The University of Windsor will receive a $25,000 grant to support activities aligned with the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students, the first standard of its kind in the world.

The monies were part of more than $3 million in funding to 123 post-secondary institutions recently awarded by Bell Let’s Talk.

Recognizing the increase in students presenting with mental health concerns in post-secondary learning environments, the standard developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada identifies a set of flexible, voluntary guidelines designed to help post-secondary institutions support the mental health and well-being of their students.

Mohsan Beg, director of student health, counselling, and wellness, notes that the standard already supports many key outcomes that the University is working towards through its Student Mental Health Strategy.

“This will be a great tool to help guide our ongoing efforts to prioritize student mental health and support student success, while helping us identify where there may be gaps,” Dr. Beg says.

Key outcomes from the standard include raising awareness, providing healthier and safer institutional environments, decreasing mental illness-related stigma, improving opportunities for student success and growth, and promoting resiliency and life skills.

“The mental health and well-being of our students will always be a priority, and if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that taking care of our mental health is essential,” says Katie Chauvin, UWindsor mental health and wellness co-ordinator.

“Grounded in a commitment to continuous improvement, the standard and the funding will allow us to start laying the groundwork to help identify how we can better support our students while ensuring mental health services are accessible and effective.”

—Sarah Hébert