What would you do to change a person’s life for the better? Sometimes it can be as simple as reaching out and starting a dialogue.
Last October, Pembroke campus unveiled the Purple Couch, the latest campus-wide campaign to help with the struggles of college life. The campaign was launched in conjunction with the Ottawa Senators Foundation, Health Services (Student Support Services) and the Do It For Daron (D.I.F.D) campaign.
The couch is a symbol of the mental health services the college provides to students. Advocated at the Pembroke campus by counsellor Jasmine Cady, M.A. and Health Services’ Laurie Ann Klawitter, R.N., the campaign strives to reach out to students facing a diversity of stressful situations.
Regrettably a large portion of the student body is unaware of the support or too afraid to come forward.
“One of the problems for students is they might be reluctant to ask’ hey where is the counselling office’,” said Cady, a problem that she attributes to the stigma still attached to the term mental illness.
Free and confidential counselling is available for students by appointment or walk-in. Teams of dedicated workers such as counsellor Cady are ready to help students access the various departments and services that are available in the college.
“They are the most caring and dedicated staff I have ever worked with before,” Cady said. Counsellor Cady also encourages students to reach out to one another if there is someone in distress and encourage them to seek support.
Cady emphasises that if you have social, financial or emotional problems there are answers and help available through programs in the college. Students with learning or physical limitations can access additional help through the Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at the college.
Depending on the limitations a person has additional time, quiet test rooms or adaptive technologies can be recommended as well helping offset limitations.
Last year alone 70 faculty members from the three campuses were trained in the Mental Health First Aid program over the course of two days. In addition to these numbers, each new Algonquin faculty member will receive a 12-hour training session designed to help identify and assist those in distress.
According to the Mental Health Association of Canada, one in five persons will suffer some form of mental illness, to varying degrees, during the course of their lives.