The Strand: Mental Wellness Commissioner is a relatively new position within VUSAC. What do you think your role and responsibilities are?
Ensuring that Vic and VUSAC are working towards benefiting general student wellness to the best of their abilities through events, ensuring that Vic is working towards the elimination of stigma around mental health issues and that students are more aware of services offered by the university, and that in the Ford era of student politics, student concerns over mental health are not diminished despite attempts to stifle the ability of student unions to function.
Have you been involved in student politics before? What draws you to the Mental Wellness Commission?
I have never been involved in student politics very closely prior to this, but I see the changes to OSAP, and student unions wrought by the ford government as a call to action for people like myself who previously had not taken much initiative in student advocacy. The mental wellness commission means a lot to me particularly because of my own struggles with mental health prolonged by a lack of knowledge about university institutions meant to aid struggling students.
What will be the main focus(es) of your tenure?
The main focuses of my tenure will be ensuring that Vic’s general mental wellness improves, I hope to start and continue programs designed to help students cope with the stress associated with attending university. I hope to help raise awareness about institutions within the university that help to reduce stress, promote academic success, and aid students struggling with mental illness.
The broader purpose of the Mental Wellness Commissioner is to advocate for programs relating to mental health and reducing stigma around mental illness. What are some specific changes you would like to make which would improve this mandate?
I would like to see information about university services and addressing mental illness more readily available. I had to seek out and research university services when I was in no state to really go out and explore what the university had to offer in terms of counselling, academic success, therapy, and medical help. I would advocate for U of T and Victoria mental wellness information having a greater role in orientation: this would help to reduce stigma and increase awareness of means put in place to aid students. Additionally, posters, seminars, and social media that increase awareness of mental health issues within Vic as well as highlight university institutions geared towards helping students succeed while addressing these issues that negatively affect their mental well-being.
Do you see any potential challenges in your role and how would you address them?
The changes to student union funding at a time when OSAP cuts will be negatively affecting the well-being of countless students, increasing the need for a greater scope of solutions that address mental wellness. Communication and propagation of information will be key in streamlining the ability of Vic’s mental wellness commission to help these students find services that they may need from the university.
Mental Wellness Commissioner Interviews were conducted through email. This has been edited for clarity and length.
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