A pair of mental health initiatives were rolled out at Nipissing University and Canadore College on Monday.
The event took place on “Blue Monday” which is considered one of the most depressing days of the year.
The two programs are called BounceBack and Big White Wall.
Big White Wall is described as an online mental health and wellbeing service offering self-help programs, creative outlets and a community that cares and offers anonymous peer support.
BounceBack is cost-free telephone coaching that is offered now province-wide. That program is for people 15 and older who wish to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.
“It is by self-referral or referral through a primary care provider and it is again telephone coaching where individuals can identify what their primary needs might be at that time,” stated Margi Clarke, interim executive director for the Nipissing branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, to Rogers Radio.
“I think they help because it helps reduce the wait time for people absolutely. For Bounceback they receive a call within five days and get connected to a coach but it also creates easy access for folks at no cost which may be a barrier for some.”
Student Cory Hobbs attended the press conference. He battles mental illness.
Hobbs believes his experience has taught him it’s important to get help if you need it.
"It may seem like the hardest thing in the world,” he told Rogers Radio.
“That small step out of my comfort zone changed my life.”
