Universities across Canada have extensive resources to help you with your mental and physical health, academic success, and personal skills development. We ranked the top 12 websites alphabetically:
Acadia U https://counsel.acadiau.ca/Counsel-main.html
McGill U http://mcgill.ca/counselling/getstarted/mental-health/stress
McMaster U https://wellness.mcmaster.ca/counselling/#1498568969211-8113cfa7-4a5c
Memorial U http://www.mun.ca/counselling/personal/
Ontario College of Art and Design U (OCAD) https://www.ocadu.ca/services/health-and-wellness/services.htm
Ryerson U https://www.ryerson.ca/mentalhealth/students/
University of Alberta https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/counselling/about-us
University of BC https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness
University of Guelph https://wellness.uoguelph.ca/counselling/mental-health-resources
University of Manitoba http://umanitoba.ca/student/?utm_source=FactsandFigures
University of New Brunswick http://umanitoba.ca/student/?utm_source=FactsandFigures
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) http://studentlife.uoit.ca/mentalhealth/index.php
Some innovative services and ideas include:
- A First Year Transition Plan with monthly advice as to what students can expect in the way of stress or anxiety and what services at the university might help (UOIT Student Life handout).
- Lists of helpful iPhone and Android Apps (McGill University, Memorial).
- Extensive online resources (e.g. U of Alberta, McMaster, Memorial, U of Guelph)
- A university safe house for temporary housing for students at risk (Ryerson)
- Affiliation with a university hospital/clinic for grad students to provide free services (e.g., U of Alberta, UBC, UNB)
- Some universities also produce Resource Guides for their students, For example, Western University has a Mental Health and Wellness Resource Guide for Undergraduate and Graduate Students. Students can download a copy.
- Ryerson has their So They’re Off to University guide for parents while Concordia University of Edmonton has their Thunder Storm 2017 Survival Guide. OCAD has a Student Distress Guide
- A much more detailed guide called Transitions for first year students was developed by Dr. Stan Kutcher, M.D., FRCPC, the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health, IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia www.teenmentalhealth.org . This 94 page online and downloadable guide looks at choosing classes, moving in/out, finances, relationships, sexuality, managing stress, mental health and disorders.