Mental health support receives $3 million boost

trevor.kenney — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:04:19 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students will soon see expanded mental health services because of a significant Government of Alberta investment.

On January 16, Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne and Enterprise and Advanced Education Minister Stephen Khan announced the U of L would receive $3 million over three years as part of the first stage of implementing Alberta's Addiction and Mental Health Strategy. Similar investments were made at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta with the Alberta Student Executive Council (ASEC) receiving $1.5 million over the same period.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge puts tremendous emphasis on the student experience," says U of L president Mike Mahon. "This includes ensuring timely and comprehensive mental health supports are available for our students. This investment greatly benefits the U of L students at our three campuses in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge by helping those with an immediate problems and by mitigating future issues using preventative measures."

The U of L will use these funds to expand mental health, addiction and counseling services at its Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge campuses through the hiring of health professionals, holding work shops and training sessions and conducting surveys to ensure the institution continues to understand the types of supports that students require.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Associate Vice-President (Academic) Bob Boudreau says the Government of Alberta investment is targeting an important demographic.

"Providing mental health supports for a student in need is not only beneficial in the short-term but has a lasting effect," says Boudreau. "Often these supports benefit students over a lifetime. Further, students who deal with issues they face in a timely fashion are more like succeed over the term of their post-secondary studies."

Funding will be used, among other things, to:
• Hire medical professionals, including a two day per week salaried Physician with training in mental health that can act as an expert in the collaboration and liaison needed between on-campus services.

• Expand counselling services at the three U of L campuses.

• Run workshops and training, for example, on suicide prevention. Continuing education of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge team will ensure that best practices are rapidly incorporated into delivery and support programs.

• Support participation in and data analysis of the NCHA and Healthy Minds surveys.

The Government of Alberta media release can be found here: http://www.alberta.ca//acn/201301/3352944E370AE-F03F-0F4A-22170BF973A0B317.html#backgrounder

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trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:42:57 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Bill Cade chats about what's happening in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community

I am constantly impressed by how much activity we have here on campus, generated both from within and from external sources interested in what we are doing.

This was readily apparent this past month with a number of high profile events that thrust the
U of L into the spotlight and touched on a variety of our hallmarks.

Fall Convocation was an outstanding affair and once again showcased our many exceptional graduates. The event was enhanced greatly by the inclusion of our honorary degree recipients, Paul Brandt and Son Soubert. Their commitment to humanitarian efforts provided an inspirational backdrop for the new graduating class and served as a great starting point as they embark on their professional careers.

The link between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the professional world has never been stronger, and that is evidenced by the many partnerships the U of L has cultivated with its business partners. Recently we welcomed the Certified General Accountants Association of Alberta to campus as they announced a major donation to fund the CGA Faculty Fellowship in Accounting and support the operating costs of the new Markin Hall Finance Trading Floor.

Prior to that, the Faculty of Management received accreditation from the Canadian Management Accountants Society, effectively earning a stamp of approval from the very society to which many of their students will gravitate upon graduation. I spoke personally with one of our students recently who cited this accreditation as a major factor in his appreciation of the program, as it gave him the opportunity to bypass the CMA Entrance Examination upon graduation. He also credited management professor Bruce Thurston for his real-world approach in the classroom.

With the many co-op work arrangements we have throughout our faculties and a constant eye on the changing needs of the professional world, our programs continue to graduate competent, confident students who are able to hit the ground running in their chosen careers.

In addition to business interests on campus, we have hosted a number of governmental representatives in recent weeks. Deputy Premier of the Northwest Territories, Michael Miltenberger (BASc '75), visited the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, as did Alberta Minister of Environment, Rob Renner, and deputy minister Jim Ellis. As well, Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert toured the new Markin Hall building.

It is extremely important that we maintain a positive working relationship with the various levels of government as it helps both our interests in shaping the future of our province.

We enjoyed a very interesting Board of Governors meeting this past month as we set up shop in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new daycare facility. It is a beautiful building in a picturesque setting and a real testament to the spirit of co-operation that exists on campus.

I want to give a huge amount of credit to Vice-President (Finance and Administration) Nancy Walker for seeing this project through to its completion. She was responsible chiefly for bringing members of administration around to the view that we should work with our partners to bring daycare to campus once again, and it is highly symbolic to have completed this project.

Hearty congratulations to the Pronghorns women's rugby team, who pounded their way through the Canada West championship tournament to capture their fourth straight conference title. I anticipate another celebration in the offing as the Horns head to Vancouver to try and claim their third consecutive CIS championship. You have made the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ proud – good luck and Go Horns!

UNews - Health Minister

Mental health support receives $3 million boost

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