Health and Wellness Centre / en 茄子直播 to partner with CAMH to overhaul mental health services for students /news/u-t-partner-camh-overhaul-mental-health-services-students <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 to partner with CAMH to overhaul mental health services for students </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/BackToSchool_013_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ZouUFUZ- 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/BackToSchool_013_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Kp0StC88 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/BackToSchool_013_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_HZYuISx 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/BackToSchool_013_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ZouUFUZ-" alt="View north of King's College Road at 茄子直播 St. George campus during a winter day"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2020-01-15T21:24:58-05:00" title="Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - 21:24" class="datetime">Wed, 01/15/2020 - 21:24</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/presidential-and-provostial-task-force-student-mental-health" hreflang="en">Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/centre-addiction-and-mental-health" hreflang="en">Centre for Addiction and Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cheryl-regehr" hreflang="en">Cheryl Regehr</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-medicine" hreflang="en">Faculty of Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/geography-and-planning" hreflang="en">Geography and Planning</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/psychiatry" hreflang="en">Psychiatry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/school-graduate-studies" hreflang="en">School of Graduate Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto is partnering with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as it takes immediate steps to harmonize mental health services across its three campuses, boost funding for mental health and wellness and work toward a 鈥渟tepped model of care,鈥 which will see students receive treatment tailored to their level of need.</p> <p>茄子直播 also seeks to foster a 鈥渃ulture of caring鈥 and will strive to make health and wellness spaces more functional and in line with best practices in health and design.</p> <p>The initiatives are key elements of the university鈥檚 response to <a href="/news/we-heard-call-change-task-force-student-mental-health-issues-report-and-recommendations">the final report of the independent Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health</a>. The 13-member task force, which included undergraduate and graduate students, spent months gathering input from students, staff and faculty across 茄子直播鈥檚 three campuses before making its recommendations 鈥 all 21 of which have been accepted by the university.</p> <p>鈥淲e have listened to our students through this process,鈥 says&nbsp;<strong>Cheryl Regehr</strong>, 茄子直播鈥檚 vice-president and provost. 鈥淲e know that there are areas where we need to do better and we鈥檙e taking action based on the task force鈥檚 recommendations.</p> <p>鈥淲e鈥檙e deeply committed to student well-being and success.鈥</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/UofT6422_20140916_CherylRegehr_003_1.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Cheryl Regehr, 茄子直播鈥檚 vice-president and provost, says the university has listened to students and is taking action on the task force鈥檚 recommendations&nbsp;(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)&nbsp;</em></p> <p>茄子直播, like peer institutions across North America, has faced a surge in demand for counselling and related services. The percentage of Ontario post-secondary students who report depression, anxiety and suicide attempts has risen dramatically in the past six years, <a href="https://www.cacuss.ca/files/Research/NCHA-II%20SPRING%202019%20CANADIAN%20REFERENCE%20GROUP%20DATA%20REPORT.pdf">according to data compiled in a 2019 report by the American College Health Association</a>.</p> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/Catherine%20Zahn-crop.jpg" alt>鈥淢ental health challenges commonly arise at a time of intense life transitions, and a focus on the health and wellbeing of young people is central to realizing future potential,鈥 says <strong>Catherine Zahn </strong>(left), the president and CEO of CAMH.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淐AMH will contribute the expertise and experience of leading youth mental health clinicians and researchers to assist the University of Toronto in carrying out this serious and important work.鈥</p> <p>The university will create a mental health services redesign team led by <strong>Joseph Desloges</strong>, a professor in the department of geography and planning and a former principal of Woodsworth College. The team includes two experts from CAMH, <strong>Alexia Jaouich</strong>, director of implementation and innovation in the Provincial System Support Program, and&nbsp;<strong>Sean Kidd</strong>, an associate professor of psychiatry at 茄子直播 and senior scientist and division chief of psychology at CAMH.</p> <p>The redesign team鈥檚 ultimate goal will be to create an 鈥渋ntegrated tri-campus鈥 system overseen by a clinical director. The team, which will consult thoroughly with students, will aim to simplify the existing system by creating a single website,&nbsp;a consistent approach to way-finding,&nbsp;a single online booking system and a single electronic records system, as well as&nbsp;requiring a single institutional letter for accessibility services.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/155/2020/01/Presidential-and-Provostial-Task-Force-Final-Report-and-Recommendations-Dec-2019.pdf">Read the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health鈥檚 final report</a></h3> <h3><a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/155/2020/01/Administrative-Response-to-the-Final-Report-of-the-Presidential-and-Provostial-Task-Force-on-Student-Mental-Health.pdf">Read the administrative response to the task force鈥檚 final report</a></h3> <p>There are also plans to create pathways between campus-based services and CAMH, as well as other hospitals and agencies in Toronto, in a recognition that mental health is a shared responsibility that can鈥檛 be tackled by the university in isolation.</p> <p>When it comes to training the mental health clinicians of tomorrow, the partnership will see 茄子直播 and CAMH experts work together to provide enhanced clinical education programs in student mental health, including professional development for 茄子直播 staff, as well as curriculum innovation and important experiential learning opportunities for students such as expanded internships and placements.</p> <p>The two partners will similarly work together to create a new initiative focused on research excellence in youth and student mental health that will provide research-informed, evidenced-based solutions that will aid universities in Canada and around the world.</p> <p>茄子直播 will also direct more resources to student mental health and will continue to make it a priority for fundraising, Regehr says. She adds that 茄子直播 will 鈥渞edouble its efforts鈥 to seek government support for increasing mental health services on campus.</p> <!--鈥 Start Sidebar 1 Code 鈥--><!--鈥 Sidebar with bullet points 鈥--> <div class="story_sidebar_wrapper" style="float: right; background-color: grey; padding: 25px 15px 25px 15px; color: white; margin-left: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 1.5rem;"><span class="sidebar_content_title" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;margin-bottom: 15px;">mental health initiatives since 2019</span> <ul style="line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 25px;"> <li style="color: white; font-size: 1.5rem;">Same-day counselling on the St. George campus</li> <li style="color: white; font-size: 1.5rem;">Drop-in counselling sessions at Robarts library during final exam period</li> <li style="color: white; font-size: 1.5rem">24-7 counselling in 146 languages through My SSP&nbsp;</li> <li style="color: white; font-size: 1.5rem">Healthy Labs review of laboratory atmospheres</li> <li style="color: white; font-size: 1.5rem">Intensified advocacy for mental health supports at all levels of government</li> </ul> </div> <!--鈥 End Sidebar 1 Code 鈥--> <p>The facilities that are home to mental health resources on campus are due to get an update, too.</p> <p>茄子直播 has committed to reviewing health and wellness spaces on each campus in response to feedback from students who told the task force that some facilities were too busy, difficult to navigate or lacking in privacy. Steps are already being taken to modernize the health and wellness centre in the Koffler building on the St. George campus.</p> <p>In response to questions about 茄子直播鈥檚 culture and how it affects student well-being, the university says it will change 鈥渟pecific practices or policies that may be counter-productive.鈥 At the same time, the university will foster an environment of compassion and sense of community to complement its culture of academic excellence.</p> <p>鈥淲e believe a culture of academic excellence and a culture of caring go hand-in-hand,鈥 Regehr says.</p> <p>The university is also developing an implementation strategy based on the work of a separate expert panel focused on undergraduate student educational experience. It鈥檚 expected, among other things, to address concerns about institutional policies and systems that may act as barriers to student wellness and success.</p> <p>The School of Graduate Studies, meanwhile, <a href="https://memos.provost.utoronto.ca/appointment-of-professor-reinhart-reithmeier-as-special-advisor-on-the-healthy-labs-initiative/">is spearheading a 鈥渉ealthy labs鈥 initiative</a> to implement best practices for cultivating a positive lab atmosphere and good relationships between students and supervisors.</p> <p>As for the university鈥檚 mandatory leave of absence policy, the task force noted that some members of the 茄子直播 community perceived the policy as a 鈥減otential barrier to students seeking mental health services.鈥 Regehr says the university is aware of confusion surrounding the policy, and will redouble its efforts to communicate the compassionate intent of the policy and how it is actually implemented. She emphasized that it is intended as a last resort to support students in rare cases where their behaviour causes concerns for the safety of others.</p> <p>茄子直播鈥檚 response to the recommendations of the task force comes on the heels of several other initiatives the university has taken to improve the delivery of mental health services since March of 2019, when 茄子直播 President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler</strong>&nbsp;announced <a href="/news/u-t-announces-action-plan-student-mental-health">a four-point action plan on student mental health</a>. They include offering same-day counselling services on the St. George campus, offering drop-in counselling at Robarts Library during exam periods <a href="/news/u-t-rolls-out-demand-my-ssp-counselling-service-all-students">and the recent expansion to all 茄子直播 students</a> of the My SSP text-and-chat helpline, which provides on-demand counselling services.</p> <p>Now, with partners like CAMH, the university will be able to make further progress tackling this 鈥渃omplex and pervasive鈥 challenge, Regehr told&nbsp;<em>茄子直播 News</em>.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚 truly believe that with this partnership we can work on solutions that will benefit not only our own students but students at other institutions that are similarly struggling to address this issue that we're seeing around the world.鈥&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed" target="_blank">Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now&nbsp;鈥 and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.</a></p> <p>Round-the-clock support:<br> <br> Students can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.</p> <ul> <li>茄子直播 My SSP for&nbsp;students: call&nbsp;1-844-451-9700 or download the app at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/my-ssp/id1112006222">Apple App Store</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onetapsolutions.morneau.myissp&amp;hl=en_CA">Google Play</a>.&nbsp;Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p>Other 24-7 supports available to students include:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://good2talk.ca/" target="_blank">Good 2 Talk</a>&nbsp;Student Helpline&nbsp;1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.</li> <li><a href="http://gersteincentre.org/" target="_blank">Gerstein Crisis Centre</a>&nbsp;416-929-5200&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.torontodistresscentre.com/408-help-line" target="_blank">Distress Centres of Greater Toronto</a>&nbsp;416-408-HELP (4357)</li> <li>The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/HT2TBhVQvzQ2" target="_blank">250 College Street</a></li> <li><a href="http://aht.ca/" target="_blank">Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line</a>&nbsp;416-360-0486</li> </ul> <p>The following services are available to students on all three campuses:</p> <ul> <li>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;St. George campus:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc" target="_blank">Health and Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;(416-978-8030), located at&nbsp;<a href="http://map.utoronto.ca/building/143" target="_blank">Koffler Student Services</a></li> <li>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;茄子直播 Scarborough:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/health-wellness-centre" target="_blank">Health &amp; Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;416-287-7065&nbsp;</li> <li>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;茄子直播 Mississauga:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/mental-health" target="_blank">Health &amp; Counselling Centre</a>&nbsp;905-828-5255</li> </ul> <p>Faculty and staff have access to 24-7&nbsp;support&nbsp;through:</p> <ul> <li>The&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://benefits.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/efap/" target="_blank">Employee &amp; Family Assistance Program (EFAP)</a>, offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142</li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 16 Jan 2020 02:24:58 +0000 geoff.vendeville 161757 at From drop-in counselling to therapy dogs: 茄子直播 rolls out supports ahead of exam season /news/drop-counselling-therapy-dogs-u-t-rolls-out-supports-ahead-exam-season <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">From drop-in counselling to therapy dogs: 茄子直播 rolls out supports ahead of exam season</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/bella-therapy-dog-ears-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=2PoJ5Vad 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/bella-therapy-dog-ears-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=27a6SVnn 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/bella-therapy-dog-ears-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=JGY-8R8L 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/bella-therapy-dog-ears-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=2PoJ5Vad" alt="Bella the therapy dog is petted by students"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rahul.kalvapalle</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-12-04T11:10:00-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 4, 2019 - 11:10" class="datetime">Wed, 12/04/2019 - 11:10</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Bella, the St. John Ambulance therapy dog, will once again be making a visit to Gerstein Library along with furry colleague Beau (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-experience" hreflang="en">Student Experience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>With exam season about to get underway, the University of Toronto is ramping up support services across its three campuses to give students the help they need during this busy period.</p> <p>Students on the St. George campus&nbsp;will once again have access to&nbsp;drop-in counselling at the Robarts Library seven days a week through Dec. 20. The service is available in four languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi and Mandarin.</p> <p>The initiative was first introduced during the spring exam period this year.&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="/news/nine-tips-manage-your-nerves-during-u-t-exam-season">Read nine tips to manage nerves and do your best</a></h3> <p>At 茄子直播 Mississauga and 茄子直播 Scarborough, meanwhile, counselling will be available through the&nbsp;Health &amp; Counselling Centre&nbsp;and&nbsp;Health &amp; Wellness Centre, respectively.</p> <p>茄子直播 Mississauga is also making same-day advising appointments available for students who are experiencing distress or require end-of-term assistance for disability-related issues. In addition, there will be an adviser available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and by phone after 5 p.m.) to support students in the test centre.</p> <p>There are also numerous other activities to help students prepare, de-stress and do their best.&nbsp;Here's a partial&nbsp;list of wellness supports available to 茄子直播 students during exams:</p> <hr> <p>St. George campus</p> <p><strong>Drop-In Counselling&nbsp;</strong>鈥 <a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/services-offered#node-10364">Counsellors from My SSP will be available daily</a> during the fall exam period. Counselling is free and open to all students. Services are offered in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Mandarin</p> <ul> <li>When: Dec. 9-20 (see website for times)</li> <li>Where: Robarts Library, Rooms 1153 and 1155</li> </ul> <p><strong>Therapy Dogs</strong>&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;Bella and Beau, the <a href="http://gerstein.library.utoronto.ca/bella-therapy-dog-visits">St. John Ambulance therapy dogs</a>, are back to help you relax on your study break!</p> <ul> <li>When: Tuesdays and Thursdays until Dec. 17 (see&nbsp;website&nbsp;for times)</li> <li>Where: Gerstein Science Information Centre</li> </ul> <p><strong>Brain Break</strong>&nbsp;鈥 <a href="http://kpe.utoronto.ca/wed-12052018-1400/brain-break">Get moving with a 10-minute physical activity</a>, enter in draws to win prizes and grab some snacks before heading back to your studies refreshed</p> <ul> <li>When: Dec. 5, 6 and 7 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.</li> <li>Where: Robarts Library, south lobby, second floor (see website for details)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Mindful Moments sessions&nbsp;</strong>鈥 <a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/mindful-moments">Practice secular mindful meditation techniques</a> that increase relaxation and focus</p> <ul> <li>When: Various times until mid-December (see website&nbsp;for details)</li> <li>Where: Various locations (see&nbsp;website&nbsp;for details)</li> </ul> <p><b>Exam Jam (茄子直播 Engineering) 鈥 </b><a href="http://undergrad.engineering.utoronto.ca/first-year-office-2/first-year-updates-deadlines/engineering-exam-jam/">Instructor-led review sessions and wellness activities</a> include a free healthy lunch, massages, board games, crafts and more</p> <ul> <li>When: Thursday, Dec. 5 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.</li> <li>Where: Wellness features available in The Pit. Check website&nbsp;for room information for review sessions</li> </ul> <p><strong>Exam Jam (Faculty of Arts &amp; Science)&nbsp;</strong>鈥 <a href="http://sidneysmithcommons.artsci.utoronto.ca/exam-jam/">Instructor-led review sessions and wellness activities</a> include massages, therapy dogs, free snacks, photo booth and more</p> <ul> <li>When: Friday, Dec. 6 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.</li> <li>Where: Wellness activities and features in lobby of Sidney Smith Hall. Check website for room information for review sessions</li> </ul> <h3>茄子直播 Mississauga</h3> <p><img class="migrated-asset" src="/sites/default/files/DSC_0076-crop.jpg" alt></p> <p><em>Students participate in an exam jam at 茄子直播 Mississauga in 2017&nbsp;(photo courtesy of 茄子直播 Mississauga)</em></p> <p><strong>Wellness Routes&nbsp;</strong>鈥 <a href="http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/athletics/fitness-centre/wellness-routes">Take part in a de-stressing walk</a> while sharing your tips and learning about stress management during the exam period. Led by Nikki Robichaud of the Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC)</p> <ul> <li>When: Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.</li> <li>Where: Meet at RAWC entrance (see website for details)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Exam Jam</strong>&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;<a href="http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/academic-support/utm-exam-jam">Therapy dogs, board games, crafts, instructor-led course review sessions</a> and more</p> <ul> <li>When: Friday, Dec. 5 at various times (Check&nbsp;website&nbsp;for details)</li> <li>Where: Various locations</li> </ul> <h3>茄子直播 Scarborough</h3> <p><strong>Peer-To-Peer Drop-Ins</strong>&nbsp;鈥 <a href="http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/health-wellness-events-calendar">Speak to peers, learn coping strategies</a> and learn about available resources on campus</p> <ul> <li>When: Dec. 6 at 12 p.m.</li> <li>Where: UTSC Health &amp; Wellness Centre (check website for details)</li> </ul> <div align="center"> <hr align="center" noshade="noshade" size="1" width="100%"></div> <p><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed" target="_blank">Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now&nbsp;鈥 and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.</a></p> <p><strong>Round-the-clock support:</strong><br> <br> Students can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cie/myssp" target="_blank">My SSP for 茄子直播 Students</a>&nbsp;1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Other 24-7 supports available to students include:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://good2talk.ca/" target="_blank">Good 2 Talk</a>&nbsp;Student Helpline&nbsp;1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.</li> <li><a href="http://gersteincentre.org/" target="_blank">Gerstein Crisis Centre</a>&nbsp;416-929-5200&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.torontodistresscentre.com/408-help-line" target="_blank">Distress Centres of Greater Toronto</a>&nbsp;416-408-HELP (4357)</li> <li>The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at&nbsp;<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/HT2TBhVQvzQ2" target="_blank">250 College Street</a></li> <li><a href="http://aht.ca/" target="_blank">Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line</a>&nbsp;416-360-0486</li> </ul> <p><strong>The following services are available to students on all three campuses:</strong></p> <ul> <li>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>St. George campus:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc" target="_blank">Health and Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;(416-978-8030), located at&nbsp;<a href="http://map.utoronto.ca/building/143" target="_blank">Koffler Student Services</a></strong></li> <li>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>茄子直播 Scarborough:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/health-wellness-centre" target="_blank">Health &amp; Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;416-287-7065&nbsp;</strong></li> <li>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>茄子直播 Mississauga:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/mental-health" target="_blank">Health &amp; Counselling Centre</a>&nbsp;905-828-5255</strong></li> </ul> <p><strong>Faculty and staff have access to 24-7&nbsp;support&nbsp;through:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://benefits.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/efap/" target="_blank">Employee &amp; Family Assistance Program (EFAP)</a>, offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142</li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:10:00 +0000 rahul.kalvapalle 161092 at Students, staff and faculty invited to give their input on future of campus mental health services /news/students-staff-and-faculty-invited-give-their-input-future-campus-mental-health-services <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Students, staff and faculty invited to give their input on future of campus mental health services</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/egag-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iSlfJnku 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/egag-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=MnYdOEdK 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/egag-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=3mazCvhJ 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/egag-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=iSlfJnku" alt="A photo of Egag Egag wearing a wool top coat leaning on a wrought iron fence with red ivy in the background"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-11-12T00:00:00-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 12, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Tue, 11/12/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">鈥淢y mental health challenges became debilitating during what should have been the best time of my life,鈥 says Egag Egag, a student member of the task force on student mental health. 鈥淚鈥檓 in a much better place now鈥 (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/presidential-and-provostial-task-force-student-mental-health" hreflang="en">Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/factor-inwentash-faculty-social-work" hreflang="en">Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-staff" hreflang="en">Faculty &amp; Staff</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Egag Egag</strong>鈥檚 first years of university didn鈥檛 pan out the way he expected.</p> <p>He moved to Ottawa from Toronto to study philosophy and sociology, hoping he would also make new friendships that would last a lifetime. But in an unfamiliar city 400 kilometres away from home, he found it difficult to meet new people.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淧eople were living their lives, partying and demonstrating how great their lives were on Facebook,鈥 he recalls. 鈥淚 was receptive to that in a way that made me feel really left out.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>There was also the added pressure of being a first-generation student who was trying to make his family proud. He felt he couldn't relate to other students and experienced panic attacks throughout his undergraduate years.</p> <p>He came back to Toronto and transferred to the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he saw a counsellor in his final year before graduating in sociology with high distinction. He landed a job soon after, but that's when his mental health challenges peaked.</p> <p>鈥淢y mental health challenges became debilitating during what should have been the best time of my life,鈥 Egag says.</p> <p>But he found help. He saw a therapist, who continued his counselling, and a family doctor, who prescribed medication for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression.</p> <p>鈥淚鈥檓 in a much better place now,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 was very fortunate to have had very supportive people 鈥 but I know that鈥檚 not always the case for everyone else around my age.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>Egag is now pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in social work at 茄子直播 and working as a student&nbsp;counsellor at Family Services Toronto, a career track influenced by his lived experience of mental health challenges. At the same time, he&nbsp;is helping shape the future of mental health services on campus by lending his time and insights to&nbsp;<a href="/news/u-t-announces-members-task-force-student-mental-health">the Presidential &amp; Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health</a>. The group, composed of students, faculty and staff, is reviewing mental health supports across the university and has already conducted a lengthy consultation process on all three campuses.</p> <p>Now, the task force is seeking students鈥 feedback on&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/committees/task-force-on-student-mental-health/summary-of-themes/">broad themes that emerged from the consultations</a>. From Monday to Friday this week, students, staff and faculty can weigh in on the draft summary of themes during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/committees/task-force-on-student-mental-health/">student-run feedback sessions</a>&nbsp;on the three campuses that have been organized by the Innovation Hub. No registration is required for the 鈥減op-up鈥 events, which are being held in high-traffic spaces.</p> <p>Members of the 茄子直播 community can also provide their input through&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.provost.utoronto.ca/pptfsmh-online-consultation/">an online form until Nov. 25</a>&nbsp;or by emailing <a href="mailto:studentmentalhealth@utoronto.ca">studentmentalhealth@utoronto.ca</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sandy Welsh</strong>, 茄子直播鈥檚 vice-provost, students, serves as senior assessor of the task force.</p> <p>鈥淲e want to make sure that we are heading in the right direction,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd so we want to check in with people before we start finalizing any recommendations on these very important issues.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>The themes identified by the task force include questions around the availability of mental health services and how those services are communicated to the university community. Some students, for example, expressed concern about waitlists for counselling appointments and the number of available spots. The task force also identified a need to make pathways to mental health supports more transparent and accessible.&nbsp;</p> <p>As for communication, the task force found that there is misunderstanding about the university鈥檚 mandated leave of absence policy. The measure 鈥 to be used only in exceptional circumstances 鈥 was intended to provide the university <a href="/news/u-t-ombudsperson-lauds-mandatory-leave-absence-policy-critiques-high-pressure-lab-environment">with a way of helping students</a> who display concerning behaviour that suggests extreme mental health challenges or serious health issues.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he policy is helping the very small number of students it was designed to help in terms of providing a compassionate and supportive way for them to take a break and come back,鈥 Welsh says.&nbsp;</p> <p>On the broader topic of demand for mental health services on campus, Welsh says 茄子直播 isn鈥檛 the only post-secondary institution that is working hard to meet students鈥 increased and changing needs.</p> <p>鈥淎ll universities in Ontario, Canada 鈥 even North America 鈥 are in the same position,鈥 she says. 鈥淲e are acutely aware of the need for mental health services, but as an educational institution we know we can鈥檛 deliver these services alone.</p> <p>鈥淲e need engagement with other community partners and levels of government.鈥</p> <p>Last month, 茄子直播 President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler&nbsp;</strong>made many of the same points<a href="/news/u-t-supports-toronto-city-council-request-mental-health-funding">&nbsp;in a letter supporting a Toronto city council motion</a>&nbsp;asking the federal government for funds to bolster local mental health supports.</p> <p>鈥淭he magnitude of these problems requires multiple partners working together so that solutions can be found,鈥 President Gertler wrote.&nbsp;</p> <p>While it can be difficult to talk about one's mental health challenges, Egag says it's vital for the community to participate in consultations so that students receive the support they need.&nbsp;</p> <p>"I'm of the opinion that those of us living with mental health challenges have our own unique stories,鈥 he says. 鈥淸But] they may sometimes feel very hard to articulate and share with others 鈥 unfortunately leaving us to feel that we have to suffer in silence.</p> <p>鈥淚f I could talk to myself at the start of my undergraduate studies, I would have told myself that I am deserving of feeling at peace&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;just as I think every student is.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>In the eight years since he started university, Egag says there's been a noticeable change in the conversation around mental health and he hopes things continue to change for the better.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淔or any student reading this, I want them to know that getting into the University of Toronto is an incredible accomplishment, and they are deserving of support when needed,鈥 he says.&nbsp;</p> <div> <p>And if you see him around campus, Egag says don't hesitate to stop and say, 鈥淗ello.鈥</p> <p>鈥淵ou are more than welcome to tell me if you're having a bad day,鈥 he says.</p> <hr> <p><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed">Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now</a>&nbsp;鈥 and if there is an immediate risk, call 911 or Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566.</p> </div> <p>The following are some of the mental health services available to students on all three campuses:&nbsp;</p> <p>Downtown Toronto:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc">Health and Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;(416-978-8030), located at&nbsp;<a href="http://map.utoronto.ca/building/143">Koffler Student Services</a></p> <p>茄子直播 Scarborough:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/health-wellness-centre">Health &amp; Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;416-287-7065&nbsp;</p> <p>茄子直播 Mississauga:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/mental-health">Health &amp; Counselling Centre</a>&nbsp;905-828-5255</p> <p>Round-the-clock support</p> <p>Free 24/7 support is available outside the university. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.</p> <p><a href="https://good2talk.ca/">Good 2 Talk</a>&nbsp;1-866-925-5454</p> <p><a href="http://gersteincentre.org/">Gerstein Crisis Centre</a>&nbsp;416-929-5200&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.torontodistresscentre.com/">Distress Centres of Greater Toronto</a>&nbsp;416-408-HELP (4357)</p> <p><a href="https://www.camh.ca/en/your-care/programs-and-services/emergency-department">The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health</a>&nbsp;at 250 College Street</p> <p><a href="http://aht.ca/">Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line</a>&nbsp;416-360-0486</p> <p><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cie/myssp">My SSP for 茄子直播&nbsp; Students&nbsp;</a>1-844-451-9700. Immediate support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.</p> <p>Appointed faculty and staff have access to the<a href="http://benefits.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/efap/">&nbsp;Employee &amp; Family Assistance Program (EFAP)</a>, offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 12 Nov 2019 05:00:00 +0000 geoff.vendeville 160530 at 茄子直播's executive director of Health and Wellness helps spearhead national standard on student mental health /news/u-t-s-executive-director-health-and-wellness-helps-spearhead-national-standard-student-mental <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播's executive director of Health and Wellness helps spearhead national standard on student mental health</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/janine-robb.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Pp3S5oSn 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/janine-robb.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=C41O9rGc 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/janine-robb.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Ksn42kX3 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/janine-robb.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Pp3S5oSn" alt="Photo of Janine Robb "> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-10-29T00:00:00-04:00" title="Tuesday, October 29, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Tue, 10/29/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Janine Robb, 茄子直播's executive director of Health and Wellness, is the chair of the technical committee for the Post-Secondary Students Standard, a set of national guidelines being drafted to support student mental health (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The statistics are concerning.</p> <p>Two out of three post-secondary students in Canada say stress negatively affects their studies. Half have used campus mental health services, with 10 per cent being seen in crisis or urgent situations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/catalyst-march-2019-getting-mental-health-standard-post-secondary-campuses">according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada.</a></p> <p>As the demand for mental health services grows on campuses across the country, the commission is championing the development of a new standard for post-secondary school students鈥 psychological health and safety, a voluntary set of guidelines to promote the&nbsp;mental health and well-being of students. The work is being done in collaboration with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) as the standards development organization.</p> <p><strong>Janine Robb</strong>, the executive director of Health and Wellness at the University of Toronto, is helping lead the development of the standard as the chair of the CSA Group鈥檚&nbsp;technical committee, consulting with other experts in the field from coast to coast.</p> <p>鈥淲e certainly know that over the last number of years we鈥檝e seen an increase in students presenting with mental health concerns,鈥 Robb told&nbsp;<em>茄子直播 News</em>. Community supports outside the university are lacking, she added, putting the onus on post-secondary institutions.</p> <p>Robb says university can be a stressful place, especially for new students. 鈥淭here鈥檚 all the transitional pieces that hit students when they get to university,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e away from family, they鈥檙e away from their supports. It鈥檚 a different routine.鈥 And many undergraduates fall within the age group of 16 to 24 years old,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/studentstandard">when 75 per cent of mental health diagnoses occur.</a></p> <p>The mental health guidelines are meant to emphasize a collaborative approach to promoting students鈥 mental health, decrease stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage students to seek help. They may also help increase mental health literacy in both students and staff.&nbsp;</p> <p>For universities, the standard provides benchmarks to support students鈥 mental health while identifying best practices for campus wellness.</p> <p>The guidelines were drafted by a committee of students, administrators, faculty, staff and campus union leaders, and informed by an extensive set of community engagement activities undertaken by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The CSA Z2003 psychological health and safety for post-secondary students draft standard is now out for public review.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/studentstandard">Online feedback on the draft is being sought until Nov. 6.&nbsp;</a></p> <p>鈥淢any Canadian schools, including 茄子直播, have already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/framework">developed a mental health framework</a>,鈥 Robb said. 鈥淭his is actually taking it to the next step.鈥</p> <p>The standard is meant to align with the national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace that has been recognized in Canada since 2013. The CSA Z2003 Post-Secondary Students Standard emphasizes a collaborative approach toward supporting the mental health of students by reinforcing the shared responsibility of students, staff and faculty.</p> <p>鈥淲e want to create a model, a socio-ecological approach, whereby everybody within the community has a responsibility to be mindful of other individuals鈥 mental health,鈥 Robb said.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淪tudents, staff and faculty all have a need to pay attention to behavioural changes in their vicinity. Where possible, they should have a brief interaction and steer someone toward the proper resources if necessary,鈥 she added.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Mental Health Commission of Canada initiative is funded by the RBC Foundation, Bell Let鈥檚 Talk, the Rossy Foundation and Health Canada.</p> <p>Robb hopes the standard will be ready in the spring, and that 茄子直播 will be an early adopter so that it can be applied with the workplace standards 鈥渦nder a global umbrella of a healthy campus.鈥&nbsp;</p> <hr> <p><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed">Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now</a> 鈥 and if there is an immediate risk, call 911 or Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566.</p> <p>The following are some of the mental health services available to students on all three campuses:&nbsp;</p> <p>Downtown Toronto: <a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc">Health and Wellness Centre</a> (416-978-8030), located at <a href="http://map.utoronto.ca/building/143">Koffler Student Services</a></p> <p>茄子直播 Scarborough: <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/health-wellness-centre">Health &amp; Wellness Centre</a> 416-287-7065&nbsp;</p> <p>茄子直播 Mississauga: <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/mental-health">Health &amp; Counselling Centre</a> 905-828-5255</p> <p>Round-the-clock support</p> <p>Free 24/7 support is available outside the university. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.</p> <p><a href="https://good2talk.ca/">Good 2 Talk</a> 1-866-925-5454</p> <p><a href="http://gersteincentre.org/">Gerstein Crisis Centre</a> 416-929-5200&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.torontodistresscentre.com/">Distress Centres of Greater Toronto</a> 416-408-HELP (4357)</p> <p><a href="https://www.camh.ca/en/your-care/programs-and-services/emergency-department">The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health</a> at 250 College Street</p> <p><a href="http://aht.ca/">Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line</a> 416-360-0486</p> <p><a href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cie/myssp">My SSP for 茄子直播&nbsp; Students </a>1-844-451-9700. Immediate support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.</p> <p>Appointed faculty and staff have access to the<a href="http://benefits.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/efap/"> Employee &amp; Family Assistance Program (EFAP)</a>, offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 29 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000 geoff.vendeville 159919 at 茄子直播 to improve safety at Bahen Centre as it reopens /news/u-t-improve-safety-bahen-centre-it-reopens <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 to improve safety at Bahen Centre as it reopens</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-12-19-coatofarms2-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=FUMCR-mB 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-12-19-coatofarms2-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Al6HT4PV 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-12-19-coatofarms2-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=wK38FNkI 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-12-19-coatofarms2-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=FUMCR-mB" alt="Photo of coat of arms"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-09-29T00:00:00-04:00" title="Sunday, September 29, 2019 - 00:00" class="datetime">Sun, 09/29/2019 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-staff" hreflang="en">Faculty &amp; Staff</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">University to set up memorial after student death</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">&nbsp;</p> <p>The Bahen Centre for Information Technology will reopen Sunday at 11 a.m. following the death of a student on Friday night.</p> <p>鈥淲e are taking immediate steps to improve safety at the Bahen Centre and we will continue to work on permanent changes,鈥 said&nbsp;<strong>Sandy Welsh</strong>,&nbsp;vice-provost, students at the University of Toronto.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淭he safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. We鈥檝e listened to concerns about the building and are putting in place measures that will improve safety.鈥</p> <p>The university has been working with the building鈥檚 architects since last spring to design permanent changes that will enhance safety in Bahen. Construction begins Sunday to put temporary barriers in place, with installation of long-term changes expected to get underway later this fall.</p> <p>鈥淲e mourn the loss of our student, and we are here to support our community,鈥&nbsp;Welsh said. 鈥淥ur thoughts are with the student鈥檚 family, friends, fellow students, staff and instructors.鈥</p> <p>Once family members confirm their wishes, more information about the student may be shared.</p> <p>Counsellors and chaplains will continue to be available Sunday until 4 p.m.&nbsp;at the Health and Wellness Centre in the Koffler Student Services Centre (first floor, room 111),&nbsp;in addition to regular services.</p> <p>鈥淲e recognize that many people in our community would like to pay tribute and mourn the loss of one of our students,鈥 Welsh said. 鈥淲hen the Bahen Centre reopens, members of our community who wish to pay respects will have the opportunity to do so and cards to share messages of sympathy and concern will be provided.鈥</p> <hr> <p style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now</a>&nbsp;鈥 and if there is an immediate risk, call 911.</p> <p><strong>Round-the-clock support</strong><br> <br> Free 24/7 support is available outside the university. Students, staff and faculty can speak to a trained crisis worker at any hour of the day.</p> <ul> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://good2talk.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Good 2 Talk</a>&nbsp;Student Helpline&nbsp;1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.</li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://gersteincentre.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gerstein Crisis Centre</a>&nbsp;416-929-5200&nbsp;</li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.torontodistresscentre.com/408-help-line" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Distress Centres of Greater Toronto</a>&nbsp;416-408-HELP (4357)</li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://goo.gl/maps/HT2TBhVQvzQ2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">250 College Street</a></li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://aht.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anishnawbe Health Toronto Mental Health Crisis Line</a>&nbsp;416-360-0486</li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/cie/myssp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">My SSP for 茄子直播 Students</a>&nbsp;1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.</li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Appointed faculty and staff have access to the&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://benefits.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/efap/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Employee &amp; Family Assistance Program (EFAP)</a>, offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142</li> </ul> <p><strong>The following are some of the services available to students on all three campuses:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>St. George campus:&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Health and Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;(416-978-8030), located at&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="http://map.utoronto.ca/building/143" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Koffler Student Services</a></strong></li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>茄子直播 Scarborough:&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hwc/health-wellness-centre" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Health &amp; Wellness Centre</a>&nbsp;416-287-7065&nbsp;</strong></li> <li style="margin-left:1in;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<strong>茄子直播 Mississauga:&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/health/mental-health" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Health &amp; Counselling Centre</a>&nbsp;905-828-5255</strong></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Sun, 29 Sep 2019 04:00:00 +0000 lanthierj 122575 at 茄子直播 community mourns student killed in attack /news/u-t-mourns-loss-student <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 community mourns student killed in attack </span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-04-25-coat-of-arms-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rnfHvH3k 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2018-04-25-coat-of-arms-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=0jqgYJS3 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2018-04-25-coat-of-arms-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=V1sCIakG 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2018-04-25-coat-of-arms-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rnfHvH3k" alt="Photo of coat of arms"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-04-26T17:06:15-04:00" title="Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 17:06" class="datetime">Thu, 04/26/2018 - 17:06</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/human-resources-equity" hreflang="en">Human Resources &amp; Equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto has learned that one of our students has died as a result of Monday鈥檚 van attack on Yonge Street. The university is aware of media reports about the student鈥檚 death and other members of the university community directly affected by the attack. We are working to gather information while respecting the privacy of all those involved.</p> <p>鈥淲e are deeply saddened that a member of our community has died as a result of this terrible incident,鈥 said 茄子直播 President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler</strong>. 鈥淲e mourn the loss of our student and want those affected to know that they have the support of the university.</p> <p>鈥淚n addition to those who are directly affected, we know that many at 茄子直播 are hurting. We encourage those in need of assistance to seek help through the services available to them on campus, as well as in the wider community.鈥</p> <h3><a href="http://www.president.utoronto.ca/statement-from-president-gertler">Read a message from&nbsp;President Meric Gertler to the 茄子直播 community</a></h3> <p>茄子直播鈥檚 Health &amp; Wellness Centre&nbsp;<a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/emergencies">provides a list of resources for students</a>.&nbsp;For faculty and staff, the HR &amp; Equity department&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/health-safety-wellbeing/">provides a list of resources</a>. In addition, the university will continue to provide support to those directly affected.</p> <p>This week, 茄子直播 has lowered its flags across all three campuses to honour the 10 people who were killed and the 15 people who were injured. In the days to come, the university will announce plans to honour the victims of the attack.</p> <p>鈥淭his attack has touched the lives of so many people, here and around the globe,鈥 said President Gertler. 鈥淲e want them to know they are in our thoughts. I also want to thank all members of our 茄子直播 community who are working to support them. And I join so many other Torontonians in thanking the first-responders involved, for their outstanding professionalism and service.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>The City of Toronto will host the <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/awards-tributes/tributes/torontostrong-vigil/">#TorontoStrong Vigil</a> on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Mel Lastman Square. &nbsp;Members of the public are encouraged to attend. Displaying the resiliency of Torontonians, the city-hosted vigil is being organized in collaboration with community groups&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faithinthecity.ca/">Faith in the City</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taic.ca/about-us">Toronto Area Interfaith Council</a>.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 26 Apr 2018 21:06:15 +0000 noreen.rasbach 134097 at 茄子直播 saddened by 'horrific' van attack: President Meric Gertler /news/u-t-saddened-horrific-van-attack-president-meric-gertler <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 saddened by 'horrific' van attack: President Meric Gertler</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Van-attack-UofT-flag%28web-lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=kdvaZjIi 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Van-attack-UofT-flag%28web-lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=c7lCAcA3 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Van-attack-UofT-flag%28web-lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=a-UrDgaA 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Van-attack-UofT-flag%28web-lead%29.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=kdvaZjIi" alt="Photo of flag at half mast"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-04-24T12:22:09-04:00" title="Tuesday, April 24, 2018 - 12:22" class="datetime">Tue, 04/24/2018 - 12:22</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">A Canadian flag flies at half-mast Tuesday at the University of Toronto's downtown Toronto campus (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/chris-sorensen" hreflang="en">Chris Sorensen</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto&nbsp;is offering its condolences to the victims of the devastating van attack near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue that鈥檚 being dubbed the country鈥檚 worst mass killing in nearly 30 years.</p> <p>茄子直播 President <strong>Meric Gertler</strong> tweeted Monday evening he was saddened by the 鈥渉orrific鈥 attack that occurred just hours earlier when a rental van jumped a curb and drove into pedestrians on a busy stretch of Yonge Street, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake and an entire city in shock.</p> <p>So far, 10 people have been declared dead while another 15 were taken to hospital.</p> <p>鈥淭he thoughts of the 茄子直播 community are with those who have been affected,鈥 President Gertler said. 鈥淥ur city is resilient &amp; our citizens are compassionate.鈥</p> <p>He signed off his tweet with the hashtag #TorontoStrong.</p> <p>Police yesterday arrested Alek Minassian, 25, after a brief but tense standoff that was captured on video and shared on social media. Minassian made a first appearance in court Tuesday morning, charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts&nbsp;of attempted murder.</p> <p><em>Bloomberg News</em> called the attack the worst mass killing since the 1989 massacre at Montreal鈥檚 脡cole Polytechnique that left 14 women dead.</p> <p>In an act of solidarity, 茄子直播 joined Toronto City Hall and other local institutions by lowering flags on its three Toronto-area campuses to half-mast on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">鈥 University of Toronto Scarborough (@UTSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UTSC/status/988800520423989250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>茄子直播 students on all three campuses who were either impacted by the event or are finding it difficult to cope with its aftermath are encouraged to get help. The university鈥檚 Health &amp; Wellness Centre <a href="http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/emergencies">provides a list of resources for students</a>.&nbsp;For faculty and staff, the HR &amp; Equity department <a href="http://www.hrandequity.utoronto.ca/health-safety-wellbeing/">provides a list of resources</a>.</p> <p>Some 茄子直播 students took it upon themselves to reach out to a rattled local community.</p> <p><strong>Leila Atri</strong>, a history and diaspora and transnational studies student, and her fellow don at 茄子直播's Victoria University, <strong>Alex Bowie</strong>,&nbsp;made posters for a makeshift&nbsp;memorial near Yonge Street and Finch&nbsp;Avenue.</p> <p>Late Monday night, the pair brought the posters to Burwash Dining Hall, where students were studying for exams. About 70 people added messages of support, Atri said, the likes of&nbsp;鈥淲e are standing with you,鈥 and&nbsp;鈥溓炎又辈 is with you all the way and sending love.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__8144 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/uoft-memorial_2.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> <em>茄子直播 students made a poster for a makeshift memorial at Yonge and Finch (photo courtesy of Leila Atri)</em></p> <p>鈥淚 know the stress around finals season,鈥 she told <em>茄子直播 News</em><em>.</em>&nbsp;鈥淪ometimes you feel like you don't have time for anything else. I was really grateful that people all got up and wrote something.鈥</p> <p>She was interviewed by City TV when she went to leave the signs at the memorial.</p> <p>鈥淧eople shouldn鈥檛 feel alone or isolated, even though the city can sometimes make us feel this way,鈥 Atri said, adding she grew up in North York.</p> <p>鈥淲e鈥檙e all in this together.鈥</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">鈥 Tammie Sutherland (@citytammie) <a href="https://twitter.com/citytammie/status/988780031575904258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:22:09 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 133993 at Brrr! 茄子直播 doctor shares advice on how to deal with extreme cold /news/brrr-u-t-doctor-shares-advice-how-deal-extreme-cold <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Brrr! 茄子直播 doctor shares advice on how to deal with extreme cold</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Guide-to-winter.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Yf79X34W 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Guide-to-winter.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=yfZvAcs3 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Guide-to-winter.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=aPPgdwKr 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Guide-to-winter.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Yf79X34W" alt="Student walking across front campus"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>geoff.vendeville</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2018-01-04T14:30:00-05:00" title="Thursday, January 4, 2018 - 14:30" class="datetime">Thu, 01/04/2018 - 14:30</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">All bundled up, people walk across the downtown Toronto campus near Convocation Hall on Thursday (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health-and-wellness-centre" hreflang="en">Health and Wellness Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/weather" hreflang="en">weather</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Dressing for winter is more important than dressing to impress, says Dr. David Lowe of the Health &amp; Wellness Centre</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The winter deep freeze is upon us.</p> <p>Environment Canada issued an extreme cold weather warning for Toronto on Thursday. Temperatures will fall rapidly this evening to lows of -20 to -25 C, or -35 to -40 C with wind chill. &nbsp;The extreme cold is expected to last through Saturday, or Sunday morning.</p> <p>Staying warm during the cold snap is a snap if you take the right precautions. Dr. <strong>David Lowe</strong>, physician-in-chief of the University of Toronto's Health &amp; Wellness Centre, gives his advice:</p> <p><strong>Layer up:</strong> To survive the trek across campus for a class, it helps to wear layer upon layer of clothing. Break out the long johns if you have them, Lowe says. And don鈥檛 forget to protect your extremities. Mittens are better than gloves, Lowe added, because your fingers share warmth.</p> <p><img alt="Zebra mittens" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7213 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Zebra-mittens.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>Mittens are warmer than gloves, says Dr. David Lowe (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)&nbsp;</em></p> <p><strong>Watch your step: </strong>Beware icy sidewalks. Take a cleared path whenever possible, Lowe says. 鈥淵ou should slow down while walking, just as you would driving a car. Be aware of your surroundings, the conditions, and use handrails going up stairs,鈥 he says.</p> <p><strong>'Tis the season for boots:</strong> To find a pair that will keep you from falling, Lowe suggests checking <a href="http://www.ratemytreads.com/">the winter boot ratings</a> by scientists from the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The research team, which includes 茄子直播 scientists, tested the slip resistance of 98 different boots and gave them a rating of one to three 鈥渟nowflakes.鈥 Only eight per cent met a minimum standard. 鈥淵ou put snow tires on your car in the winter. Surely you should worry about the boots you鈥檙e going to wear in the same weather,鈥 茄子直播 Professor <strong>Geoff Fernie</strong>, the research director at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/12/11/study-finds-most-winter-boots-too-slippery-for-ice.html">told <em>The Toronto Star</em> in 2016.</a></p> <p><strong>Choose warmth over fashion:</strong> No one likes hat hair, but frostbitten ears are worse, Lowe warns.&nbsp;鈥淚t's fashionable now to wear your toque year round, so it shouldn't be such a big issue anymore,鈥 he added. 鈥淚f you can wear a toque in L.A., you can do it here.鈥</p> <p><strong>Watch out for signs of frostbite:</strong> With wind chill between -28 and -39 C, exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes, according to Environment Canada. Signs of frostbite include numbness, a change in skin colour and a prickling feeling, Lowe says. Joint or muscle stiffness can indicate a deeper frostbite.</p> <p><strong>Stay indoors: </strong>One of the simplest ways to beat the cold is to avoid it. In this weather, it鈥檚 best to go out only&nbsp;when necessary, Lowe says. If studying at home isn鈥檛 an option, find <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/cozyuoft/">a warm and cozy spot on campus</a>. Hot tip: the Graham Library at Trinity College on 茄子直播鈥檚 downtown Toronto campus has three gas fireplaces.</p> <p><img alt="Trinity College library fireplace" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__7216 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/Trinity-fireplace.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;" typeof="foaf:Image"><br> <em>The spots near the fireplaces in Trinity College's Graham Library are hot real estate for studying (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 04 Jan 2018 19:30:00 +0000 geoff.vendeville 126381 at