Accessing healthcare as a university student can often be difficult to navigate. Between tight schedules, financial pressures, and the emotional weight of seeking help, students face unique challenges that make prioritizing their health a daunting task. Addressing these barriers to access head-on with empathy, creativity, and collaboration is the only way we can create a campus environment where every student feels empowered to prioritize their health.
With this in mind, what would it take to create a truly accessible and supportive campus health system? Perhaps it begins with awareness, not just about the services that exist, but about how and when to use them. Many students may not know they can access free counselling or what their MASU insurance is able to provide them. Some also may not know at what point their school-related stress becomes unhealthy, needing outside supports. Clear, consistent communication goes a long way in bridging the gap between students and the help they need. More importantly, we need to think about wellness as a shared responsibility. Peer wellness ambassadors like Navigate MtA, faculty who normalize conversations about mental health, and staff who actively reach out to students collectively create a culture where seeking help feels not just acceptable but encouraged.
One of the most common challenges students face when accessing healthcare is navigating logistical hurdles. Financial restrictions, long wait times, and scheduling conflicts create a perfect storm that can make healthcare feel out of reach. Imagine juggling a full course load, part-time work, and extracurricular commitments, only to find the one appointment slot that fits your schedule already taken. Leveraging technology is one way to improve wellness support, as telehealth services offer convenience and flexibility. However, it is important to remember that wellness is often deeply intersectional and different approaches that acknowledge and adapt to the diverse needs of our student body may be more suitable. To address these needs, the Mt. A Wellness Centre is facilitating services like those offered by Todd Hunter. Hunter is a Registered Counselling Therapist who provides virtual counselling for BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ students, recognizing that different student populations may face unique barriers to accessing mental health care effectively.
It is also important to encourage student feedback to ensure that wellness initiatives meet the actual needs of the student body. Regular surveys, open forums, and student advisory boards can provide very valuable information on how to make sure our healthcare is inclusive and accessible to all students. If we want to build a system that works, it must be one that actively listens to, includes, and supports the diverse voices within our student body.
Interestingly, after reading a study from the University of Michigan on the question of student barriers, one of the takeaways I found interesting was that the most prevalent issue is not stigma, something often assumed to be a major hurdle, but rather a lack of perceived need. At Mt. A, our campus culture has become much more open and progressive about mental health conversations, yet many students with mental health concerns continue to feel as though they do not need professional help. Instead, they often prefer to manage them independently or seek support from family or friends. While this approach may work in some cases, it risks leaving students without the professional tools and resources necessary to thrive in the long term. Educational campaigns that show the importance of mental health and provide guidance on recognizing when to seek help can empower students to take proactive steps toward their well-being. Making this information accessible through multiple mediums and groups is something that is necessary for success.
Do you have ideas for how we can make accessing healthcare easier at Mt. A? If you have ideas or thoughts you’d like to share, please reach out to me at [email protected].
