News Release
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Canadore College Taking Action to End Stigma
(NORTH BAY, ONT.) – Canadore College’s student success services team is organizing an on-campus event to support the nation-wide Bell Let’s Talk campaign this Wednesday.
On January 28, Bell will donate 5 cents to mental health initiatives for every text message sent, mobile and long distance calls made by its customers, as well as for every Tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Facebook image share.
Sherri Pinder, one of Canadore College’s mental health and wellness navigators, says this is the perfect time to build greater awareness and acceptance across the College and within the greater community.
Pinder indicates that over 22 per cent of Canadore’s student body identifies that they have a mental illness, and that issues are becoming more complex. This fits with other findings within postsecondary institutions of 1 in 5, or 1 in 4.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s report Informing the Future: Mental Health Indicators for Canada report issued last week, 6.6 per cent of Canadian college students reported intentional self-harm within the last 12 months.
“It is devastating to admit, but this is a growing trend among student populations,” said Pinder. “The symptoms associated with mental health problems are difficult to manage and can lead to high-risk behaviours such as suicide or self-harm. This may include intentionally cutting, burning or otherwise hurting oneself, which are clear signs of emotional distress. Suicide and self-harm are a very serious matters, but they aren’t about attention-seeking, as some may think.”
Pinder and her colleagues in the College’s student success office are hosting Bell Let's Talk Day 2015, promoting open discussion about mental health, reducing stigma on campus and where to receive information and resources. There will also be a visit by Niijii, Canadore’s in-house mental health and wellness therapy dog, and a text-a-thon to raise funds in support of mental health initiatives across Canada. Other activities include an inspirational messages wall, photo booth and promotion of Canadore’s Bridging the Distance student mental health art contest.
“The fact of the matter is that mental health issues impact all of us directly or indirectly at some point in our lives,” said Pinder. “Canadore actively promotes a ‘help-seeking’ culture so that students know that it’s okay to ask for help. We are here to support students and evidence demonstrates early intervention leads to improved treatment outcomes.”
Event: Canadore College’s Bell Let’s Talk Day 2015
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Main Lobby, College Drive Campus, 100 College Drive, North Bay, Ont.
