UNews - Jennifer Ellis-Toddington

Peer connections the focus of new Student Wellness Ambassador Program supported by former chancellor

trevor.kenney — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:13:10 +0000

Janice Varzari headlines program fundraising with matching donation

A new program designed to enhance student wellness at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is receiving a boost of support from its former chancellor, Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02).

Former U of L Chancellor Janice Varzari, left, and her husband Glenn will match all donations to the establishment of the new SWAP program, up to $20,000.

The Student Wellness Ambassador Program (SWAP) is a student-led wellness initiative aimed at developing peer connections and promoting wellness. The program has already been active in raising funds from alumni and donors to support it through its first four years, and Varzari and her husband Glenn pledge to match the money raised, up to $20,000.

“In talking with Janice, she was looking to support something related to student wellness that was more than a one-time gift and would have a lasting impact,” says Jennifer Ellis-Toddington (BSc ’99, MEd’05), manager of Counselling and Career Services at the U of L. “I’ve felt we’ve always needed a peer support program. We have many ways for our students to connect with counselling services at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ but not every student needs or wants a professional counsellor.”

The SWAP initiative will focus on two main areas, regular student-led (and developed) wellness initiatives that allow peer-to-peer connections on and off campus, and peer support services.

“As a proud alumna and long-time volunteer and supporter of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, I care deeply about our students and their experiences while studying at the U of L,” says Varzari. “As at most post-secondary institutions, our students are experiencing significant stresses that affect their mental wellness, and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is seeing increasing demands upon its mental health services.

“My husband Glenn and I are thrilled to offer our financial support to this initiative. We are encouraging other alumni and supporters to consider making a gift to this much-needed program.”

Ellis-Toddington says students are seeking ways to connect with each other, noting a 45 per cent participation increase in group events offered by Counseling Services.

“Our virtual book clubs fill up almost immediately and it’s been that way since the start of the pandemic, so something like this is needed now more than ever,” she says.

A Student Wellness Ambassador Committee will be responsible for planning weekly outreach events that provide students opportunities to engage in wellness activities as well as learn about mental health resources on campus. Peer listeners will be trained by counseling services staff and provide peer support through active listening and referrals to other services, if needed.

“This will really fill a gap for our students,” says Ellis-Toddington. “I see it as a prevention strategy in that students who may not be willing to come forward to talk with counsellors, maybe they will reach out if it’s a peer they can connect with. Our listeners will be trained to talk with them and if they need further support, they can get the help they need.”

Students who participate as wellness ambassadors will earn valuable training and also receive credit on their My Experience Transcript (MET).

Those looking to support the Student Wellness Ambassador Program can do so on the SWAP web page.

New digital therapy platform introduced to enhance mental health services for students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 21:13:50 +0000

Mental health services for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students are receiving an online boost with the introduction of the TAO Connect digital platform, making behavioural health therapy more accessible, efficient and effective.

Through TAO (therapy assistance online) Connect, students now have access to an app providing behavioural health tools on the go, in addition to in-person sessions with U of L Counselling and Career Services. TAO’s technology can be used two ways: therapists at the counselling centre can individually assign TAO to students as a way to supplement in-person sessions, or students can enroll in the program and download the app for a completely self-guided experience outside of the counselling centre.

“A huge benefit of this platform is that it broadens our reach in terms of being able to provide support to a larger number of students – some of whom who are not ready to seek professional help or like to access supports in other modalities,” says Jennifer Ellis-Toddington, manager of Counselling and Career Services at the U of L. “Another benefit is the self-check component in the app where students can check on their own mental health and, if indicated, that can move them towards getting professional help.”

Students utilizing TAO Connect have access to a suite of digital behavioural health tools, and also have the option to use the technology in tandem with a U of L counsellor. This gives students the ability to diligently practice the skills and techniques they learn through their counselling sessions, on their own time.

The platform is being funded through the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union health and dental plan and came about through a series of conversations between the ULSU and Student Services.

“It was really just conversations about how we can continue to best meet the mental health needs of students on campus,” says Mark Slomp, executive director of Student Services. “My favourite part of this is the collaboration that led to us getting together around a common concern, which is student well-being, and partnering to figure out how we can continue to do our best to address that.”

Andrew Gammack, ULSU president, says the platform meets students in their own space, anonymously, and is backed by evidence-based practices.

“Not everyone is in a position to approach counselling. A ULSU core value is accessibility and we wanted to make sure that there were more services on campus to help those who maybe don’t feel quite as comfortable coming forward to counselling services,” he says. “I interact with a lot of students who can identify with these issues. I really appreciate this service and the science behind it.”

The program includes high quality, interactive, educational modules in structured programs along with a companion app with daily practice tools. TAO’s screening measure can help someone choose the best program for them, and TAO’s progress measure helps track improvement. The anonymous self-screening tool combines five different tests for depression, alcohol and drug problems, anxiety, trauma and chronic pain. Once screened, the user will either be given links to access the appropriate self-help tools, or suggestions to see a health professional.

Through TAO’s completely self-directed, self-help app and online program, students are provided an opportunity to learn stress management, mindfulness skills, problem solving and strategies to avoid rumination and develop more helpful thinking patterns.

“We’re really eager to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to student mental health on campus, recognizing that students have very different needs and like to access services and supports in different ways,” he says. “We want to make sure we have all kinds of services and tools so we can best meet the needs of all students.”

TAO Connect is available for free to all U of L students by using their U of L email address to register. They can access the platform on the Counselling and Career Services website or on this Students’ Union website link. To learn more about TAO and its technology, visit TAOConnect.org, and to download the TAO mobile app, visit the iTUNES Store or Android’s app store.

Local tattoo artists join forces to raise funds for mental health services at the U of L

caroline.zentner — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 21:40:52 +0000

Their tattoo designs may be different but their desire to build community is the same. When tattoo artists from Libertine and Nectar tattoo studios teamed up for a fundraiser, they were unanimous in wanting to support mental health services for students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

“All of us are trying to create community and we also rely on students,” says Brendan Browne (BFA ’09), a tattoo artist at Nectar Fine Tattooing & Art Collective. “We’re kind of like walk-in therapists. None of us are formally trained but we become aware pretty quickly of where people are at. We hear and share a lot of the same struggles.”

Local tattoo artists, Selena Osborne (kneeling at left), Brendan Browne (kneeling at right) and Tatianna Cook (standing at right), were three of the eight tattoo artists who teamed up for a fundraising event to support mental health services for U of L students. Kathleen Massey (standing at left), associate vice-president (students), Jennifer Ellis-Toddington, manager of Counselling and Career Services, and Mark Slomp, executive director of student services gratefully accepted the donation.

“Our clients are primarily students and young adults. I’ve had a lot of clients who, during appointments, mention the U of L mental health services and how they use those resources,” says Selena Osborne, a tattoo artist at Libertine Tattoo. “When we were deciding where to put the funds, I advocated for mental health and everyone was on board.”

Their Halloween Flash fundraising event went from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Oct. 31. They reached out to fellow tattoo artists and other small-business owners for support. During the event, nine local tattoo artists donated their time to complete 67 tattoos. People selected a tattoo from an array of pre-drawn tattoos ranging in price from $100 to $300. Along with donations from other local businesses, they netted almost $13,000 for student mental health services at the U of L.

“We are tremendously grateful to Libertine and Nectar for this donation,” says Jennifer Ellis-Toddington, manager of Counselling and Career Services at the U of L. “We will put this significant contribution towards funding front-line services to our students, such as mental health outreach and group counselling offerings. The mental health needs of our students grow every semester and we feel very fortunate that our community partners recognize and support this need. This donation comes at a time of year when counselling services are vital to many of our students’ well-being and success.”

“I used the services here when I was a student; I just knew how invaluable it was,” says Browne.

Other tattoo artists involved in the fundraiser include Stephen Barnard, Tatianna Cook, Craig Salomons, Kelsey Nicole (BFA’17), Ro Curran and Andrew Page (BFA ’10). Volunteers Odessa Salomons and Paige Hopper, a U of L student, skillfully managed the front of house.

UNews - Jennifer Ellis-Toddington

Peer connections the focus of new Student Wellness Ambassador Program supported by former chancellor

Related Topics

New digital therapy platform introduced to enhance mental health services for students

Related Topics

Local tattoo artists join forces to raise funds for mental health services at the U of L

Related Topics