Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health – Outreach & Engagement Plan – Online Consultation Phase 1 (PDAD&C#4)

From: Cheryl Regehr, Vice-President & Provost
Date: July 12, 2019
Re: Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health – Outreach & Engagement Plan – Online Consultation Phase 1 (PDAD&C#4)

On May 31, the President and I announced the membership of the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health and called for feedback on a Draft Outreach and Engagement Plan. Thank you to everyone who provided comments and to the Task Force members for finalizing the Plan.

The Outreach & Engagement Plan involves a multi-pronged approach including open consultation sessions, student focus groups, key staff & faculty stakeholder group meetings, and targeted requests for written submissions.

The first part of the Plan, the Online Consultation, is now live. All students, staff, and faculty are invited to provide comments and recommendations on the Task Force’s four key areas of student mental health through the Student Mental Health Task Force Online Form, which will remain open until October 15, 2019. Note: the Four Key areas are listed on the Form and outlined in the Task Force Terms of Reference. 

All members of the U of T community will be invited to attend Outreach & Engagement sessions held on each campus in September. More information about those opportunities and the other in-person group sessions will be communicated later in the summer and throughout the fall term.

We look forward to hearing from all interested members of the University community on this important initiative. We know that mental health is an issue that cuts across society, and most of our students are in an age group that is especially vulnerable. We need to work as a community and with our government partners to address this.

For more information on the Task Force please visit the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health page on the Provost’s website. Questions about the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Mental Health may be directed to Cheryl Gibbs, Assistant Director, Office of the Vice-Provost, Students who is providing support to the Task Force, at studentmentalhealth@utoronto.ca.

Resources & Supports

Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now – and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.

The following are some of the mental health services available to students on all three campuses:

Round-the-clock support

Free 24/7 support is available outside the University. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.

Good 2 Talk Student Helpline 1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions, and well-being.

Gerstein Crisis Centre 416-929-5200 

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto 416-408-HELP (4357)

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 250 College Street

Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line 416-360-0486

My SSP for U of T Students 1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.

Appointed faculty and staff have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142.