Ashley Radcliffe
Humber College’s North campus is offering screening for stress, depression and anxiety for all students at an event hosted Thursday by the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre.
The Stress and Wellness Event is designed to educate the Humber community on resources and strategies that can be used as coping mechanisms.
“We want students to recognize that there are many resources that offer support to assist you in achieving wellness. This is a simple check in to give them basic tips and strategies to deal with stress and anxiety” said the coordinator of the event Stephanie Serantillo.
Many people have different sources of stress that can occur on a day-to-day basis, but many Humber students may not be aware of the services that are available to them.
Humber offers a wide selection of wellness services such as counselling, fitness, and other health services.
“I work in the Student Wellness Centre so we often see students stress about their school and family life all the time. So any initiative to help improve us as humans is helpful, just like the stress and wellness event today”. said nursing student Adrian Francis.
This Humber event comes on the heels of an announcement by Ontario’s Health Minister Christine Elliot, about a new free program launching in the province called “Mindability”.
This new cognitive behavioural therapy program will be used to treat people with severe mental health issues including anxiety and depression.
Patients will be able to sign up online, over the phone or by text message for one-on-one or group consultations.
“Through this groundbreaking program, an individual will receive an assessment from a trained mental health clinician and offered a therapy program that best addressed their level of need” said Elliot.
The government will be making $20 million investment in Mindability.
The program will be free of charge to all Ontarion ages 10 and up, covered by OHIP if the services are provided by a family doctor or psychiatist.
“It’s nice to know that we are taking steps towards prioritizing not
just students mental health, but anyone mental health. But as a student it’s
nice to know that it is free and accessible to those who need it” said
Arboretum co-cordinator Dylan Cunanan.
Mindability is set to launch in spring 2020.