Combating the mental health crisis on Canadian campuses

Summary

The video addresses the growing mental health crisis among post-secondary students in Canada, highlighting personal stories of students like Greg Owens and Ian Farewell who struggle with depression and anxiety. It examines the challenges in accessing timely mental health care on campuses, such as long wait times and limited resources. While some universities offer inadequate support, others, like Memorial University, have implemented more effective systems. The video emphasizes the need for better mental health services and the importance of peer support groups in helping students cope with their mental health struggles.

Takeaways

• 📈 The demand for mental health services among students has been increasing significantly over the past two decades.
• 🌐 One out of every five post-secondary students in Canada experiences mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.
• 🏫 Universities often struggle to provide timely mental health support, with students sometimes waiting months to see a counselor.
• 👨‍🎓 Greg Owens, a student at the University of Toronto, faced severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, which impacted his academic performance.
• 🚑 In a crisis, Greg found that university counseling centers had limitations, often directing students to hospitals for immediate help.
• 🎓 After dropping out to focus on his mental health, Greg later enrolled in a mental health policy program at Carleton University.
• 🤝 At Carleton, Greg received unexpected support from the Student Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH), a group of students helping each other.
• 🏛️ Some universities, like Memorial University in Newfoundland, have adopted a more proactive approach to mental health care, offering immediate assistance.
• 🌟 Ian, a student at Memorial University, benefited from the immediate support model, which helped him overcome depression and anxiety.
• 🔍 The script highlights the need for universities to reevaluate and improve their mental health services to better support students.

Q & A

What is the current mental health crisis among Canadian post-secondary students?

One out of every five post-secondary students across Canada has some kind of mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, according to a recent national survey of colleges and universities.

Why did Greg Owens drop out of the University of Toronto?

Greg Owens dropped out of the University of Toronto due to worsening mental health, which included obsessive compulsive disorder and intrusive thoughts, and the inability to receive immediate help during a crisis from the university's Counseling Center.

What was Greg's experience like when he sought emergency help at the university?

Greg's experience seeking emergency help was unsatisfactory as he was told there was a limit to the help he could get at school and was advised to go to a hospital for emergency-based services.

How did Greg Owens become involved in fixing the mental health system?

After dropping out and focusing on his mental health, Greg discovered his passion for fixing the system that had let him down by enrolling in a mental health policy program at Carleton University.

What role does the Student Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH) play at Carleton University?

The Student Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH) at Carleton University provides daily support to students with mental health issues, often acting as the primary source of help when professional wait times are long.

Why is the wait time to see a counselor at many universities considered unacceptable?

Wait times to see a counselor are considered unacceptable because they can be detrimental to student well-being, leading to increased distress and potentially exacerbating mental health issues.

What is the approach of Memorial University towards mental health services?

Memorial University offers a walk-in model for mental health services where students can receive immediate attention and solutions, avoiding long wait times and focusing on quick assessments and follow-ups.

How has Ian's experience with mental healthcare at Memorial University been beneficial?

Ian's experience with mental healthcare at Memorial University has been beneficial because of the immediate access to help and the continuous support that allowed him to overcome his depression and anxiety.

What ethical responsibility does Peter Cornish believe professionals have towards students waiting for mental health services?

Peter Cornish believes professionals have an ethical responsibility to all students, including those who are waiting for services, and that making people wait for care is not only wrong but also unethical.

How has the demand for mental health services on campuses changed over the past few decades?

The demand for mental health services on campuses has been constantly increasing, not necessarily because of a higher prevalence of mental health issues, but due to increased awareness and students' willingness to seek help.

What is the significance of the social experience in Ian's mental health recovery process?

The social experience, such as brewing beer with friends, has been significant in Ian's recovery process as it provides a means to get out of isolation, engage with others, and find joy in activities that put his problems in perspective.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Struggles of College Students with Mental Health

The video script begins with a focus on the mental health crisis affecting college students, highlighting the difficulty many face in accessing timely medical help. It emphasizes the increasing demand for mental health services over the past two decades and the personal experiences of students like Greg Owens, who suffered from chronic depression and anxiety. Greg's story illustrates the challenges of balancing university life with mental health issues, leading to his eventual dropout. The script also introduces the Student Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH), a group that supports students by organizing activities and providing peer support, which was crucial for Greg's recovery and decision to re-engage with education.

05:01

🏥 Innovative Approaches to Mental Health Support on Campus

This paragraph delves into the experiences of Ian, a student at Memorial University, who benefited from a more immediate and accessible mental health care model. Unlike traditional models that require extensive waiting periods, Memorial's approach allows for quicker initial consultations, which can lead to more tailored and effective support. The narrative contrasts Ian's positive experience with the struggles faced by students at other institutions, where long wait times for professional help can exacerbate mental health issues. The paragraph also touches on the ethical responsibilities of universities to provide timely care and the potential for broader adoption of effective mental health support models.

10:03

🌐 The Broader Context of Mental Health on Campuses

The final paragraph of the script addresses the growing demand for mental health services on campuses, attributing this not to an increase in mental health issues but to heightened awareness and willingness to discuss mental health. It emphasizes the importance of listening to and supporting students, as exemplified by the positive changes in Ian's life after seeking help. The script concludes with a call to action for universities to improve their mental health services and support systems, ensuring that students like Ian can continue to thrive in their academic and personal lives.

Keywords

💡Mental Health Crisis

A state where a large number of individuals are struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. In the video, it is noted that one in five post-secondary students in Canada suffers from a mental health issue, reflecting the high demand for mental health services that universities are struggling to meet.

💡Anxiety

A mental health condition characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear. In the video, anxiety is a recurring theme, with individuals like Greg Owens experiencing emotional exhaustion and panic attacks, making it difficult to cope with academic and personal pressures.

💡Depression

A mental health disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and difficulty functioning in daily life. The video highlights students like Greg and Ian who struggle with depression, with Greg describing how it made it hard for him to get out of bed and attend university.

💡Wait Times

The period students must wait to access mental health services. The video discusses how long wait times to see a counselor or psychologist can severely affect students' mental health, with some waiting up to two months, as seen at Carleton University.

💡Counseling Center

A facility within universities that offers psychological support to students. Greg Owens accessed the counseling center at the University of Toronto, but despite receiving regular appointments, the support was insufficient during a mental health crisis, leading him to seek emergency care elsewhere.

💡Student Support Groups

Groups formed by students to offer mental health support to each other, filling gaps in institutional care. The video introduces the Student Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH) at Carleton, a peer-led group that provided Greg with emotional support and helped him stay in school after he nearly dropped out again.

💡Intrusive Thoughts

Unwanted, involuntary thoughts that can be distressing or disturbing. Greg Owens mentions struggling with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), leading to intrusive thoughts that exacerbated his anxiety and mental health challenges while attending university.

💡Emergency Mental Health Services

Services provided during a mental health crisis when immediate care is needed. Greg Owens had to visit the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) emergency room when his university could not provide urgent psychological support during a panic attack.

💡Mental Health Awareness

Efforts to educate and encourage discussions about mental health issues. The video notes that awareness campaigns have led to increased demand for mental health services, as students are more willing to seek help but often face barriers in accessing timely care.

💡Peter Cornish Model

A new approach to mental health care at Memorial University, where students are seen quickly and offered immediate solutions, even if the problem is simple. Peter Cornish, head of Memorial's counseling services, believes that making students wait is unethical, and his model is seen as a successful alternative to traditional long wait times.

Highlights

Students dropping out of school due to mental illness is a significant issue, with many unable to afford extended waiting periods to see healthcare professionals.

The demand for mental health services has been increasing chronically over the past two decades.

One out of every five post-secondary students in Canada experiences mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, according to a national survey.

Many students with mental health issues do not receive the necessary help, leading to difficulties in continuing their education.

Greg Owens, a university student, struggled with mental health, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder, despite receiving help from the university's Counseling Center.

During a crisis, Greg discovered the limitations of the university's mental health services, which led him to seek help at a hospital.

After dropping out, Greg made mental health his full-time focus and later enrolled in a mental health policy program to address systemic issues.

At Carleton University, Greg found more support from a student group, the Student Alliance for Mental Health (SAMH), than from the university itself.

SAMH organizes activities to support students and is a crucial resource due to long wait times for professional help.

The wait times to see a counselor can be detrimental to student well-being, with some waiting up to two months.

Ian, a student at Memorial University, had a positive experience with mental healthcare, unlike many others.

Memorial University's approach to mental healthcare is more immediate and accessible, akin to seeing a family doctor.

Peter Cornish, who heads the counseling group at Memorial, emphasizes the importance of not making students wait for mental health services.

The counseling model at Memorial University has been adopted by 36 other colleges and universities and is being piloted by the province of Newfoundland.

Ian's mental health improved significantly after engaging with the program at Memorial, leading to a positive change in his life.

The demand for mental health services on campuses is at an all-time high, partly due to increased awareness and willingness to discuss mental health.

The narrative concludes with a call to listen and improve mental health services on campuses to support students effectively.

Transcripts

[Music]

when we talk about students dropping out

of school for mental illness I know

myself not everybody can afford months

on end of waiting to see a doctor

waiting to see the right psychologist

we're talking about lives at better at

state

I found it difficult to get out of bed

in the morning and that's when the

depression really hit home for me it's

been chronic depression and anxiety

if I showed you a graph of the demand

over the last 20 years it's like this

it's just constantly increasing the

demand

[Applause]

[Music]

if you look into campus life in Canada

today this is one of the things that you

hear about that there's a mental health

crisis one out of every five

post-secondary students across the

country has some kind of mental health

problem be it anxiety or depression

that's from a recent national survey of

colleges and universities across Canada

that's right one out of every five and

the thing is a lot of them don't get the

help they need so the question I have is

if you're a person with mental health

issues how do you get through school

meet Greg Owens now Greg got good grades

in high school and at 18 he was accepted

into the University of Toronto to study

neuroscience going to university there

was certainly excitement U of T it's

exciting campus right downtown Toronto

but a little bit of trepidation as well

Greg's trepidation was about his mental

health when he got to the University of

Toronto there were a lot of good days

but there were bad days too those days

were a lot of sleep the anxiety was so

high that often times by the end of the

day I would be exhausted emotionally

exhausted mentally exhausted so I'd end

up sleeping for these extended periods

of time because I didn't want to deal

with the thoughts that I was having the

anxiety I was feeling so Greg showed up

at the university's Counseling Center

now to their credit they set him up with

a psychologist and they helped him with

his obsessive compulsive disorder but

even with regular appointments his

mental health got worse for me was very

based around intrusive thinking still is

but a lot of times I believe irrational

things about myself I would be convinced

you know that I was a bad person that I

was a sociopath so the anxiety was

really high up

then one day Greg got a crisis and what

he discovered was that there was a limit

to the help he could get at school went

up to the front desk and asked hey I

know I don't have an appointment today

as you can see you know I'm crying I'm

hyperventilating I'm clearly a

borderline on a panic attack is it

possible that I can see my psychologist

today and they basically said that's not

the type of service that we're able to

offer here your psychologist has other

people to see today if you need an

emergency based service you you're gonna

have to go to a hospital so I showed up

to the center for addiction and mental

health emergency room I checked myself

in kind of looked at the folks who were

around me there were two or three other

students it was such a strange dynamic

to see these people who you know I might

be in a class with one day

and the next day we're sitting in an

emergency room together trying to access

some type of mental health care because

of Gregg's condition he dropped out and

figuring out his mental health became

his full-time job and it wasn't really

until a year later that he started to

feel better he discovered what he really

wanted to do he wanted to fix the system

he felt let him down

we found a program in mental health

policy at Carleton he enrolled packed

his bags and moved to Ottawa to try

again now when Greg got to Carleton

something pretty unexpected happened he

found that he got more help from other

students with their own mental health

issues than he did from the university

itself so we basically had something

going on every day meet the Student

Alliance for mental health or Sam H

there meaning to organize activities to

support students and they know what

they're talking about I struggle a

little around a lot obviously with my

own mental health and it's more

difficult during stressful periods such

as the Veen of the year and during

change and like switching from jobs and

starting school and being around a lot

of people on campus this was definitely

really stressful so I know I'm trying to

focus on doing self-care things so that

I actually survive

shirisha Ferraz is the head of Sam age

and she tells me the group was born at a

necessity at Carleton like many schools

across the country wait times to see a

professional can be so long that groups

like this are sometimes the only help

students can get having to wait two

months to see a counselor for your

mental holidays unacceptable it's

detrimental to student well-being we

can't be putting out the message to

students

hey reach out for help talk about your

mental health etc etc and then when

students reach out for help they're

they're being told well that's great but

you have to weigh it it's it could be

difficult that's why the group is so

important Greg will tell you that

without Sam H he probably would have

dropped out again

helped me heal and that empowerment of

being a group of mentally ill

individuals who were now working within

our system that we had felt failed us in

so many ways to ensure that the next

person that shared our experiences

didn't didn't have the system failed

though why should students have to rely

on each other for their mental health

care shouldn't universities have a

better way to help them

[Music]

this is the campus of Memorial

University in Newfoundland

[Music]

ian's farewell is doing a degree in

mechanical engineering

and he's battled depression and anxiety

all the way through but the thing is

Ian's experience with mental healthcare

at Memorial has been really good when I

started taking on more responsibilities

as an adult that's when everything fell

apart very quickly

I was irritable I was very hostile

towards people telling me what was wrong

with myself I was like no it's not the

case or maybe that is the case but I

don't want to talk about it right now

Ian's almost never left his basement

apartment he cut himself off from the

outside world but when his girlfriend

finally made him get help

Ian didn't have to wait because when you

see someone for your mental health and

memorial it's like going to see your

family doctor when you want to see your

family doctor you don't wait a long time

when you go to see your family doctor

you get a solution right away might not

be the right solution your family doctor

will say if you're not feeling better

and you know five days I can see me we

do the same thing so this young woman I

saw her yesterday for the first time and

she presented in the walk-in

Peter Cornish heads this group of

counselors in Memorial they're

discussing a student who came to the

clinic which start with a simple

solution when people come in on that

first visit we are quite open with them

this may not work try it out and if it

doesn't work come back and see me if we

start to get puzzled after they come

back and see us and we're thinking oil

this might be deeper then we start doing

a more thorough assessment versus the

old model was you do all the assessment

up front you actually give people no

help until you've figured out everything

about them and so people may have very

simple problems that don't require

specialists they're not mentally ill and

so we make everybody line up people that

are mentally ill and people that aren't

mentally ill to see the specialist which

makes no sense inform students when

we're ready to see them for Peter making

people wait isn't just wrong it's

unethical the problem with current

services is that professionals don't

worry about the people are waiting in

fact some of my colleagues say that we

only have an ethical responsibility to

the people

were able to see and what we're able to

say is no we have an ethical

responsibility to all the people that

were not able to see as well so some

critics of our model say well you get

people in quickly you know you don't do

as a thorough assessment as we've been

trained to do isn't that ethically

problematic isn't there a risk with that

I say what's the risk of making people

line up for a year which is better the

interest in Peters approach has been

astounding thirty-six colleges and

universities across the country have

been in touch with them and even the

province of Newfoundland is running a

pilot project

and the model worked for Heon remember

this is a guy who rarely left his

apartment I come up here really to just

get out of the house is the ultimate

goal I just love being in nature looking

at the ocean makes me feel really like

small and kind of puts my problems in

perspective it's actually it's good here

these days

Ian's looking forward to graduating

where do you think you'd be without the

program at Memorial I would have dropped

out of university I would honestly think

I might be on the street you know mm-hmm

I'm so happy I went to the counselor I

wish I had gone sooner essentially

because I'm a different person now than

I was in 2013 and I'd like that Ian

tells me that one of the things they

taught him at Memorial is really quite

simple all right keep that up to 65 like

to make sure he spends time with friends

this time we decided to make a blueberry

beer so we went and picked three pounds

of blueberries the social experience of

that is almost the reason why I want to

do with most of the times you know

sometimes I lock myself in my room for

too long and I need to get out so I brew

beer with Mike

the demand for mental health services on

campuses has never been higher

but it's not because this generation is

more mental health issues

it's that awareness campaigns have

encouraged people to talk now we need to

listen

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