According to the 2013 National College Health Assessment survey of 32 post-secondary institutions in Canada, 38 percent of students reported feeling “so depressed it was difficult to function,” and almost 10 percent had seriously considered suicide. While many postsecondary institutions offer mental health services, very few have comprehensive, overarching mental health strategies. To address these challenges, OCAD University (OCAD U) started to develop a mental health strategy in 2011. One year later, the Ontario government awarded the university three years of funding through the Mental Health Innovation Fund to ramp up efforts to develop a comprehensive mental health strategy that responds to the distinct needs of their students.
In the latest issue of Evidence in Action, EENet profiles OCAD U’s mental health initiative. Evidence in Action profiles knowledge generation, exchange, and implementation activities across Ontario.
You can read Evidence in Action on the EENet website.