a beautiful addition to the campus, but it also serves an important purpose by enhancing access to different modes of transportation for our students, as well as providing easy access for our community visitors.”

The environmentally friendly features of the building, located just north of the Environmental Sciences & Chemistry Building (ESCB), include a green roof and energy efficiency performance that is 40 per cent above building industry standards. It will also target LEED Gold certification.

Construction of IC-2 is scheduled to begin in early 2021, with an opening date in late 2023.

How St. Michael's College helps first-year U of T students find their footing

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:34:27 +0000

How St. Michael's College helps first-year U of T students find their footing

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 01/31/2020 - 16:34

Cutline

A new "check-in" program at St. Michael's College matches first-year students with professors to chat about making the adjustment to university life (photo courtesy of St. Michael's College)

Catherine Mulroney

Topic

Student Experience

Centre for International Experience

Faculty of Arts & Science

Mathematics

Mental Health

Randy Boyagoda

St. Michael's College

Randy Boyagoda, the principal of the University of Toronto’s University of St. Michael's College, is happy to give credit for the college’s new first-term check-in program where it’s due: the students themselves.

The program, which matches first-year students with professors to chat about adjusting to university life, is the result of an idea brought forward by St. Mike’s student union.

Boyagoda says he was pleased when a group of students approached him last spring to ask what St. Mike’s was doing to promote mental health.

“A delegation from the Student Life committee met with me and wanted to know what was being done locally,” he recalls. “They asked what St. Mike’s could do to respond. The challenge came from students.”

In ensuing discussions about what causes students worry or distress, one of the issues that came to light was students’ anxiety over meeting with professors – an experience that is pretty much unavoidable over the course of four years of a post-secondary education.

“Students were telling us they felt intimidated. Our goal was to humanize the relationship,“ Boyagoda says.

Working to overcome that challenge seemed like a good – and feasible – first step so the first-year check-in idea took root with the goal of normalizing professor-student meetings.

A quick survey of professors – both at St. Mike’s as well as fellows associated with the college – indicated a willingness to help and the program was launched successfully this past fall, according to Boyagoda. He adds that U of T has taken notice of the program and is considering broader applications.

“This program is not about course advising. It is totally voluntary and student-centred,” he says.

First-year student Lisa-marie Lofty took advantage of the new program, and says she found the opportunity to chat with Felan Parker (left), an assistant professor of book and media studies, helpful as she adjusted to life at St. Mike’s.

“We met early in the semester as I was still thinking about courses and we had a friendly conversation about things to consider as the year went on,” Lofty recalled.

As someone who had attended boarding school four hours outside of Nairobi and was drawn to U of T in part because of the appeal of a big city, Lofty says it was nice to have another friendly face to relate to, especially as Parker told her a bit about his own experiences as a student.

St. Mike’s fellow Mary Pugh, a professor in U of T's department of mathmatics, also participated in the program after a student contacted her. She says the main message she conveyed was that the student could contact her at any time.

The program “gives students access to a disinterested/non-judgmental person who’s well-familiar with the Faculty of Arts & Science and its classes and programs – someone who can treat them like a human and offer support/advice if needed,” Pugh says.

As helpful as the program is proving to be for students, it is also proving to be educational for professors as well.

“Because I usually teach upper-year courses, I haven’t had much interaction with first-year students,” says Parker. “Contrary to popular myth, I’ve found that they are the opposite of entitled, frequently apologizing for asking for help and uncertain of what kind of support is available. My hope is that the first-year check-ins, along with other initiatives like the first-year foundations seminars, will help show students that we are here to help.”

Social worker Nicole LeBlanc (left), St. Mike’s in-house wellness counsellor, says first-year students can experience anxiety for a number of reasons. Everything from worry over marks and making friends through to loneliness and being far from home can make students feel anxious or depressed – or both.

“Students face a lot of pressure these days, whether it’s competition to get into graduate programs or wanting to please parents, or worrying over expenses. Add in relational issues – the rules of engagement over dating and friendships, for example – and it can be very challenging,” she says. “Many students are going from being a big fish in a little pond to a little fish in a very big pond, no longer having the top marks or profile they might have had in high school. It’s a shock to the system.

“Be open and honest,” she says when asked what others can do to help. “Tell the person that you notice a change, and let them know that you care. You can suggest counselling or a doctor. Destigmatizing mental illness is very important.”

LeBlanc offers one-on-one counselling for St. Michael’s students and notes that all it takes is an email or call to set up an initial appointment with her. She finds that a significant part of her role is letting students know what services are available, whether it’s academic help via the writing centre or learning strategist, social support from places like the Centre for International Experience, a referral to U of T’s Health & Wellness Centre for medical issues, or friendly encouragement to take advantage of on-campus activities offered through St. Mike’s Student Life.

U of T’s psychiatrist-in-chief on supporting students with mental health challenges

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 20:00:29 +0000

U of T’s psychiatrist-in-chief on supporting students with mental health challenges

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 10/24/2019 - 16:00

Cutline

(photo by Stephen Dagg)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health

Social pressures, academic deadlines, financial commitments, living away from home for the first time – these are just some of the challenges students navigate during university. And all of them can potentially contribute to pre-existing mental health issues.

Statistics show that the majority of Canadians are likely to be enrolled at a post-secondary institution by age 21 and that three quarters of mental health disorders are first diagnosed before the age of 25.

“These young people are studying and living in the post-secondary environment at an age that coincides with the peak age of onset of mental health and substance use issues,” says Andrea Levinson (left), psychiatrist-in-chief at U of T Health & Wellness and assistant professor of child and youth mental health in the department of psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine.

“We also see a clear rise in the number of students seeking mental health services, as a result of increased awareness of mental health and decreased stigma.”

The trend, reported by colleges and universities across Canada, has prompted U of T to redouble efforts to expand mental health services. Earlier this year, President Meric Gertler announced a four-point action plan that included the creation of a task force to review student mental health supports.

There are also efforts underway to help the U of T community spot friends and colleagues who are experiencing mental health issues, which is key since heightened anxiety or depression can affect people’s ability to recognize their condition.

U of T News spoke with Levinson about the mental health challenges faced by university students and what is being done to support them.

What are the factors specific to university life that can exacerbate young people’s mental health struggles?

There’s the transition away from home, which provides all the wonderful things associated with university and college, but also brings about many life changes. New connections, social circles, friendships, support circles and so on all have to be navigated.

The academic stressors are a key transition issue, as are finances, in terms of managing the cost of education, and the financial burden that students carry through their degrees.

There’s also the role of technology in this age of social media – 24-7 connections and incessant inputs, and that means a lack of downtime.

In addition, there are health-care transitions occurring. The age of 18, while arbitrary, is often used as a cut-off for funding and the distinction between child and adult services. These transitional-aged youth or emerging adults are a very under-recognized and under-served population in general, and that happens to coincide with the age of arriving at post-secondary education.

What's behind the increase in students’ willingness to seek out mental health services on campus?

For one, there’s an overall increase in enrolment. In 2016, Statistics Canada showed that there were 1.79 million individuals enrolled in post-secondary education, up from one million in 2000, with the highest enrolment in Ontario and Quebec.

Watch Andrea Levinson answer questions on Facebook Live

Some are students who needed mental health care in their childhood or secondary school, but were unable to access it – and now that they’re coming to post-secondary, it’s an opportunity to seek help. Then there are students who did access mental health care and are now transitioning into post-secondary and expect ongoing support.

There’s also a reduced stigma and increased awareness of mental health and willingness to seek help, which is great and a success story.

There’s also data showing that youth have more of an increased perception of having a mental health problem, where they’re attributing their distress to a mental health issue and seeking professional help, rather than just perceiving it as stress or an academic issue.

What measures can students take in terms of habits and lifestyle choices to help them manage stress?

It depends a lot on the context and individual, but community-building is an overarching theme in self-care and stress management.

It’s important to make time for real-life social connections like hanging out with friends, socializing outside the classroom and connecting with peers through clubs and societies. Exercise, particularly exercise that involves social connections such as playing on a team or getting involved in intramurals, is very valuable, as are yoga, mindfulness and good nutrition.

Sleep is huge. It’s something that quickly gets minimized as a student, partly due to academic demands and deadlines. There are many drop-in workshops and sessions on sleep within the university support system.

In terms of academic stress, students can get support from the Academic Success Centre in terms of scheduling, balancing time and learning strategies and resources around managing timelines and deadlines.

It can also be very helpful to take part in community-minded things that take you beyond your own inner situation, whether it’s co-curricular activity or volunteering.

What steps can students, faculty and staff take if they have reason to be concerned about the mental health of a student or co-worker?

When one is feeling very low or anxious, and it’s impacting their functioning, this inherently impacts their ability to identify that there’s a problem and seek help. That’s why it’s so important to build community so that those closest to you can actually notice.

We have a 30-minute online training program being rolled out called Identify, Assist, Refer (IAR), which we encourage faculty members to subscribe to. It's a very helpful first step and revolves around the notion that we, as a community, need to be able to identify when someone is experiencing a mental health occurrence. There’s also IAR+, a tailored, in-person training program to assist groups on campus in applying the IAR skills to their specific context at U of T, using case studies, role play and other activities.

It can be based on general observations such as when someone seems to be behaving out of character on a persistent basis, they seem to be withdrawing, they may be sharing vague references to self-harm or suicide or they seem disconnected, helpless and hopeless.

In such a situation, it’s important to engage the person in a conversation and not necessarily advise them as a pseudo-therapist, but rather validate and acknowledge what they’re going through and instil hope. Then it’s about connecting them with the right resources and following up with them.

The onus can’t just be on the person who may be struggling. We all have a role to play as friends, peers, faculty and staff.

What are some recent measures taken by U of T Health & Wellness that you would like the university community to know about?

We are initiating same-day, single-session counselling for students. Additionally, we offer counseling support in the library during the exam period as well as expanded on-location counseling in various settings across campus to provide early intervention in a more proximal location. International students can access 24-7 support through My SSP, which offers text and chat services in multiple languages.

Within Health & Wellness, there’s an increased focus on inter-disciplinary care – utilizing the strengths of primary care physicians, nurses, mental health nurses, social work, psychology, psychiatry and others – as well as collaborative care and partnerships around mental health-care delivery.

Can you discuss the importance of university partnerships with community mental health providers, government and other external partners in addressing students’ mental health needs?

If we think about that statistic that more than 75 per cent of youth are engaging in post-secondary by age 21, it shows that the post-secondary environment is a young person’s functional world – and this is where the opportunity for prevention, identification and treatment of mental illness is ripe.

For many students, health-care providers on campus can help very effectively and efficiently with services such as on-location and walk-in counseling, workshops, mindfulness spaces and so on. But we also need to support very highly distressed students with more severe and persistent mental illness who are at higher risk of negative outcomes and need a higher level of care than a campus can provide.

Post-secondary clinics are typically not included in mental health-care reform efforts in Canada, and we’re left out of regional health planning efforts. It's also very difficult to find care in the community in a ready, timely way. Wait times in the community are very long, the barriers can be very high and the services, for the most part, are not particularly youth-friendly.

That’s why partnerships are needed. Campus is a great place to start, but we need seamless connections to various community services. There’s a great opportunity to expand links between campus mental health services and community and tertiary mental health and substance use programs, and that will enable us to accelerate evidence-based practices to support our students.

What impact can initiatives such as U of T’s Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health and consultations with the student body have?

The voice of students has to be embedded loud and clear in our efforts to evolve mental-health services. So the goal is to place students at the forefront by having them co-lead, co-develop and co-design the measures going forward.

The task force has done several consultations across the three campuses with lots of representation from students via focus groups – not to mention Accessibility Services, Student Life, crisis centres and other key stakeholders.

They’ve taken a very thorough approach, even holding consultations with external institutions. It’s a real scoping review of the current status of mental health services, which initiatives are flourishing, best practices and research of our own.

We anticipate a comprehensive approach and recommendations, some of which will not be quick or easy fixes to complex and multi-layered challenges. But it’s a really crucial step that will produce dynamic recommendations that will help take things forward.

Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now – and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.

The following are some of the mental health services available to students on all three campuses:

Downtown Toronto: Health and Wellness Centre (416-978-8030), located at Koffler Student Services

U of T Scarborough: Health & Wellness Centre 416-287-7065.

U of T Mississauga: Health & Counselling Centre 905-828-5255

Round-the-clock support

Free 24/7 support is available outside the university. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.

Good 2 Talk 1-866-925-5454

Gerstein Crisis Centre 416-929-5200.

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto 416-408-HELP (4357)

The Center for Addiction and Mental Health at 250 College Street

Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line 416-360-0486

My SSP for International Students 1-844-451-9700. Immediate support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages

Appointed faculty and staff have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142.

Five stories about mental health and resilience to mark World Mental Health Day

davidlee1 — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 16:37:36 +0000

Five stories about mental health and resilience to mark World Mental Health Day

davidlee1 Thu, 10/10/2019 - 12:37

Cutline

(photo by Bim/Getty Images)

Topic

Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Research & Innovation

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now – and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is mental health promotion and suicide prevention, with the World Health Organization calling suicide a global phenomenon responsible for 800,000 deaths each year.

“Suicide can affect anyone, anywhere, young and old, from all walks of life,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general, says in a video message on WHO’s website.

“If you’re worried about someone, reach out and offer your support. Encourage them to seek help. Go with them to an appointment. Let them know you care.”

U of T News covered both issues – mental health and suicide – over the past year, publishing everything from expert tips for students to manage exam stress to exploring the negative impacts of media reporting on suicide at the expense of stories about resilience.

It also tracked the activities of the University of Toronto’s Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health, which is reviewing the university’s mental health supports and services on all three campuses.

The 13-member task force, announced back in March, continues to call for feedback from the U of T community via an online consultation form that remains open until Oct. 15.

Here are five stories U of T News published in recent months to provide information and context for readers:

(photo by Diana Tyszko)

Andrea Levinson, the psychiatrist-in-chief at U of T Health & Wellness, unpacked the reasons behind the rising number of students who are seeking help for mental health issues – and why post-secondary institutions may be struggling to keep up.

One of the biggest factors, Levinson says, is the work done to reduce stigma around mental illness.

“Stigma is waning and there’s an increased willingness for students to seek help,” she says.

There’s also been a shift in the way students describe what they’re experiencing, according to Levinson. “There are studies that show the emerging adult cohort may have attributed their symptoms to stress previously, but may now attribute them to mental health problems, which could be more likely to lead to help-seeking responses.”

(photo by Stephen Dagg)

Exam periods can be particularly stressful for post-secondary students. So U of T News sought out nine tips on managing exam stress from a psychology professor, master’s student and registered nurse. Their advice ranged from the practical – eat healthy and get lots of rest – to more introspective techniques like finding one’s “stress signature” and learning to celebrate achievements.

“Take the time to enjoy the feeling when you are getting through each task, exam, assignment and feel good about yourself,” says Elsa Kiosses, a health promotion nurse at U of T Scarborough. “Positive thinking can positively impact your motivation and performance.”

When U of T’s Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental health announced its membership, U of T News asked the four student members about their experiences and perspectives of mental health on campus.

Aurora Nowicki, an undergraduate in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, says she had dealt with mental health challenges herself and wanted to help other students who might be unsure of where to turn. “I thought I was the only one [dealing with mental health issues] – which seems silly now in retrospect because it’s very common – but that’s the thing, you think you’re alone but then you start talking to other people and you realize how pervasive it is.”

Similarly, Egag Egag, a graduate student at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work who was doing a practicum working with youth with addiction and other mental health issues, says he wanted to bring the perspective of someone who is both a consumer and provider of mental health services.

“As a consumer, I can relate to the urgency of relief that many students experience when seeking out support, and I am also aware of the various access barriers students might have to endure,” he says.

Dr. Mark Sinyor and Dr. Ayal Schaffer, both in U of T’s department of psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine and associate scientists at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, helped develop guidelines for Canadian journalists reporting on suicide .

The guidelines aren’t meant to censor reporting, but to make sure journalists are equipped with the latest scientific evidence so they can report on the issue responsibly. That includes numerous papers that show increases in suicide rates after repetitive reporting on suicides – the coverage of actor Robin Williams death has been associated with as many as 1,800 suicides in the United States beyond what was expected over the following five months – and a growing body of evidence to suggest that reporting stories of resilience can have the opposite effect.

As an example of what he considers irresponsible reporting, Sinyor cites articles that attribute a suicide to “inner demons” or something similar.

“We wouldn’t use this kind of language anywhere else in health,” he says. “For example, if you were covering a story about someone who died of a heart attack, you wouldn’t talk about the evil spirits that invaded their coronary arteries.”

Emily Nalder, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine’s department of occupational science and occupational therapy, is studying the role of resiliency in mental health. One of her current projects is focused on improving resiliency for university students facing mental health issues by helping them develop strategies to navigate difficulties in daily life.

Helping people become better students can have a big impact on mental health, Nalder says, since being a student can be a crucial part of a person’s identity.

“We know that it’s a big discussion point, especially when you’re on campus,” says Nalder. “The number of students seeking services and supports because of mental health is going up over time.”

Round-the-clock support:

Free 24/7 support is available outside the university. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.

Good 2 Talk Student Helpline 1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.
Gerstein Crisis Centre 416-929-5200
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto 416-408-HELP (4357)
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 250 College Street
Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line 416-360-0486
My SSP for U of T Students 1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.
Appointed faculty and staff have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142

The following are some of the services available to students on all three campuses:

St. George campus: Health and Wellness Centre (416-978-8030), located at Koffler Student Services
U of T Scarborough: Health & Wellness Centre 416-287-7065
U of T Mississauga: Health & Counselling Centre 905-828-5255

Task force on student mental health draws 'huge interest' from U of T community

noreen.rasbach — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 14:53:25 +0000

Task force on student mental health draws 'huge interest' from U of T community

noreen.rasbach Tue, 10/01/2019 - 10:53

Cutline

Among other measures, U of T launched a new drop-in counselling service at Robarts Library during the spring exam season that offered 45-minute appointments with counsellors (photo by Diana Tyszko)

Chris Sorensen

Topic

Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now – and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.

Last week’s death of a University of Toronto student has underscored the need to address student mental health on campus – an issue the university is tackling with a four-point action plan announced earlier this year.

The four-point plan, announced by U of T President Meric Gertler in March, included the creation of a Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health to review the university’s mental health supports and services.

Over the past several months, the 13-member task force has been meeting with experts, U of T Health & Wellness and Accessibility Services leads, and collecting feedback through an online consultation form that remains open until Oct. 15. At the same time, focus groups and open consultation sessions are being held with students, faculty and staff on U of T’s three campuses.

The task force has also set up booths at U of T events and partnered with the Innovation Hub at U of T to run a series of student-led feedback sessions in September.

"There's huge interest across the entire U of T community – and there is concern,” said Trevor Young (pictured left), the task force’s chair and dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

“We share that concern and want to do everything we can to support all the different parts of the university that are working on addressing this issue.”

Young said the task force, which counts four students among its members, is looking at everything from how and where U of T delivers mental health services – including variations from campus to campus – to the partnerships it has forged with community agencies and hospitals. It plans to make recommendations to U of T’s president and provost in December.

The task force is only one pillar of President Gertler’s four-point plan. The other three pillars are:

work with health-care partners outside the university to improve U of T’s ability to refer students suffering serious mental health challenges for specialized care
have the Expert Panel on Undergraduate Student Educational Experience look at issues surrounding learning cultures, competitiveness, student well-being and student supports
work with the Ontario government to secure more resources to support students

The university, which has hired additional mental health and accessibility counsellors in recent years, has taken other steps to improve its mental health supports over the past six months. They include a new program this fall that offers same-day counselling on the St. George campus. Similar services are already available at U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough.

U of T also launched a new drop-in counselling service at Robarts Library during the spring exam season that offered 45-minute appointments with counsellors who spoke English, Mandarin, Hindi and Punjabi. As well, international students now have free access to the third-party My Student Support Program (My SSP) app, which provides international students with 24-hour support in different languages.

Also: U of T experts explain difficulties of reporting on suicide – and why it's important to focus on resilience

Like other universities, U of T is experiencing a growing number of students seeking help for mental health issues, reflecting a broader trend in society. Students are among the most vulnerable age group since they are often living away from home for the first time and may be coping with addictions and anxieties, as well as academic demands.

Research by Ontario colleges and universities suggests the number of students with identified mental health disorders has more than doubled over the past five years. The research suggests 75 per cent of mental health disorders first appear before the age of 25.

While the task force is still in the information-gathering stage, Young said many of the questions being raised focus on the issue of access to mental health services.

“There's a lot of respect for the excellent services that are available on campus,” he said, “but what concerns people is access to those services, including after-hours access and whether supports are easy to find and navigate.”

Young said the task force plans to review all the information it has collected by late October and then draft recommendations. He stressed there was still plenty of time to contribute to the process.

"We're still open for feedback and input,” he said.

Round-the-clock support:

Free 24/7 support is available outside the university. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.

Good 2 Talk Student Helpline 1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.
Gerstein Crisis Centre 416-929-5200
Distress Centres of Greater Toronto 416-408-HELP (4357)
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 250 College Street
Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line 416-360-0486
My SSP for U of T Students 1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.
Appointed faculty and staff have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142

The following are some of the services available to students on all three campuses:

St. George campus: Health and Wellness Centre (416-978-8030), located at Koffler Student Services
U of T Scarborough: Health & Wellness Centre 416-287-7065
U of T Mississauga: Health & Counselling Centre 905-828-5255

#UofTBackToSchool: 12 things every new student should know

noreen.rasbach — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +0000

#UofTBackToSchool: 12 things every new student should know

noreen.rasbach Fri, 08/23/2019 - 00:00

Cutline

(photo by Caz Zyvatkauskas)

Isabel Armiento

Topic

Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office

Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre

Centre for International Experience

Accessibility

International Students

Health & Wellness Centre (St. George campus)

It’s easy to get caught up in the fast pace of life at the University of Toronto, especially as a new student. Be sure to brush up on these 12 essential campus supports and services ranging from health care to gender diversity before beginning the school year.

Safety

U of T provides many safety resources, including instructions to register for U of T’s 24-hour emergency alert system. U of T also provides emergency housing services, as well as student food banks on the St. George campus in downtown Toronto, U of T Mississauga and U of T Scarborough.

You can also visit the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre for information, resources and workshops. If you are a victim of sexual violence or assault, you are encouraged to contact or visit the centre.

Health and wellness

It’s critical to practise self-care throughout the school year. There are numerous on-campus options for health care. Check out the university’s health and wellness centres for prescriptions, medical care and check-ups.

Health & Counselling Centre (U of T Mississauga)

Health & Wellness Centre (U of T Scarborough)

These centres are also excellent resources for mental health support. All three campuses offer services, including individual psychotherapy, group therapy and same-day counselling. If you need immediate help, you can call the Good 2 Talk Student Helpline, the Gerstein Centre Crisis Line or one of many suicide prevention helplines, chats and texting support services.

Other mental health resources include a walk-in mental health clinic that offers drop-in counselling to students and is located only a 10-minute walk from the St. George campus.

Accessibility

U of T is proud to provide a host of student accessibility services in and out of the classroom. Learn more about the diverse array of accessibility services offered by U of T.

Accessibility Services (St. George campus)

Accessibility Services (U of T Mississauga)

AccessAbility Services (U of T Scarborough)

Gender and sexual diversity

For LGBTQ resources, workshops and events, visit the tri-campus Sexual & Gender Diversity Office’s website. To get involved in the community, check out U of T initiatives such as Positive Space and OUT@UTM or explore more specialized programming such as Que(e)rying Religion.

The Centre for Women and Trans People is an excellent resource for intersectional feminist programming, as well as for providing a safe and harassment-free space for women and trans individuals. Trans students can find essential resources and information, such as how to change your name on official U of T documentation or the locations of all-gender washrooms on campus, here.

Indigenous students

Students hoping to explore and connect with their Indigenous identity can visit First Nations House and the new Indigenous U of T website for supports, events and resources. All members of the U of T community are welcome.

Check out the U of T Mississauga Indigenous Centre or the U of T Scarborough Indigenous Outreach Program for unique programming such as weekly smudge ceremonies, Indigenous film nights and moderated nature walks.

All three campuses offer Indigenous learning opportunities and celebrations accompanied by the knowledge and support of an on-campus Indigenous Elder-in-Residence.

Equity services

As the largest university in the world’s most multicultural city, U of T has taken many strides toward maintaining a diverse, equitable and representative campus, such as its initiative to increase equity and diversity in research and innovation. For more information about supports and resources, visit U of T’s Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office or one of its tri-campus Equity Offices.

Multi-faith services

The university offers several on-campus multi-faith locations, as well as on-campus chaplains and resources for religious accommodations.

For multi-faith prayer and meditation space, faith-based counselling, research opportunities, information on religious retreats and more, visit one of the tri-campus Multi-Faith Centres.

Multi-Faith Centre (St. George campus)

Multi-Faith Spaces (U of T Mississauga)

Multi-Faith Engagement (U of T Scarborough)

International students

Whether you came from abroad to study at U of T or are a domestic student hoping for an international study opportunity, supports and services regarding your international experience are readily available at all three campuses.

Centre for International Experience (St. George campus)

International Education Centre (U of T Mississauga)

International Student Centre (U of T Scarborough)

Financial services

Between scholarships, bursaries and grants, U of T offers a wide range of financial services and supports to students. Learn more about getting financial aid or securing a scholarship, many of which are offered through your college or faculty.

Academic success

Slogging through piles of readings or writing a 3,000-word paper may seem like lonely work, but you don’t have to do it alone. Head over to the Sid Smith Commons to join a Recognized Study Group at the St. George campus or a Facilitated Study Group at U of T Mississauga or Scarborough and ace your next test with the help of your peers.

Alternatively, tackle that seemingly impossible paper at one of U of T’s 14 writing centres located across all three campuses. For more resources and tools for refining your study skills, improving time management and more, visit one of the tri-campus centres for academic support.

Academic Success Centre (St. George campus)

Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (U of T Mississauga)

Academic Advising & Career Centre (U of T Scarborough)

Family services

U of T is devoted to meeting the needs of its diverse network of students and families through its Family Care Office, which offers resources such as family care counselling and suggests child care options near campus. U of T provides further on-campus resources for students with children, such as Robarts Library’s family study space. Resources are also available for LGBTQ parents.

Stay in the know

The easiest way to stay connected with U of T news, events and up-to-date information is by following U of T on social media.

Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (Tri-campus)

Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (U of T Mississauga)

Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (U of T Scarborough)

If social media’s not your thing, find one of the many ASKme booths around campus or consult anyone wearing an orange “ASKme” shirt. If you want a question answered without leaving the house, ask any U of T-related question online or explore other resources such as the U of T Student Life Offices, U of T Mississauga’s Centre for Student Engagement or U of T Scarborough’s Department of Student Life.

You can also stay in the know by picking up a copy of a campus newspaper such as The Varsity, The Medium or your college or faculty’s newspaper.

Also, be sure to check out U of T News for the latest news about the university.

Craft beer sampling and wellness workouts: Check out these August events

Romi Levine — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Craft beer sampling and wellness workouts: Check out these August events

Romi Levine Wed, 07/31/2019 - 00:00

Cutline

Take an outdoor yoga class this August at U of T Mississauga (photo by Rui Dias via Pexels)

Isabel Armiento

Topic

City & Culture

Soldiers' Tower

Centre for International Experience

Family Care Centre

School of Cities

The new school year might be just around the corner, but you don’t need to get bogged down by textbooks just yet. Spend August taking advantage of the many events happening at all three University of Toronto campuses and in and around the GTA, from sampling brews at the Hart House Craft Beer Festival to white water rafting with U of T Scarborough.

You can also use this final summer month to prepare for the coming semester. From drop-in yoga to a Health & Wellness Facebook livestream, all three campuses offer opportunities to garner tools for practising self-care throughout the school year.

Finish your summer strong with these August events.

Aug. 1

The Hart House Craft Beer Festival is back, featuring more brews than ever before. Head to the Hart House quad for beer sampling, prizes and all-you-can-eat barbecue (as well as a selection of vegan options). Student tickets are discounted at $34.95.

Aug. 5

Visit the historic Soldiers’ Tower and watch world-renowned carillonneur Tin-Shi Tam play the U of T carillon’s 51 bells. Enjoy the outdoor seating and the unique musical experience with free admission.

Aug. 7

If the summer holidays have you itching to learn something new, stop by U of T Scarborough for weekly drop-in ukulele sessions, every Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome, from ukulele aficionados to total beginners.

Check out Cities by Design: The Future of Urban Mobility to examine how transportation infrastructure affects the way Torontonians live and move within the city. Hear Shoshanna Saxe, an assistant professor of civil and mineral engineering, speak about transportation infrastructure, and William Denning of Walmer Consulting on the economics of providing transit services.

Aug. 8

Drop in to Beyond Books, a talk on how to optimally use U of T’s 44 libraries as a grad student, including information on research resources and digital services.

Exhausted by a fruitless job hunt? The LinkedIn Lab focuses on refining your LinkedIn profile to attract potential employers and help you score that coveted job interview. Located at U of T’s Career Centre, this workshop will help you navigate social media and personal branding strategies and integrate them into your career networking practice. Register for the workshop on Aug. 8 or Aug. 30.

Aug. 14

The third annual Smarti Gras at U of T Mississauga is this summer’s hot ticket event celebrating undergraduate research. The event will feature top students’ presentations on diverse research topics – along with ice cream, music and a barbecue lunch.

Aug. 15

Nothing says peaceful more than a free half-hour session of outdoor mindful yoga. Stop by U of T Mississauga on any Thursday in August to de-stress, connect with the outdoors and learn some new poses.

Aug. 21

U of T parents and their children are invited on a walk through Riverdale Farm, hosted by the Family Care Office. Register for this unique opportunity to spot feathery and furry farm animals, while forging new friendships.

Aug. 22

Summer’s almost over – have you checked everything off your summer bucket list? If not, join the U of T Scarborough community for a white water rafting expedition. Spend the final days of summer camping and making memories at the scenic Wilderness Tours Resort. Students can register for the trip, which takes place from Aug. 22 to 24, for only $150.

Aug. 23

Join fellow fossil lovers for this year’s Canadian Paleontology Conference. Hosted by U of T Mississauga, the conference will run from Aug. 23 to 25 and tickets can be purchased for as little as $20.

Aug. 25

For those looking for a last-minute place to stay during the school year, there’s no need to panic. Head over to the Student Success Centre for the final housing fair before orientation, where students can network with landlords and potential roommates.

Anyone who thinks raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens are worth celebrating – and singing about – should stop by the Hart House East Common Room for the Hart House Chorus’s free showcase, titled A Few of Our Favourite Things.

Aug. 26

Spread your metaphorical wings at Social Butterflies: Reclaiming the Positive Power of Social Networks. Michael Sanders’ lecture aims to harness the hyper-sociality of the modern social media moment to create a space of positivity, connectivity and happiness. Registration is $32 and includes a hardcover copy of Sanders’s book, Social Butterflies.

Aug. 29

Calling all new students: Staff from U of T Health & Wellness are hosting a live stream to answer the top ten questions asked by students during orientation and over the first few weeks of university. Watch the presentation live on Facebook.

Aug. 31

Undergraduate residence move-in days begin for all students living at U of T Mississauga, U of T Scarborough and Loretto College on the downtown Toronto campus. If you’re moving on this day – good luck!

International and exchange students are welcome to drop by the Centre for International Experience (CIE) Services Expo, where they can learn about the resources and supports available to them, including information about phone plans, banking and more.

End the summer on an academic note with the one-day conference, Invisible Challenges in Medicine. Listen to keynote speeches and attend workshops that will spotlight discrimination in the medical field and spark a dialogue around promoting equity in clinical settings. Tickets are $5 and lunch is provided.

Nine tips to manage your nerves during U of T exam season

geoff.vendeville — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 19:01:08 +0000

Nine tips to manage your nerves during U of T exam season

geoff.vendeville Fri, 04/12/2019 - 15:01

Cutline

(photo by Stephen Dagg)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

English

Exams

Faculty of Information