Strengthening health and wellness services for students

Unique community partnerships bring increased expertise to campus

WINNIPEG, MB – Students who need help coping with mental health and addictions issues now have increased expertise available to them at The University of Winnipeg as a result of two new unique partnerships with community health organizations which came into effect this month. All services are free for students and allow for a shared-care, collaborative approach to understanding and addressing individual student needs in a holistic way.

UWinnipeg is now partnering with the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre to provide a new full-time mental health clinician position on campus, and with the Addictions Foundation Manitoba to provide a community addictions worker two days a week on campus. Additionally, UWinnipeg students will have direct referral and linkages to a broad range of suitable programs.

The new partnerships build on the high quality services already available to UWinnipeg students which includes two full time social workers (Centralized Intake/Counselling); counselling assistance with a social work student who is on duty four days a week; counselling with three practicum students in the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy program, Aurora Family Therapy Centre (including evenings and weekends); access to Klinic On Campus five days a week including a full time nurse practitioner, dietician and medical assistant; and access to Klinic’s 24/7 telephone service for Crisis Counselling and Sexual Assault Counselling and Support.

“I am so pleased that we are now able to offer a comprehensive set of services that are responsive to our students’ health and wellness needs,” said Jan Byrd, UWinnipeg’s Executive Director, Wellness and Student Life. “Partnering with the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba and the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre brings the campus and community together to meet real needs for students. UWinnipeg is a health-promoting campus, focused on student success through supporting all of the dimensions of wellness.”

“We are excited about this partnership with UWinnipeg, making it easier for university students to get information and support related to addiction issues,” said Yvonne Block, Chief Executive Officer of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. “If students are experiencing problems with alcohol, drugs or gambling, or if they have concerns for someone else or if they just have questions, AFM is now on campus able to answer questions and provide support.”

“UWinnipeg is a vibrant and diverse community of students from all walks of life with the range of resilience and challenges,” said Dr. Jaye Miles, Director of Psychology, Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre. “The MATC is thrilled to be able to offer its services to the population of young adults at UWinnipeg who are beginning their journeys into adulthood, but who still might need extra supports and services that we have available. We are excited by this new partnership”.

UWinnipeg’s health and wellness services for students are now available in the Wellness Centre, 2^nd floor, north-east corner, UNITED Health and RecPlex; and in Sparling Hall, where Klinic on Campus is located. As renovations to the main floor in the Duckworth Centre are completed, the goal is to consolidate the Health and Wellness Centre under one umbrella in that space.

The new partnering arrangement follows best practices across Canada and means UWinnipeg is now able to offer the most comprehensive suite of mental health services to students among post-secondary institutions in Manitoba.

Additionally, UWinnipeg is collaborating with the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association to host the second THRIVE event from November 3 to 6, 2014, which focuses on raising awareness of the importance of health and wellness on campus. Activities include workshops on mindfulness meditation, workshops on handling stress and anxiety as well as zumba, a free pancake breakfast and interactive art.

UWINNIPEG’S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR STUDENTS – At a Glance

Wellness Centre – 2^nd floor, UNITED Health and Recplex

Intake social worker – full time
Counsellor – full time
Mental health clinician – full time (shared position male and female clinicians)
Addictions counsellor – two days per week
Social work student counsellor – four days per week
Three Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student counselors – including evenings and weekends

Klinic On Campus – Sparling Hall