How MRU’s mental health services help students
Rylie Perry, Arts Editor
Last term, only 10 per cent of students considered their mental well-being level to be high, as collected by the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS).
In response, MRU has been increasing mental health efforts on campus, including those through Security Services, the Healthy Campus Team and SAMRU.
Manesha Sidhu, director of Security Services, says incidents on campus are becoming increasingly linked to mental health struggles, whether it be anxiety attacks or something more.
To support students, security representatives now undergo distress training, which is facilitated through informed professionals with the Healthy Campus Team.
The team is also versed in trauma-informed care, with training provided by the Office of Sale Disclosure, a new addition to the MRU campus that provides services related to discrimination, human rights and equality.
“We see mental health and the support around mental health as a bit of an ecosystem, each department on this campus has some responsibility in that,” says Sidhu.
In addition, Security Services’ newest initiative implemented an on-site social worker, who brings an intentional, trauma-informed lens to safety planning for students that may require further guidance.
“We want students to take safety into their own hands and feel empowered to take steps forward, but also know what services are available through us,” Sidhu says.
Like Security Services, the Healthy Campus Team provides hands-on support that focuses on mental health within the broader dimensions of healthcare.
Recently, they redeveloped their “Mini Mental Health Primer” to accommodate the increasing mental health literacy of students. A self-paced resource, the primer allows students to explore their own mental health and the options available to them through campus services.
“Our events and services are always designed to be as low-barrier and accessible as possible for students. We want to meet you where you’re at and offer the support you need,” says the Healthy Campus Team in an email statement.
Last year, the team launched their After Hours Peer Support Centre, which provides free, confidential support for students in distress. Peer support is offered by trained student volunteers, and the centre is available as a drop-in service Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Healthy Campus Team also hosts a number of events throughout the year, including harm-reduction and naloxone training sessions, therapy dogs in the library and weekly groups run by the team’s counsellors.
They provide a range of professional services from mental health nurses to psychiatrists, which are easily accessible in the U-wing.
“Even just taking that first step to explore a service and see how it feels is a meaningful start. If one person or service doesn’t feel like the right fit, try something else,” says the Healthy Campus Team.
Alternatively, SAMRU and the Wyckham House Student Centre provide student-governed spaces, which target student wellness through connecting like-minded individuals.
Wyckham House hosts the Peer Support Centre, the Cultural Inclusion Centre, the Pride Centre, and the Student Advocacy Resource Centre, all of which aim to represent marginalised students.
Partnered with the Healthy Campus Team, the Pride Centre offers “Wellness Wind Down” every Thursday, creating a casual space for students to share their struggles with peers.
Gloria Sesay, the pride and healthy relationships coordinator at the Pride Centre, says they want to create a welcoming space where students can find community and support one another on campus.
Together, campus services are working to improve mental health efforts, addressing the growing distress amongst students.
