Province extends funding for mental health initiatives on campus

trevor.kenney — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:18:37 +0000

College and university students returning to classes across Alberta this fall will continue to have access to mental health services on campus.

The province is investing $3.6 million this year to support much needed mental health programming, education and student outreach efforts at Alberta campuses. Funding has supported the hiring of health practitioners, including counsellors, community outreach social workers and psychologists. The money also supported mental health workshops, stress reduction events and peer support programs.

This investment is part of the government’s commitment to create healthy and supportive campus environments in response to recommendations of the Valuing Mental Health report. Funding allocated in Budget 2016 will extend all post-secondary grants for mental health initiatives through to 2017.

“Transitioning into post-secondary can be a difficult time for students. In response, many of Alberta’s campuses have made excellent progress in developing mental health resources. I’m proud to say our government is listening to students, which is why we’re extending funding to ensure a healthy post-secondary environment that supports our students on their paths to academic success,” says Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education.

Critical mental health programs and services provided through the Universities of Lethbridge, Alberta and Calgary and the Alberta Students’ Executive Council (ASEC) have been extended until 2017 to align with the terms of existing grant agreements at MacEwan and Mount Royal Universities.

“This funding has been critical to mental health programs and initiatives at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and we’re extremely pleased that it has been extended for another year," says Dr. Mike Mahon, President and Vice-Chancellor, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. "It’s imperative we are able to provide a healthy and supportive campus environment for our students as well as the tools and positive mental health strategies that they can carry with them for a lifetime.”

For the U of L, the funding amounts to $600,000 that will support the addition of counsellors, a physician, dietitian and a psychiatric nurse while additional opportunities now exist for continued workshop and training sessions.

“This funding has enabled us to work with nearly 1,000 campus and community partners to provide mental health resources to students, through more than 800 campaigns and events, 60 new services, and training for hundreds of peer support students. We thank the Government of Alberta for their continued support and look forward to continuing work on student-led mental health initiatives on Alberta’s campuses," adds Sharyn Moore, Board of Directors, Alberta Students’ Executive Council.

Starting this fall, an advisory panel on post-secondary mental health will develop recommendations on how government can support mental health on campuses across Alberta longer-term. The panel will be made up of post-secondary students and professionals, as well as representatives from Alberta Health Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association. This important work will build on best practices at Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, especially those innovative mental health programs and initiatives which emerged in the past few years on university campuses and through the work of ASEC.

Destination Project construction officially given go-ahead

trevor.kenney — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:22:16 +0000

An increased and accelerated investment of $125 million in Budget 2016 has allowed the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to begin construction immediately on the Destination Project.

The Destination Project includes construction of a new 36,000-square metre science and academic building giving students access to leading-edge labs and programming. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has experienced increasing demand and the new building will increase capacity in science programs by 450 students. Government has committed $248 million to the Destination Project over the next five years. The new science and academic building is expected to open for faculty and students in fall 2019.

The Destination Project – a new science and academic building – will shape the future of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and southern Alberta.

“This is an investment in our province’s future," says Minister of Advanced Education Marlin Schmidt. "The Destination Project will not only provide access to world-class programming and learning opportunities for students, but will also help encourage growth and economic diversification in southern Alberta by capitalizing on the research and innovation taking place at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

The Destination Project’s innovative construction plans include flexible lab spaces, dedicated space to bring ideas to reality, science displays, classrooms and meeting rooms, and gathering areas that will meet the needs of students, staff, industry and the community today and in the future.'

The new building will also support the business development and commercialization activities at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and will be a science centre for southern Alberta.

“The Destination Project will create a state-of-the-art learning experience for students and will provide the necessary space for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s leading researchers," says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. "The positive economic and social impact of this infrastructure on the communities we serve cannot be overstated. This new space will enhance innovation through partnerships with industry and increase community engagement by making science accessible to southern Albertans.”

Currently there are between 70 to 100 workers on the Destination Project construction site. That number will rise to between 300 and 400 within a year. The construction of the Destination Project will generate an estimated $462 million in economic spinoff (gross production).

In Budget 2016, government delivered on its commitment to stable and predictable funding for post-secondary education by maintaining the two-year tuition freeze for students as well as increasing base operating grants by two per cent and backfilling funding for the tuition freeze for institutions.

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Province extends funding for mental health initiatives on campus

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