Mental health and wellness

New: U of T’s Student Mental Health Resource Hub

No matter where you are on the mental wellness continuum, from being proactive about your mental well-being to feeling stressed or needing urgent help, U of T is here to support you. The Unversity’s new Mental Health Resource Hub has the tools, strategies and experts to meet you where you are on your mental health journey.

> To reach the hub, click here

Introducing Navi

U of T has launched a Student Mental Health Virtual Agent to help students navigate mental health supports at the University of Toronto. Navi (short for navigator) is an anonymous wayfinding tool that is available 24/7. It can currently speak to 48 broad topics related to mental health including: stress, anxiety, loneliness, harassment, discrimination, bullying, academics, career, sleep issues, accessibility, coping techniques, abuse, eating disorders, how to get involved, health care access, and more. Click here to learn more.

> Click here to access Navi: Your mental health wayfinder

Resources to manage anxiety and stress

In the wake of COVID-19, managing your well-being and that of your loved ones is of upmost importance. Below is a list of resources and programs that offer suggestions and advice on ways to cope with stress and anxiety during this global pandemic.

U of T-related programs and resources

U of T’s Division of Student Life remains available to support U of T’s student community. Many of their services are now accessible through phone and video conferencing including those offered by the Health and Wellness Centre.

The My Student Support Program (MySSP) provides U of T students with immediate and/or ongoing confidential, 24-hour support for any school, health, or general life concern at no cost. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever and wherever you are.

The Good2Talk Student Healthline provides professional counseling, information and referrals helpline for mental health, addictions and students well-being. The number for this 24/7 emergency counselling service is 1-866-925-5454.

The Multi-Faith Centre at U of T supports the spiritual well-being of everyone on campus, and have invited students who feel they could use their support to email them at multi.faith@utoronto.ca. Chaplains across multiple denominations are now working from home but are available to provide support, encouragement, referrals and prayer by phone or online. The Centre is also offering online mindful meditation and yoga every other Wednesday via its facebook page.

The University’s Equity Offices and Office of Indigenous Initiatives remain open and available to support members of the U of T community, also predominately through phone or video conferencing applications. Requests for in-person appointments will be assessed on an individual basis.

First Nations House provides culturally relevant services to Indigenous students in support of academic success, personal growth and leadership development, and can be reached at fnh.info@utoronto.ca.

U of T’s Family Care Office remains open and available to provide support, remotely, to members of the U of T community. Individuals are encouraged to contact them by email (family.care@utoronto.ca) or phone (416-978-0951) to set-up an appointment.

Windvane is a guide for students and instructors in higher education that includes over 100 expert interviews to help students explore models of collective and individual wellbeing. Created by Frances Garrett, and associate professor of Tibetan & Buddhist Studies in the Department for the Study of Religion at U of T, this new resource on student wellness, wellbeing and student flourishing includes contributions from FIFSW Associate Professor Ellen Katz.

U of T Sport and Rec, the division of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE) that provides physical activity, sport and recreational programming to the U of T community, is sharing daily workouts that can be done at home without special equipment, mindfulness and meditation videos and other wellness resources via its social media channels on Instagram, Twitterand Facebook.

CRUISElab — an interdisciplinary, community-based social work research lab dedicated to addressing the sexual, mental, physical, and emotional health of gay, bisexual, two-spirit, cis- and trans-gender men who have sex with other men (GB2M) — directed by FIFSW Professor David Brennan has compiled a list of resources for queer men.

Other resources

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has compiled a helpful list of tips, resources and coping strategies that address mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes FAQs on how to support loved ones and strategies to maintain your mental wellness.

eMentalHealth.ca is a non-profit initiative of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Its website provides information on where to find mental health help in your area and a detailed overview on mental wellness and resiliency while coping with COVID-19, including Do’s and Don’ts, when to seek professional help, crisis lines, and tips for parents or caregivers.

Anishnawbe Health Toronto works to improve the health and well-being of Indigenous People in spirit, mind, emotion and body by providing Traditional Healing with a multi-disciplinary health care mode.

PROTECH: Pandemic Rapid-response Optimization To Enhance Community-Resilience and Health is a community-engaged action research project that aims to reduce the negative psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese Canadians and other affected groups while promoting community resilience.

The World Health Organization‘s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use gathered information into a report [PDF], released March 12, that outlines mental health considerations for different segments of the population, from the general public to health care workers, child care providers, older adults, and those in isolation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on how to manage anxiety and stress, which includes things you can do to support both yourself and others. Its website offers advice for responders, whose work may lead to secondary traumatic stress reactions, parents, and people who have been released from quarantine.

The Canadian Mental Health Association has compiled a list of articles from publications such as The Atlantic and Psychology Today, as well as information from organizations such as the World Health Organization.

The Canadian Psychological Association has a fact sheet on coping with and preventing COVID-19.