New mental health initiatives @ Mt. A

The Wellness Centre is excited to announce Mt. A’s participation in a research project on the topic of student mental health. The project, Pathway through Mental Health Care for Postsecondary Settings (Pathway), will build on proven youth mental health components to create, evaluate and disseminate a comprehensive and effective campus mental health framework. The framework, which will be field tested at post-secondary campuses across the Maritimes, could serve as a model across Canada and internationally. Participating institutions include Mount Allison, Mount Saint Vincent, Saint Mary’s, St. Francis Xavier, Nova Scotia Community College and Holland College.

Other exciting news includes the appointment of Mt. A’s professor Christiana MacDougall to assist with Pathway. Recognizing MacDougall’s 20 years of social work in mental health, the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation appointed her to oversee the project’s research component. For more information, contact Anne Comfort at [email protected]

At the Wellness Centre, our counsellors will be offering more services and providing flexible hours to work with students. In addition to the regular 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. schedule, they will be offering walk-in/crisis appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Just come down to the Wellness Centre and you will be seen that evening, no appointment required.

New this year will be “Pop-Up Counselling.” The Student Development Counsellors will be holding drop-in sessions at various departments throughout the year. Follow @MtAmentalhealth on Twitter and @mtawellnesscentre on Facebook for their schedule. For more information or to make an appointment with one of the psychologists or the psychiatrist, contact [email protected] for referral information.

The Mental Health Educator will be working with various students, volunteers and student groups to support positive mental health and mental health literacy on campus. Programming, outreach, activities and initiatives to support student mental health will be promoted throughout the year. For more information, contact Melissa Baxter at [email protected] or come drop-in to see her at the Wellness Centre.

In the fall, the Association of Atlantic Universities, in conjunction with Mt. A, is coordinating a regional student mental health conference: From Survive to Thrive, to take place Wednesday, Oct. 4  on campus. The purpose of the conference is principally to reconvene presidents, senior University officials, student and faculty representatives with other partners and stakeholders to evaluate the current state of student mental health on multiple campuses. Participants will also share thoughts on the outlook for student mental health (issues and opportunities) confronting the post-secondary education sector in the next five years.

Mt. A dedicates itself to the creation of a mentally healthy campus, where all students are supported and encouraged to reach academic success and personal wellness. Services, supports and initiatives are continually added and supported to meet the needs of students with mental health issues/illnesses. Have an idea? Contact us at [email protected] or visit www.mta.ca/studentwellness for more information.

 

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