U of L implements strict mental health initiative

Stress and anxiety – words Charlie Helmer-Smith, like many post-secondary students, is all too familiar with.

“Sometimes I’ll just get to a breaking point and I just show up at counselling on the verge of a breakdown and they talk me through it,” explained the University of Lethbridge undergrad, when it comes to using mental health services at the school.

A 2013 study by the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services found that:

• 56 per cent of Canadian post-secondary students have felt overwhelming anxiety at some point in the school year

• 37 per cent reported feeling so depressed it was difficult to function

• 9.5 per cent seriously considered suicide.

Getting in front of the pressures of student life is an important priority for the U of L. It is one of the first Canadian post-secondary schools to join the Jed & Clinton Health Matters Campus Program, which is focused on helping students cope with stress and anxiety.

“I think it is the responsibility of our institution to look after the health of students that come here,” said Dr. Mark Slomp, acting director of student services and manager of counselling and career services.

The Campus Program is a four-year project designed to help the university assess and enhance mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programming.

“We really want to have an organization look at what we are doing and help us improve, help us reflect on our practice so that whatever changes we can make to doing an even better job, we’re able to do that,” he added.

Helmer-Smith, a member of the U of L Students’ Union,  will be joining the program’s task force. For him, having more student support benefits the entire university.

“When you’re on the verge of a breakdown, which is the emergency scenario for a lot of students and it happens more often than people would think, just having those supports really means the world,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "When you're on the verge of a breakdown, which is the emergency scenario for a lot of students and it happens more often than people would think, just having those supports really means the world," he said.

The task force will help support and implement program improvements through a self-assessment survey on the school’s mental health initiatives. Once completed, the U of L will then receive customized feedback and suggestions for direct support with their planning process.