Study aims to find out which campus mental health programs work
'We'll be able to tell, does this really work,' says researcher of new mental health initiative
It's an issue that universities and colleges have been grappling with for years, but for the first time in Canada, experts, governments and students are coming together to try to create one model for effective mental health programs and treatment at post-secondary institutions.
The project is being led by Dr. Stan Kutcher, a Halifax-based expert on adolescent mental health. He says while there have been no shortage of programs and ideas tested at schools, their levels of success are still a mystery.
"Many initiatives take one little piece and pop it in, or do something else and pop it in, and that's good to a point, but we don't know — Number 1 — do they work," he said.
Kutcher is calling the program Pathway through Mental Health Care. What's different is instead of talking about mental health, it actually ensures students receive the help they need.
Kutcher says it will focus on teaching people mental health literacy, training faculty to spot students who are struggling, and working with health-care providers to ensure they follow through.
Personal connection
The pathway program is expected to cost more than $600,000 and is being paid for by the Medavie Health Foundation.
Former New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord, now the CEO of medical-care insurer Medavie Inc., became emotional when speaking about the need for help at the post-secondary level.
When he was in university, a close friend killed himself, Lord said.
Five Maritime schools are participating: Mount Saint Vincent University, Saint Mary's University, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia Community College and Holland College.
Student input key
For the students, a project of this size is long overdue.
"I know it can be frustrating when you feel that things aren't being done," said Sophie Helpard, the executive director of Students Nova Scotia.
"Students are looking for a proactive approach in looking at the whole system, so not just one program or one day on campus … this is looking at a framework for campuses to adopt that can address every aspect of student mental health."
Kutcher's dream is to create a model that can be applied across Canada.
"This is about them," Kutcher said of the students. "We want them to be involved at every step of the way. They have been."