Lakeland College and North West College are two of 19 post-secondaries partnering with the Government of Saskatchewan for a new initiative supporting student health and well-being. Healthy Campus Saskatchewan will provide students with tools and support resources as they go through their studies.
The initiative will focus on mental health, suicide awareness and prevention, sexual violence prevention, substance abuse, pandemic responses and inclusive environments.
Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley says the initiative will lay the groundwork for student support.
“It is especially appropriate this year, in light of the additional mental wellness challenges faced by our students in adjusting to the pandemic while they continue their education.”
As part of the project’s first step, Healthy Campus Saskatchewan will be leading development on the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey this spring which will collect data on student health. The information will then be provided to institutions to help guide their local well-being strategies. According to their website, Healthy Campus Saskatchewan will be taking a strengths-based approach to identify gaps and share different approaches to issues across all participating campuses.
The initiative also plans on reaching to the broader community through social media and other outreach efforts to collaborate on solutions and opportunities benefiting students.
The Government of Saskatchewan has provided $130,000 in 2020-21 for the project.