Nipissing University awarded grant to improve mental health supports

The project, titled Strengthening Campus Mental Health Supports, received a grant from the Ontario Government to identify and overcome barriers Aboriginal students face when accessing mental health services on campus.

The project is based on consultations with campus partners that found Aboriginal students at Nipissing University might have difficulty accessing the available mental health supports.  A process of consultation with regional stakeholders will be used to identify the barriers that exist and implement changes to improve access to these services.

Ongoing clinical and program development consultation will be provided by Nipissing University’s Sarah Cantin, counselling services manager, and Bryanne Bird, student intervention specialist.

“It’s important that all students are able to successfully access campus services and this project provides us the opportunity to learn how to engage our aboriginal students,” said Cantin.  “Thank you to the Ontario Government Mental Health Innovation Fund for recognizing the value in our project.”

The project will begin with the hiring of a project facilitator this spring.  It is scheduled to unfold over the course of two years, ending March 2017.

Ontario is investing $9 million annually to provide new services and supports to postsecondary students at Ontario’s colleges and universities, including up to $6 million each year for the Mental Health Innovation Fund.  The funding is part of Ontario’s comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy.

For more information on approved initiatives to improve mental health for postsecondary students, visit The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities  and the Council of Ontario Universities website.​