Supporting Mental Health In Our Community
The Department of Geography & Planning would like to hear from our community on ways in which we can better support mental health and well-being.
As part of this on-going commitment, we have installed a suggestion box in our mailroom (Rm. 5043, Sidney Smith Hall, 100 Saint George St.). Please feel free to provide any suggestions in this way.
Finding Support – Mental Health Resources for Students
For immediate response:
- Feeling distressed? Find someone to talk to right now – and if there is an immediate risk, call 911. 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. 1-866-925-5454
- U ofT Telus Health Student Support for U of T Students 1-844-451-9700. Immediate counselling support is available in 35 languages and ongoing support in 146 languages.
- Good 2 Talk Student Helpline 1-866-925-5454. Professional counselling, information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.
- Gerstein Crisis Centre A 24-hour community based mental health crisis centre 416-929-5200
- Distress Centres of Greater Toronto 416-408-HELP (4357)
- SafeTALK is a 3-hour training designed to ensure that people with thoughts of suicide are connected to helpers who are prepared to provide first-aid interventions. Free for all students currently studying at University of Toronto.
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 416-535-8501, offers services near campus at 250 College Street
For building a mental health toolkit, and finding your way around U of T resources:
- U of T Mental Health Resource Page that includes services search engine and guide for building mental health toolkit.
- Navi, a student mental health virtual agent to help navigate mental health support at U of T.
For graduate students specifically:
- Grad Minds – Mental Health Advisory Committee of the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU)
- Graduate Wellness Counselling
- Graduate Wellness Portal
- Graduate Resources & Supports
Health and Wellness Centres on all three campuses:
- Downtown Toronto: Health and Wellness Centre 416-978-8030
- U of T Scarborough: Health and Wellness Centre 416-287-7065
- U of T Mississauga: Health and Counselling Centre 905-828-5255
For name-change assistance
Mental Health Resources for Faculty & Staff
- Faculty of Arts & Science web page for navigating mental health resources
- Appointed faculty and staff have access to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP), offered through Homewood Health, online and by phone at 1-800-663-1142.
- The Integrated Wellness Hub is a single source for all wellness services, supports, and resources available to employees across the three campuses.
- Resources Guide for Mental Health Support from the SCOPE Team at the University Health Network.
Supporting Others – Mental Health Training for Faculty & Staff
- U of T online module in support of student mental health: IAR
Other Resources and Suggestions
These are some further resources and suggestions provided by our community for supporting mental health. These are not crisis supports. Not all of these will be the right choice for everyone, each one of us is different and we all require different forms of support and care.
Therapy and Support
- BounceBack: Reclaim Your Health: A free skill-building program designed to help manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry
- Togetherall: An online peer-to-peer support community, free for all Ontario residents
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour Peer Support Group: A respectful and safe space to discuss mental health challenges as they relate to the complex identities and experiences of racial minorities in Ontario
- Umbrella Mental Health Network (UMHN): Offers psychology and psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families in the LGBTQ+ community
- Hard Feelings: A community of professional counsellors who provide low-cost services and support, as well as a bookstore with resources to help build and sustain stronger mental health
- Across Boundaries: Provides a range of mental health support and services and works within anti-Racism, anti-Black racism and anti-Oppression frameworks
- Anishnawbe Health Toronto (416-360-0486): The organization offers a healing centre for the Aboriginal Community of Toronto
- Sherbourne Counselling Services for LGBTQ2 and Newcomer communities
Healing
- How does nature impact our wellbeing?: Free access to nature at the U of T Green House during all seasons
- Six Degrees Health: Community acupuncture clinic
- Practice mindfulness to manage academic stress: Free classes and workshops on campus
Projects and Resource Lists
- Fireweed Collective: A support network and education project by and for people who experience the world in ways that are often diagnosed as mental illness
- Project LETS: Race-Specific Resources & Information
Art and Social Media
- Millennial Therapist: Mental health tips from a practicing psychotherapist
- The Sad Ghost Club: Comics that provide knowledge and compassion for all those experiencing the different sides of mental health