Why it’s important to connect with resources early
Two years ago, when I was beginning my first year, I remember looking through the list of Orientation Week programing. There were seminars about university life, about going abroad, and about clubs and extra-curriculars. All of them seemed more glamourous than the one at the bottom of the list: navigating mental health.
Mental health struggles aren’t comfortable to associate with the university experience. To anyone who has struggled before, it’s easy to think of the beginning of university as a new chapter where those troubles won’t follow you. As for those who haven’t had these experiences, it’s easy to think that you are immune to these problems and they won’t apply to you at all.
Sadly, I don’t believe either of those things are true. Mental health struggles are becoming overwhelmingly and increasingly prominent in post-secondary students, especially symptoms of anxiety and depression. While university pamphlets paint a pretty picture about the opportunities and enjoyment that come with being an undergrad, the reality is that much of our time is filled with the stress of an overwhelming workload, leading to a largely negative impact on mental health.
Though everyone deals with their mental health differently (what might work for you might not work for me), a significant change of scenery can affect a lot of students negatively. Going to university often means leaving behind previous support systems, whether that be family, friends, or members of your school community. Thus, many students lack the support they need from caring peers who can intervene and connect them with help. This fact, combined with the many stresses of university, places students in a vulnerable position where their struggle with mental health occurs in an unfamiliar environment.
Understanding mental health resources can be difficult. It can be confusing and intimidating trying to determine which services will work for you and which won’t. I think most people would find this process overwhelming even in the best state of mind. In the midst of a crisis, it can feel downright impossible.
But still, few people plan out where they can turn when mental health issues arise. Let’s compare this with our physical health. Even for the most obscure illnesses, most of us can gauge which illnesses are worthy of a trip to the hospital or family doctor, and which will go away after a few days of rest. But we rarely have the same knowledge about mental health symptoms. Think about it. Do you know where to go if you have a panic attack? Who to turn to if you are too depressed to go to class? Where to reach out if you are having suicidal thoughts?
For many of us, the answer to these questions is “no.” Unfortunately, the current stigma around issues of mental health makes it difficult to talk about some of these experiences. Even asking about resources can make us feel as if we are implicating ourselves by admitting that we’re struggling, which creates a lingering sense of shame. But ultimately, most people will struggle with their mental health at some point in their life. These experiences are a reality for many university students, and the best way we can prepare ourselves to handle them is to know what resources are available to us so that we’re equipped to reach out if we, or any of our peers, ever need them.
Since mental health can be so hard to navigate, below is an informal list of resources recommended to UofT students. These descriptions are informed by the experiences of myself and close friends, and from information these resources give directly. This list is in no way comprehensive, but hopefully will help as a jumping off point to understand what’s out there.
Health and wellness offers counsellors for mild to moderate concerns and psychiatrists who are able to give diagnoses and prescribe medication for more intense or long-term issues. At peak periods, the wait times for these services can be lengthy and there’s a fee to cancel within 48 hours of your appointment. However, this resource can still be a great first stop for getting help.
https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/contact-us
Accessibility services can assist students who have a mental health diagnosis with long term supports to help manage their academics. Again, the process to get registered can be tedious, but knowing you have accommodations available to you once you’re registered can reduce a lot of stress.
https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as
Student crisis response runs within UofT and is meant for high-risk and crisis situations. They take confidentiality very seriously. Just note that they’re only open during business hours, Monday to Friday.
http://studentlife.utoronto.ca/DistressedStudent.htm (416-946-7111)
The Registrar’s Office can be a great resource if you are concerned that your mental health will get in the way of your academics. If you are struggling and need to defer an exam or get an extension on an assignment, the Registrar’s Office can help you understand your options.
http://www.vic.utoronto.ca/students/Office_of_the_Registrar.htm
LinkMentalHealth is a service that works in partnership with UofT’s Student Union to connect students with therapists. They have a relatively easy to navigate website that uses an online questionnaire to match students with therapists for a variety of budgets.
https://www.linkmentalhealth.com/
GOOD2TALK is a free, confidential helpline specifically for post-secondary students. They work under KIDS HELP PHONE which also offers a hotline and even a crisis text line for quick, accessible support.
https://good2talk.ca/ (1-866-925-5454)
https://kidshelpphone.ca/ (call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868)
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is walking distance from the UofT bookstore, and their emergency room can be used in crisis situations.
https://www.camh.ca/en/your-care/programs-and-services/emergency-department
If you have a family doctor outside of UofT, they can help refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist.
Concerned about funding? UofT’s health insurance for full time students offers $100 per visit for up to 15 visits a year. Also, if you have a mental health diagnosis, you may be eligible to apply for the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) through OSAP which provides up to $2000 per year for disability related expenses (and yes, this includes therapy!).
Ultimately, all of these resources are just places to start. Even if you reach out to one that isn’t the best fit for you, these services should be able to give you referrals to other services that would better suit your needs. The important part is to reach out somewhere.