Student Mental Health Framework:
A Whole-Campus Approach

Mental Health Services Designed for You

Designed to help you navigate challenges and thrive during your time at Laurier, we offer numerous direct pathways to mental health support, offered both in-person and virtually, to help meet you where you are.

Elevated and Coordinated Student Support

If you find yourself experiencing more complex challenges or extenuating circumstances that impact your academics, or require coordinated support through multiple campus departments, the Student Care and Support staff in the Dean of Students Office is here for you. Whether you require coordinated support for academic disruptions due to mental health challenges, hospitalizations, or unexpected personal or family emergencies, the Student Care and Support staff can help connect you to the right resources and make sure you have a plan for wellness and success following times of difficulty.

Student Wellness Centre

We know that your mental health can’t thrive if you’re not taking care of all aspects of your wellness. That’s why the Student Wellness Centre is home to Laurier’s physical, emotional, and mental health services, and provides you access to several wellness professionals and resources to enhance your overall health and well-being. Offering a wide range of services including access to doctors and registered nurses, sexual health appointments, counsellors, mental health nurses, registered dietitians, and more, the Student Wellness Centre provides a safe and welcoming environment for you to get the care you need.

Counsellors Embedded Across Campus

We recognize that everyone’s mental health journey is unique, which is why we prioritize equitable access to mental health on campus. The Student Wellness Centre has worked with key departments on our Waterloo and Brantford campuses to embed mental health support within numerous different spaces to make our counsellors more accessible to you, including in:

• On-Campus Residences
• Athletic Complex
• Indigenous Student Centre
• International Student Support
• Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Empower Me Program

Available to all Laurier students, no matter where you study, Empower Me is a confidential mental health and wellness service available 24/7, 365 days a year. Empower Me has several professionals with various domains of expertise, including psychology, psychotherapy, social work, and nutrition to support you and respond effectively to diverse needs. You can access services via telephone, videoconference, or in-person.

Empower Me is:

• confidential
• multilingual
• culturally sensitive
• gender-inclusive
• faith inclusive

Receiving Accommodations

If your mental health is impacting your academic abilities, you may benefit from connecting with Accessible Learning. Accessible Learning supports students with permanent, temporary, persistent/prolonged, and suspected disabilities, including those with a mental health diagnosis. Accessible Learning listens to your story, by considering your academic program and any information from your healthcare provider, to create an accommodation plan with you that adjusts tasks, activities, or the learning environment to better facilitate your access and engagement. You do not need documentation or a formal diagnosis to connect and learn about the supports for which you may be eligible.

Accessing Nutritious Food

We understand the impact that food security can have on mental health, which is why we prioritize food access programs designed to combat student food insecurity including, but not limited to:

• Student food bank;
• Pay-what-you-can grocery store;
• Weekly grocery and hygiene product giveaways; and
• Breakfast programs.

If you’re experiencing a financial crisis that impacts your ability to afford groceries, we encourage you to seek emergency support from the Dean of Students Office.

Getting Job Ready

The pressure to secure a job during or after your studies can be overwhelming while balancing your academic and financial obligations. Wherever you are in your career journey, the Experiential Learning and Career Development team, which includes the Career Centre, Co-op, and Community and Workplace Partnerships, are here to support your individual needs as you prepare for your future. Our comprehensive services and programs can help you:

• Understand yourself and learn about career options;
• Gain experience and develop competencies;
• Prepare a polished resumé and interview with confidence;
• Access thousands of jobs and connect with employers; and
• Pursue further education.

Living Sustainably

Sustainable practices can greatly benefit your mental health. Activities like exercising outdoors can boost your mood and energy, while donating items or using sustainable products can create a sense of purpose and well-being. Small changes that help the environment can also help you feel more connected and fulfilled. Explore resources on our Waterloo and Brantford campuses to support both your mental health and environmental wellness:

• Sustainability Office events
• Freestore and Move Out programs
• Laurier’s menstrual equity program
• Access to local hiking trails
• Community gardens

These resources encourage a balanced lifestyle that supports both your personal well-being and the health of the planet.

Celebrating Culture

If you’re looking to explore your beliefs, embrace your sense of purpose, and/or engage in spiritual practices, Laurier offers numerous workshops and events aimed to foster connection, encourage discussion, and enhance your spiritual knowledge. Additionally, we offer spaces for meditation, prayer, or quiet reflection, as well as access to one-on-one guidance to help you navigate your spiritual journey. We encourage you to connect with our many cultural services:

• Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Indigenous Student Services
• International Student Support
• Multi-Faith Supports and Spiritual Care Coordination
• Accommodations for Religious Observances

Finding Community

No one gets through university alone – lean on your support networks to help you, including all the student-centered services at Laurier! Support networks can help you as you navigate university, whether it’s your first year of undergrad or during grad school. These networks might include our friends, family, university services and supports, and so much more. At Laurier, we’ve got plenty of community-building supports:

• International Student Support
• Laurier Off-Campus University Students (LOCUS)
• Residence
• Student-run organizations and clubs
• Student Experience events

Staying Active

When focusing on academics, it can be challenging to stay active, exercise, and move your body. That’s why the Athletics and Recreation department – at both the Laurier Brantford YMCA and the Athletic Complex in Waterloo – dedicates space, staffing, and resources to promote physical well-being, social connection, and mental health support. In addition to providing individualized support for student athletes, Laurier provides you with a variety of recreation programming, sport-based clubs, and athletic facilities to better support the connection between your physical health and mental well-being.

Creating an Academic Plan

Academic progress can have a significant impact on mental health and well-being, especially as you navigate the challenges of university life. Academic advising is available to all students, regardless of academic standing, to provide the support you need to create, refine, and realize an academic plan that aligns with your goals and aspirations.

Managing Finances

Being a university student adds significant financial pressures to your plate which can greatly impact your mental health. If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of, or get support managing, your finances, book a financial coaching appointment with Laurier’s Financial Literacy Specialist to assess your finances, create a budget, set goals, and explore financial resources. Additionally, you can complete the Money Management Certificate, which is a non-credit program that helps you learn all about budgeting, credit, investing, and financial planning. There are also numerous financial aid funding opportunities to explore and apply for, designed to help successful applicants with tuition, rent, or other living costs.

Succeeding in Academics

It’s no secret that if you’re struggling academically, you may also experience feelings of stress, overwhelm, and pressure to succeed, but there are numerous academic resources to help you. Student Success offers workshops and one-on-one appointments with professional staff designed to support skill development in numeracy, studying, and writing. Whether you’re looking to get back or stay on track, Student Success can help you identify and reach your academic goals.

Transitioning to University Life

The transition to university is big and can be overwhelming for some students. That’s why our Student Success team, in collaboration with the undergraduate Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association, have developed a variety of programs and services to support students with their transition to Laurier from the time you accept your offer to your first day of classes and beyond. The undergraduate Laurier 101 program and graduate ASPIRE program ensures first-year students are equipped with the information and tools needed to succeed and are aware of the resources available to help them be well. Our transition programs also provide information for parents and supporters to prepare them for their student’s time with us.

Undergraduate Students

If you’re an undergraduate student at Laurier, you’re part of the Students’ Union membership. The Students’ Union is operated by elected undergraduate student leaders and provides a variety of supports and advocacy related to the mental health of undergraduate students, including you! As it relates to mental health supports, the Students' Union Wellness Resource page is a great connection for you to learn more about their clubs, events and initiatives that foster positive mental health. In addition to several services, the Students’ Union also supports many student-led groups dedicated to supporting the mental health of students and building positive culture on campus as it relates to mental health and wellness.

Graduate Students

If you’re a graduate diploma, masters, or PhD student, you’re represented by the Graduate Students’ Association. The Graduate Students’ Association offers a variety of supports and services to aid your graduate student experience such as wellness initiatives, academic supports, social justice initiatives, extended benefit plans, and advocacy. The Graduate Students’ Association offers a variety of initiatives and resources to support your mental health, help you get connected to the graduate student community and work to identify and address the burdens you may face during your studies.

Mental Health and Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

To promote equity and belonging for all students, the Student Wellness Centre offers specialized support with counsellors who represent equity-deserving groups, including a racialized counsellor, an Indigenous counsellor, and a counsellor for international students. Students who identify closely with any of these staff members can book an in-person or virtual appointment with that staff member.

Support for Equity-Deserving Students

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CSEDI) works to cultivate a culture that respects and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). CSEDI provides support, education, and spaces for students to find community and engage in EDI initiatives about gender and sexuality; race, ethnicity and culture; and faith and spirituality. The centre works closely with campus partners to facilitate student access to mental health supports on campus and in seeking accommodations for religious observances.

Support for Black and Racialized Students

Laurier has dedicated staffing, resources, and support to provide social, academic, and wellness programming and support for Black and Racialized students. This includes allocating staff members in prominent areas on campus, including the Dean of Students Office, Student Success, Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and more, to ensure that supports are in place to cater to the individualized needs of Laurier’s Black and Racialized students.

Support for Indigenous Students

The Indigenous Student Centres are dedicated to enhancing the student experience for self-identified Indigenous students. These centres offer places to build community through shared study spaces, connection to other students, and opportunities to explore cultural identity through specialized programming catered to the needs and experiences of Indigenous students. Indigenous students also have access to Indigenous Student Support Coordinators who can meet with students one-on-one to help navigate all aspects of the university system within the Indigenous Student Centre and across campus.

Support for International Students

The International Student Support team provides personalized support and guidance on immigration, work permits, transition to life in Canada, and more, ensuring a smooth transition and successful student journey for all international students. We recognize the unique challenges international students face when moving to a new country, so we prioritize creating a welcoming, community-oriented environment to foster positive mental health, social connections, and overall success while studying abroad.

Promotion, Education, and Skill Development

As a part of the Student Experience team, Wellness Education offers resources and a range of interactive programming led by peers and professionals to promote, educate, and encourage you to practice balancing healthy habits and behaviours that positively influence your overall well-being. Mental health support is also showcased during Thrive Week, a weeklong series of free events to build positive mental health in our campus community. Throughout all programming, specific attention is dedicated to mental health, resilience, stress reduction, harm reduction, and more. All programming is designed to be aligned with the Seven Dimensions of Wellness and from a holistic wellness perspective to help you thrive in all aspects of wellness.

Training Opportunities

If you’re looking to further develop your mental health navigation strategies, Wellness Education also coordinates numerous opportunities to increase your knowledge, further your skillset, and gain valuable experience to help yourself and those around you. Various training options are available to help you gain practical tools and tips for navigating mental health challenges. In addition to Wellness Education training programs, our Dean of Students Office facilitates a five-week Growing Your Strengths workshop series to help you build resiliency and coping skills to overcome common challenges or times of stress.

Peer-to-Peer Programs

Embedded in most campus departments, there are countless ways to connect with your fellow peers to overcome mental health challenges together, fostering a sense of community and belonging. We recognize that sometimes it’s easier to relate to someone who’s going through similar experiences to you, which is exactly why you’ll find peer leaders in many of our campus departments, including Accessible Learning Peer Support, Athletics' "I Move My Mood", International Student Leaders, Laurier Off-Campus University Students, Residence, Student Success' Peer Academic Coaching and Peer Wellness Education – as well as in the Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association – to connect you with the right resources. Ultimately, these peer-led initiatives promote overall well-being and create a network of support that empowers you, and all other students to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Community of Care

Beyond the numerous campus services and resources designed to support your mental health journey, Laurier continues to learn, grow, and evolve in this area with the support of its faculty, staff, and external partners, and the addition of annual reporting to assess the effectiveness of supports available.

Faculty and Staff

To help streamline your ease of connecting with mental health resources, The Dean of Students Office created the Blue Folder Resource. This is a guide for all faculty and staff that helps them recognize when you, or any other fellow student, might need support and guides how to best direct you to the right resources. Primarily, this guide includes an online Care Report referral system that allows faculty and staff to refer students to the Dean of Students Office for coordinated support when they need it most. Additionally, the Dean of Students Office also conducts outreach, training, and coordination with campus and community resources to ensure effective student support in all areas of the university.

External Partnerships

Beyond all the supports we offer at Laurier, we are grateful for our partnerships with external organizations that enhance mental health support for our student body. In Waterloo, the Delton Glebe Counselling Centre can provide you with affordable, accessible counselling services, offering both short- and long-term support. Laurier also collaborates with Camino Wellbeing, which offers specialized services including 2SLGBTQIA+ support and counselling for survivors of abuse. Additionally, all students a part of the Laurier community can explore other external resources to find the support that best meets their needs.

Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support

If you, or another student, have been impacted by sexual violence and are unsure where to turn, we are here to support you with compassion and connect you to resources that can help. Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Supports includes counseling, advocacy, and education to provide information about what your options are, how you can find more support, and what next steps you might consider taking. Additionally, Laurier works closely with Sexual Assault Support Centres (SASC) in Waterloo and Brantford to offer individual and group counselling, legal advocacy, and court support for students affected by sexual violence.

Faculty Research and Involvement

With multiple faculty members researching progression and improvements in mental health support, we are constantly growing and working towards better mental health processes and initiatives within our campuses and the greater community. To learn more about the many faculty members pursuing research related to mental health, check out the Laurier Experts tool to browse faculty members and their research topics about mental health.

Our Commitment to a Whole-Campus Approach to Mental Health

Laurier’s undergraduate and graduate students:

At Laurier, we know that balancing academic goals, financial responsibilities, relationships, and personal growth can be overwhelming. More than ever, we are aware of the increasing mental health needs of our students and want you to know that you are not alone in facing these challenges, and the Laurier community is here to support you.

Positive mental health is essential to student success and we are committed to providing accessible resources across campus. With our whole campus approach, our expectation is not that every staff, instructor, or student leader acts as a mental health professional. Instead, our goal is that everyone on campus is working together to contribute to a culture where even if someone doesn’t have all the answers, they have the tools to help you get connected to the right support for your unique needs.

We recognize that mental health is not one-size-fits-all and Laurier is dedicated to offering a wide variety of resources to help you find the best fit for every step of your mental health journey. We prioritize creating an inclusive environment where equity-deserving students (i.e., students facing barriers due to factors like ethnicity, disability, finances, etc.) feel represented and supported. Our programs connect you with experts who share your experiences and work to create spaces where everyone feels understood and welcome.

We encourage all students to take full advantage of the wide array of resources, offered both on-campus and virtually, to help you maintain positive mental health. Together, we can ensure that every student feels supported, valued, and empowered.

Stay golden,

Adam Lawrence
Dean of Students

Annual Reporting

Laurier shall report annually to its Board of Governors on the implementation and effectiveness of its whole campus approach to student mental health with specific reference to the content of the framework. The annual report to the Board of Governors will be made available on our Students’ website. If you would like to download a PDF copy of this framework, you are welcome to export this webpage as a PDF for an accessible version. More information related to Bill 166 and the Student Mental Health Directive are available online.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Wilfrid Laurier University is committed to protecting your privacy. The university shall collect and use Personal Health Information only with a student’s consent or as required by law, and solely for the purpose it was obtained or in accordance with relevant legislation. For more on how your information is protected at the Student Wellness Centre, visit the Student Wellness Centre Privacy Statement. To learn more about Laurier’s broader privacy policies, visit the Privacy Protection and Information Access Policy.