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Promoting mental health has become part of student life at the University of Toronto. Once thought to be a New Age concept of body, mind and spirit, now mental well-being is being recognized by educators as key to students retaining information and leading to their satisfaction and success.

“It’s a very holistic approach,” notes Dr. Andrea Levinson, psychiatrist-in-chief at ����ֱ��’s Health and Wellness Centre. “At ����ֱ�� we’ve adopted a mental health framework…which then becomes a living document that can be implemented in intentional ways in various domains,” she says. “This…is core and fundamental to academic success in the student body.”

The framework outlines strategies to tackle mental health issues in three categories – those that pertain to all students; those involving a subset of students who are starting to stress and struggle with mental health; and those affecting students who are in crisis and in need of intervention services.

A major outcome of that framework was the single point of access model for the Health and Wellness Centre, which brings together mental and physical health services under one roof. It is where students go for all of their health needs. This “rethink” of the delivery of health services, both physical and mental, was the result of student feedback and best clinical practices.

“We’ve created an integrated centre, merging family medicine and health services with the counselling and psychological side into one health and wellness centre with a common entry through the family medicine practice unit,” says Dr. Levinson.

Another innovative part of the framework is having counsellors embedded in various departments and faculties throughout the university’s campuses, colleges and communities. The university, notes Dr. Levinson, is much like a “mini city.”

“We have many different communities and various colleges,” she explains. “They all have their own unique ecosystems. What we’ve developed over the last number of years is a staff of counsellors in the different locations. They develop unique relationships based on the environment.”

By learning the specific needs of their settings, the counsellors are able to offer students localized, accessible services with less stigma attached to them. And although located off-site, the counsellors are still part of the Health and Wellness Centre and have access to everything it provides in terms of support.

����ֱ�� recognizes mental health on campus as fundamental to the success of its students, and Dr. Levinson points out that mental well-being has a major impact on student retention of information and student progress. “Mental health concerns often contribute to students dropping out of school. They are highly tied to success or struggle.”

Mental health struggle is the fastest-growing reason why students are registering with ����ֱ��’s Accessibility Services department, which provides resources for those with learning disabilities or other barriers.

Making health and wellness a core priority is the most significant improvement in the area of student mental health, Dr. Levinson adds. “[The Health and Wellness Centre] is not just an add-on. It isn’t…a clinic that happens to be on ����ֱ�� land. It’s something that’s embedded. It’s a part and parcel of the community.”