- More than $3 million in initial
grants awarded to 123 post-secondary institutions planning to
implement the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and
Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students
- Total funding increased from original $2.5 million commitment to meet high demand
- Further Bell Let's Talk funding in June will support new
initiatives aligned with the Standard developed by the schools
MONTRÉAL, April 15, 2021 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk today announced that $3,075,000 in grants from the Bell Let's Talk
Post-Secondary Fund have been awarded to 123 Canadian colleges and
universities to support them in the initial implementation of the
National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for
Post-Secondary Students.
"Bell is committed to supporting student mental health and we
were pleased to see so many post-secondary institutions apply for
funding – such a great response in fact that we increased total
funding for the initiative by almost 25% to more than $3 million," said Mary
Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "These grants will help
colleges and universities across the country accelerate the
important work they're doing to support student mental health and
well-being. We look forward to building on their progress with more
funding later this spring for schools implementing new initiatives
aligned with the Standard."
In June, Bell Let's Talk will launch a second phase of the
Post-Secondary Fund with implementation grants for institutions
that have used the Standard to identify specific gaps or needs in
their mental health support services and are building new
initiatives to address them.
The National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being
for Post-Secondary Students provides a set of guidelines to help
increase awareness, reduce stigma, improve life and resiliency
skills, and create a healthier and safer educational environment
overall. Bell Let's Talk funding helped enable the creation of the
Standard, led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in
partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
According to the 2019 National College Health Assessment, about
16% of students have seriously considered suicide, and almost 3%
attempted suicide in the past year. And over the past year,
COVID-19 has affected the mental health of students at every
post-secondary institution in Canada.
"If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that
taking care of our mental health is essential. That's especially
true for students, who, even in the best of times, find themselves
at a critical point in their lives, making tough decisions that
will shape the rest of their careers, often in the face of
uncertain outcomes," said Denise
Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada.
"That is why the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and
Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students is so important. It is a
valuable resource for colleges and institutes as they strive to
promote mental health and support their students as best they
can."
Schools like the University of
Calgary are actively engaging students as they implement the
Standard.
"During my time at the University of
Calgary, it has been evident that students are at the core
of the University's approach to supporting student mental health.
As a student, I have personally experienced how their approach and
engagement with the student population has led to multiple
initiatives, making mental health an integral and essential
component of students' well-being," said Cassandra Chisholm, a University of Calgary student. "Through my own
involvement with the University of
Calgary's Student Medical Response team, and as the student
representative for the Post-Secondary Partnership – Alcohol Harms
initiative, I have seen how student voices are always considered
and incorporated into efforts and projects throughout the campus
community. Ultimately, this student-centric process makes the
campus community flourish. I consider myself fortunate to attend a
University that believes in the importance of student mental
health."
The largest colleges in the Greater
Toronto Area – Centennial, George
Brown, Humber, Seneca and
Sheridan – have formed a partnership
that will allow the colleges to pool their expertise and resources
to create learning environments where all students can thrive.
"Wellness and health promotion have long been prioritized across
our institutions, and it's a privilege to support more than 125,000
students every day," said Dr. Janet
Morrison, President and Vice Chancellor of Sheridan College. "However, we know that for many
students the ability to learn and succeed is influenced by a
complex web of pressures that take a toll on mental health. Our
partnership, together with Bell's support, will identify the
programs that best help students succeed, work to make real
improvements in mental health and wellness across all our campuses,
and then share our work as a roadmap for success."
In Québec, Bishop's University,
Cégep de Sherbrooke, Champlain College, Sherbrooke Seminary and
University of Sherbrooke are also
joining forces.
"Thanks to the support of the Bell Let's Talk Post-Secondary
Fund kickoff grant, our collaboration efforts will go further to
help and better equip our community in matters of mental health,"
said Marie-France Bélanger, Executive Director of Cégep de
Sherbrooke. "We are proud to work
together to implement best practices to promote the psychological
health of more than 50,000 students and staff members."
"We are delighted to receive a $25,000 grant from the Bell Let's Talk
Post-Secondary Fund to implement two exciting programs. Both
programs were developed by our Student Mental Health Task Force, an
inclusive and diverse group of faculty, staff, students and
community leaders working to review student mental health and
well-being," said Paul J. Mazerolle,
President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick. "The first program
will focus on enhancing our campus mental health service providers'
knowledge in the areas of truth, reconciliation, allyship and
culturally responsive care. The second program will use multimedia
approaches to empower our BIPOC students to share their voices to
provide guidance to ensure mental health services are more
accessible and effective."
"The mental health and well-being of our students and employees
is a top priority for Yukon
University. The Bell Let's Talk grant will enhance and accelerate
the development and implementation of our comprehensive Mental
Health and Wellness Strategy," said Dr. Maggie Matear, Interim President and Vice
Chancellor of Yukon University.
"Based on the National Standard, our strategy will amplify the
resources available to the YukonU community improving outreach and
resilience for all. Bell's continued commitment to engaging
Canadians and taking action to create positive change in mental
health is incredibly important and we are grateful for their
support."
To see a complete list of universities and colleges that
received a $25,000 kickoff grant,
please click here.
About Bell Let's Talk
The largest-ever corporate
commitment to mental health in Canada, Bell Let's Talk is focused on 4 key
action pillars: Anti-stigma, Care and Access, Research and
Workplace Leadership. Since its launch in September 2010, Bell Let's Talk has partnered
with more than 1,100 organizations providing mental health supports
and services throughout Canada, including hospitals, universities,
local community service providers and other care and research
organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
Katie
Hatfield
902-487-6198
katie.hatfield@bellaliant.ca
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada