(Originally published in St. Michael’s Fall 2022 Alumni magazine)
St. Mike’s has always placed concern for students’ physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing at the heart of each and every decision. But the months and years of COVID have presented our students with unprecedented challenges as they have coped with the upheaval, uncertainty, and isolation caused by the pandemic, a sudden reality that has only added to the stress many students feel today.
Over the past several years, the number of university and college students in Canada with identified mental health issues has more than doubled. The number of students reporting anxiety, depression and suicide attempts have risen dramatically. A focus on the health and wellbeing of young people is central to realizing their potential. That’s why St. Mike’s views student wellbeing through a broad lens. Students at St. Mike’s have access to the full mental health supports at the University of Toronto, which includes U of T’s commitment to same-day counselling services supports students’ acute needs during crisis and is delivered virtually—the location of these supports has become irrelevant.
St. Mike’s recognizes the tremendous value of the crisis support provided by U of T, and we also remain committed to continuing our approach of providing person-alized support and a robust suite of activities that support students through critical moments while developing coping skills that will last a lifetime. Among our supports we offer:
A Wellness Counsellor provides clinical support and/or counselling services to students who are experiencing personal, social and/or educational distress;
The First-Year Check-in Program pairs incoming students with a professor to demystify the relationship and enhance connections within the St. Mike’s community;
The St. Mike’s Mentorship Program pairs trained, upper-year students who model positive qualities with first-year students to foster personalized relationships;
Commuter Dons and Residence Dons connect students to the larger St. Mike’s community;
Safetalk training is provided to all student leaders and Dons, and on request to other members of the St. Mike’s community, to empower everyone to play a role in suicide prevention by recognizing the signs that someone is in distress;
St. Mike’s Wellness Council, a student initiative, is dedicated to providing students access to wellness-based events;
The Student Wellness Studio supports wellness programming such as mindfulness, yoga, and physical activities;
Spiritual support is delivered through St. Mike’s Campus Ministry, St. Basil’s, and connections to multi-faith and Indigenous groups at U of T Academic Support and Advising comes via relation-ships built with professors, mentors and peers, as well as a range of services such as the Writing Centre; and Emergency bursaries offer financial support.
Being Well at St. Mike’s: Should you wish to learn more about how you can help, please contact the Advancement Team at 416-926-1300, email smc.annualfund@utoronto.ca or visit the U of T Giving Day page.