Students supporting mentally healthy campuses

in Alberta

3 5 – 9 9 1 2 1 0 6 S t r e e t j e s s i c a @ a l b e r t a s t u d e n t s . c a

E d m o n t o n , A B T 5 K 1 C 5 w w w . c a m p u s w e l l n e s s . c a

 

 

   

ACMHI Year 2: Student Mental Health

ACMHI YEAR TWO: Fall Semester Progress

The Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC) successfully launched the 2014-2015

year of the Alberta Campus Mental Health Innovation fund (ACMHI), with over $480,000

released across the province to 14 Students’ Associations. Students are taking ownership

of mental health on campus to actively improve their students’ mental health by hosting

campus stigma reduction campaigns, and stress reductions events, among a series of new

services and training opportunities. In 2013, ACMHI initiatives reached over 60,000

students with support from institutions and community stakeholders. So far this year

approximately 58,000 students have been reached, with anticipation that many more will

be reached this winter semester.

Over the first semester students have benefited from new peer support services, and

stress reduction campaigns targeted during difficult exam times. Each Students’

Association (SA) commenced mental health initiatives with specialized approaches to the

needs of their students and campus, where Students’ Association now offer unique

initiatives, for example:

t Relaxation oxygen bar

t Tea sharing corners

t Mobile couches

t Creative Wall Spaces for student

art

t Mental Health Gaming

t Ball-pits

t Peer supports

t Bathroom Emergency

Information

To better understand the needs students are facing today, ACMHI launch a survey that

received 1617 student responses from 12 post-secondary institutions across the province.

According to our survey results, 63% of students are facing significant stress frequently

and 58% of students are overwhelmed with what they have to do. While only 39% of

students are finding ways to cope with their struggles. According to data collected from

the beginning of semester, 39% of student were aware of mental health services on their

campus, and few (34%) were aware of available community services.

Tables 1, below, provides a summary of this years SA activities, while Table 2 summarizes

the current reach and number of events that have been hosted from September to

December.

TABLE 1

ACMHI Program Summary

Awareness Campaigns

Stress Reduction

Events

Online Resources

Peer Supports

Workshops Campus &

Community Partners

Other

KSA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

NAITSA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SAMHC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SAMRU ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

ACADSA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

CSA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SAGPRC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

LCSA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SAITSA ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SAKC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SANQC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SARDC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

SABVC ✔ ✔ ✔

SAOC ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

TABLE 2

   

Students  Reached  

Awareness  Campaigns  

Peer  Supports  &  Events  

Online  Resources  

Stress  Reduction  Events  

Classes,  Workshop,  Support  Groups  

Community  and  Campus  Stakeholders  

Total   58,625   47   17   28   30   41   77  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

KING’S STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 5

NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 5

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE 5

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY 6

ALBERTA COLLEGE FOR ART + DESIGN STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 6

CONCORDIA STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 6

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF GRANDE PRAIRIE REGIONAL COLLEGE 7

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 7

SOUTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION 8

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF KEYANO COLLEGE 8

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF NORQUEST COLLEGE 8

STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF RED DEER COLLEGE 9

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF BOW VALLEY COLLEGE 9

King’s University Students’ Association KUSA KUSA began a rigours mental health program to educate and provide maintenance

opportunities around mental health. With the additions of a event coordinator, the KUSA

team is promoting and empowering students to thrive during their post secondary with

mental health panels, speakers, and seminars, while showcasing health opportunities to

cope with their stress and the demands of post-secondary. So far, a mental health forum

took place with a psychiatry resident who spoke on stress and coping mechanisms. A

chaplain discussed healthy living, how to determine personal stress levels, and maintaining

balance. Two destresser events hosted a healthy break for students needing a short study

break; on stress busters being provided during exam time and including a pet therapy

session and massage therapy session.

NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NAITSA

NAITSA is actively helping to reduce stigma by providing students with tips to help face

stress, anxiety, and to improve over all well-being, with a specific focus on raising

awareness of mental health services and contact information. Over 1000 students have

participated in Wellness Wednesday events, such as 5-minute massages and other

relaxation supports. 95.44% of those who responded noted the massages helped to reduce

stress levels. Working with the NAIT’s Counselling Center, students are offered additional

resources. Upcoming semester will include more Wellness events and campus wide crisis

information leaflets being available.

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF MEDICINE HAT COLLEGE SAMHC

SAMHC is expanding mental health services and their community network of resources, all

to improve the Student Experience and assist students with educational resources.

SAHMHC is building awareness week activities, encouraging volunteer participation, etc.,

all with the goal of achieving a positive mental health environment. This includes

improving their Peer Support Training package, as Student-to-student support has seen a

rise in usage. Community groups now come to speak to the students about the services

that they offer, the supports that they can provide, and the means of utilizing these

resources when necessary. For example, the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society as

students often qualify and it is an opportunity to assist the Society and give students

options that can minimize their financial distress. The new program has now expanded to

include a social work practicum student to increase the Social Work program’s options

within the geographical area.

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY

SAMRU

SAMRU - Since the Digital Pathways Project has been initiated, the team has put on two

events which resulted in a huge student turnout. “Mental Health Check,” where students

were given the opportunity to rate the self-care they give themselves in seven important

areas. The SAMRU team motivated students to think about their mental well-being

through an interactive and fun game, students were very interested and participated with

honest answers.

Through @MRULiveWell, students have increasingly begun to follow the account that

highlights mental health facts, statistics, on-campus resources, and other resources. The

Wall of Awesome event gave students the opportunity to write down their worries

and problems to help relieve stress and consider their mental health. Guest

speakers shared insight on personal experience with mental health and advantage

of using resources on campus. With trivia games and other stress coping programs, students are engaged and having a good time.

ALBERTA COLLEGE FOR ART + DESIGN STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

ACADSA

ACADSA – is reaching more students than every before through creative communication strategies, initiatives, and programs. The Artist-in-Residence program is giving interested students an opportunity to creatively engage in a community discussion about mental health and wellbeing. Large chalkboards on campus are allowing students to engage with information on wellbeing, and to write, draw, comment and develop content for ACAD students and the college community.

Wellness programs that support healthy eating, coping, and stress management, in addition to the ACAD Mental Health Task Force are discussing community wide attitudes, beliefs, challenges and strengths. By developing relationships within ACAD focused on mental health, ACADSA can engage all areas of the college in a way that ensures everyone’s voice is heard and all members of the community feel empowered to engage in difficult conversations that affect us all in different ways.

CONCORDIA STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION CSA A Mental Health Coordinator was brought on board by CSA to help oversee initiatives,. The Street Team was launched to coordinate and develop on campus events, like the “kick

off event and other CUCA Care events to beat the stigma. In addition to yoga classes to reduce stress, and speakers to speak out against stigma, the Street Team is fostering partnerships within Concordia and beyond, such as the Pride Centre, Dream Catchers, and the Sexual Assault Centre.

From physical health, mindfulness to the financial impacts on stress, CSA is offering services and supports to help their students navigate their post-secondary experience. Students are sharing their opinions and experiences through surveys and on social media, with pick up from the media on their initiatives.

Students’ Association of Grande Prairie Regional College SAGPRC Since the beginning of September 2014 many strides have been taken to improve and promote the SAGPRC Enhanced Peer Counseling Program. There is an increase in the number of students who sought help, the amount of exposure and promotion of the program, and the collaborations and involvement with college departments and community agencies. The program has been able to assist 51 students so far. It provided in-class presentations to over 1200 students, reached over 3000 students via monthly mental health emails, social media posts, and many students via printed posters and flyers at the various events that the program was involved in at GPRC. In addition, the program recruited 22 students to participate in training towards becoming Peer Counsellors. Moreover, several workshops were arranged and delivered in order to provide important information to our students. The “Awareness Workshops” were arranged and promoted by the program and SAGPRC. Finally, the program joined the new student orientation committee and became actively involved in an active shooter awareness project and a keynote lecture on professional boundaries. We believe that in the upcoming new year the program will continue to see an increase in the number of students assisted and will be able to continue and expand on the exposure and promotion of the program and in turn increase mental health awareness at GPRC.

LETHBRIDGE COLLEGE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION LCSA During Fall semester LCSA supported students with Wellness Wednesdays, offering breakfast with free information regarding mental health. A Wellness wheel at events shares important statistics regarding mental health, helping students take into account their own mental wellbeing. Alberta Health Services attended campus events, with students appreciating speaking about mental health with professionals willing to talk to them right on the spot.

To bring students together, Unit-Tea events gave students time to hang out with one-another with the help of tea and icebreaking discussion topics. Upcoming events include Make a Friend – Ball Pit sessions, to encourage peer bonding and discussion around stress and stress-management. These events are enhanced and supplemented with social media communications and resources made accessible all over campus in high traffic areas. The

upcoming semester will bring along “Knock out stigma” events, Question Couches, and additional training for Students!

SOUTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION SAITSA SAIT Students’ Association (SAITSA) hosted Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, and a Mental Health Awareness Week with Kevin Breel mental health speaker event, 2 puppy room sessions, and a Resource Expo and Aero Centre Mental Health Day.

The SAITSA Student Support Centre (the SSC) has continued to be a hub for students where regular activities help foster an inclusive community. SAITSA hosted the first Pride Night, as a response to the community needs. It helped foster the sense of community and brainstorm the improvements needed for the community. Students were also provided a one-month trial for a daily free breakfast program at the SSC to help reduce stress and promote healthy eating. Partnered with Calgary International Film Festival, the SSC helped to promote and spread the words around movies/films related to mental health. To lighten the burden of exam time, SAITSA and the SSC hosted a week-long de-stress fest offer mental health support and treatment during high stress period.

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF KEYANO COLLEGE SAKC The SAKC student Mental Health Committee (SMHC) is making changes with long lasting

benefits. An intern began in the counselling department, who works with SMHC to help

advise with respect to different aspects of mental health. SMHC succeeded in building

relationships with community not-for –profits, such as the Family Crisis Fort McMurray, to

share mutual support and to be recognizable and available to the public.

SMHC support led to the counselling department having all staff complete Mental Health

First-Aid Training, with additional training opportunities to be identified in the future.

Three events launched mental health, including an anti-stigma campaign to promote the

Hi-FIVE program. The program allows student to anonymously share whatever they feel in

the book. It includes a pledge urging the signee to make a vow to not discriminate, and to

listen to someone in need. Four workshops brought students together to talk with support

of their peers and community.

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF NORQUEST COLLEGE SANQC SANQC launched the Get Linked Program, which is an extension of social support that has

helped many students looking for assistance in navigating social service community

resources. With a part-time assistant, the program is expanding to include volunteers and

more community partners. The newly developed Peer Support program is now allowing

students to connect with other students with experiences similar to their own and within

their programs. Partnering with NorQuest College counselling department, peer

volunteers are receiving training sessions on communication styles, and active listening

and boundaries. In addition, SANQC is hosting Awareness Events: Leave your Fear Here,

World Mental Health Day; & Addictions Awareness Day. These events were designed to

address concerns identified on campus, with goals to reduce stress and anxiety and break

some stigma related around Mental Health.

Creative Expressions provide a safe space for self-expression and provide students with

direct access to counsellors, through scapbooking, music therapy, and laughter yoga,

students are finding helpful ways of dealing with stress. Student Health 101 (SH101), an

online health and wellness magazines continues to extend access to health and wellness

information to regional and distance students and offers customized information on

mental health resources that are easily accessible and readily available for all students at

NorQuest.

STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF RED DEER COLLEGE SARDC

The SARDC Mental Health Initiative is well underway to achieving their goals of raising

awareness, promoting wellness, and reducing stigma, with positive and encouraging

student support. The initiative has been unified with a “Bee” mascot and logo to bring

energy and increase visibility.

With the addition of a Mental Health Project Assistant and a student only Mental Health

Committee on campus, the mental health initiatives are now collaborating with the

Career and Counselling office, among others. SARDC efforts combine educational

opportunities, such as training and resource information, interactive awareness

events, and expanding capacity through partnerships and personnel expansion.

For example, at orientation and through media SARDC distributed swag and

promoted initiatives such as the Mental Health Awareness Week, relaxation

oxygen bar, and more.

STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OF BOW VALLEY COLLEGE SABVC

SABVC invited Kimberley Fiest, a renowned mental health speaker, to discuss the

stigma attached to mental health issues and ways of reducing such stigmas. She

shared her insight on the issues through PowerPoint and encouraged audience

participation. Students enjoyed the sessions that examined types of mental illness,

stigmas attached to mental health problems, community resources for people to

access, and mental health and the college community.

Students’ Association of Olds College SAOC

SAOC worked alongside students to improve the physical and mental health of

students on campus. Healthy snacking during the day makes students less likely to

grab for foods that are unhealthy or high in sugar. By having healthy snacks such as

fruit snacks and granola bars within students reach SAOC was able to help

promote eating well. Stress reduction areas were set up during exam time to help

student refocus and energize. The upcoming semester will focus on further stress

reduction events, linking students together, and promote events with responsible

drinking.