The Ontario government is providing a total of $359,068 to help increase access to mental health and addiction services for students at Trent University. The funding will strengthen community partnerships, increase the number of mental health workers and programs, and immediately expand access for students to the provincial mental health and addictions system during COVID-19.

"Mental health support for students is a key priority for Trent University,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor of Trent University. “Through one-on-one therapeutic support, and a range of supports to match diverse student needs, we strive to connect students with access to services and resources as quickly as possible. This new funding has allowed the University to increase mental health supports for students at our campuses in both Peterborough and Durham, as well as enhance our training and resources for faculty and staff to ensure we recognize and support students who may be struggling.”

The funding is part of the province’s total investment of $26.25 million for mental health supports for postsecondary students in 2020-21. It will support more services for students on-campus and virtually and can also be used to address the needs of vulnerable and diverse groups at Trent, such as Indigenous students, LGBTQ students and students with disabilities.

The funds will be widely distributed to various supports at Trent including; crisis counselling, mental health planning, additional counselling support for Trent’s First Peoples House of Learning, counselling for international students, peer support, spiritual support programming, online therapy, and Trent’s new single-session therapy program.

“Particularly in this year when the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges and heightened anxieties, Trent applauds the Province’s commitment to investing in mental health supports for postsecondary students,” says Dr. Groarke.