• Supporting Student Mental Health in Ontario: Exploring Best Practices and Identifying Gaps
    Feb 13, 2024 | Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
    The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) has released a report entitled Supporting Student Mental Health in Ontario: Exploring Best Practices and Identifying Gaps. At the request of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU), HEQCO researchers performed a jurisdictional scan of Post-Secondary Education (PSE) institutions and completed 27 interviews with stakeholders who are directly involved in delivering mental health programs at PSE institutions in Ontario.

    The report outlines current best practices across Ontario as well as challenges and gaps. Best practices from the report include using a whole-campus and stepped-care model and offering culturally relevant programs. Although the report concludes that Ontario has a well-funded and well-resourced mental health support strategy, it outlines numerous challenges faced by campuses, including funding structures, staffing shortages, and data silos leading to barriers accessing mental health resources. The report ends by outlining five recommendations for the government’s consideration.

    Download the Report Here (PDF)

    HECQO researchers shared their findings from this report during an interactive workshop at the 2024 Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) conference. The input from workshop participants resonated with and reinforced the conclusions of HEQCO’s report, echoing the recommendations for a “coordinated, systemic approach to delivering mental health supports and resources” and placing greater emphasis on culturally relevant support measures. This blog post summarizes the insights gained from the workshop: Imagining New Possibilities for Campus Mental Health Support