Wellness Together Canada offers free mental health resources and counselling
In response to the unprecedented rise in mental health distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has introduced Wellness Together Canada (WTC), an online, confidential wellness service to support Canadians on their mental health and wellness journey
“The pandemic has presented challenges for many of us,” notes UM employee wellness specialist and campus mental health facilitator, Arlana Vadnais.
“Dealing with isolation due to pandemic restrictions and social distancing, as well as the virtual workplace for many of us, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves. And that includes reaching out for support when we are struggling,” she says.
Wellness Together Canada is described as an innovative new joint venture between leading Canadian mental health providers Kids Help Phone, Stepped Care Solutions and Homewood Health, and supported by Toronto-based leader in mental healthcare technology Greenspace Health, to offer a full range of mental health support to people of all ages in every part of Canada.
Based on a Stepped Care model that provides support at different levels or steps, WTC allows individuals to make decisions about the care they require and choose from a multitude of 24/7 services, such as immediate crisis support, self-assessment tools, educational resources, peer-to-peer support and counselling support by phone, text or live chat.
According to psychologist Dr. Peter Cornish, who developed the Stepped Care model, it “aims to empower people to access the support they need at the moment they need it—whether that’s simply an article that helps them to better understand what they’re experiencing or a direct line to a trained counsellor in a moment of crisis.”
WTC services include:
- Immediate crisis support
- Print and video information on mental health issues
- Mental health self-assessment and monitoring
- Access to self-directed virtual programs
- Moderated community of support
- Virtual group coached anxiety group
- E-courses, including drop-in mindfulness class
- Access to counselling support by phone or text
“WTC really has something for everyone, from self-guided courses and apps to coaching to one-on-one counselling,” says Vadnais.
“It’s another resource to add to your wellness toolkit, along with the wide range of wellness resources offered by UM.”
UM offers free wellness resources to faculty and staff. If you are in need of immediate and confidential support, reach out to your EFAP service at: 1-800-387-4765 (English) or 1-800-361-5676 (French).
There are a variety of mental health supports available to students. Students can contact student support for wellness resources, counselling and spiritual services.