Georgian receives $682,830 for student mental health project

Jan. 16, 2015

Ontario is supporting a new project at Georgian College that will improve student access to high-quality mental health and addiction services and help ensure that students in Central Ontario can get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Georgian’s project, Case-Management Approach to Transitions and Addictions on Campus, will design and implement a service for students with mental health and addictions during the entire time they are a student, beginning from Grade 12. A diverse group of caregivers from the college and a variety of community agencies will work as a team to address the appropriate needs of each student seeking help.

Georgian student Stephanie Good told the audience at a news conference announcing the funding Jan. 16 that projects like this can mean the world to students like her. She struggles with clinical depression and has obtained help for herself. As a residence assistant and advocate for mental health awareness, she helps point other students to obtain the assistance they need, starting with counsellors at Georgian.

Georgian and Centennial colleges will deliver the project with the support of community partners Canadian Mental Health Association, Simcoe County District School Board, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, Malvern Family Resource Centre, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and the Simcoe Muskoka Transition Age Youth System of Support.

Georgian students with who would like to speak confidentially with a cousellor can find contact information online.

Case-Management Approach to Transitions and Addictions on Campus is one of twelve new projects receiving support from Ontario as part of the third round of the Mental Health Innovation Fund. These new projects focus on First Nation and Métis students, students with addiction issues and students with mental health or addiction issues who are transitioning from secondary to postsecondary studies.

Providing more mental health support at colleges and universities supports the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

“It’s critical that students have access to a wide range of mental health services as they pursue a postsecondary education. Our Mental Health and Addictions Strategy is about providing faster, easier access to mental health services for young people who need them, and I’m thrilled that Georgian is receiving support for a new project that will benefit students in the Central Ontario region community for years to come,” said Ann Hoggarth, MPP for Barrie.

“Every college and university student in Ontario should have access to the support they need to enjoy good mental and physical health throughout their learning journey. Through the Mental Health Innovation Fund and other important projects, Ontario is working to ensure that every single student who needs help can turn to co-ordinated, high-quality mental health care,” said Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

“This generous funding for Case-Management Approach to Transitions and Addictions on Campus will help to consolidate the very valuable findings that we made in an earlier phase of this important project. Already, we are seeing great results for students because we can provide an increased level of collaboration among our student success team and our valuable external mental health partners to deliver a holistic and comprehensive approach to student support,” said Dr. Catherine Drea, Vice President Student Engagement and University Partnerships at Georgian College.

Georgian students with who would like to speak confidentially with a cousellor can find contact information online.