By Lara Fominoff @fomsy1 on Twitter

New provincial funding to support student mental health initiatives

Sep 6, 2017 | 12:03 PM

LETHBRIDGE – For each of the next three years, students at Lethbridge College will get $220,000 dedicated towards mental health initiatives from the Provincial Government. 
 
Paula Burns, College President, says in previous years, there was a little bit of funding that came through their Students’ Association, but no direct government funding.
 
“So anything we did on the health and wellness side was actually funded through our internal operations, and so this is the first time to receive money specific to mental health.”
 
Burns says they do have councillors at the college, access to help online and by phone, and community connections, so the new money will help in other areas.
 
“On the education and prevention side, but also it helps us to do more on the integration side,” she explains.”To make sure students are followed by the appropriate practitioner, because the reality is that as an educational institution, we don’t have a full health service for every student that needs mental health, and we need to make sure that we get the appropriate service and then integrate them into whatever community service that exists as well.”
 
The University of Lethbridge will continue to receive one million dollars per year in funding for the next three years as well.
 
Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education, says it’s a challenging time when you’re 18-years old and coming to college or univerisity for the first time, so a lot of students find they’re struggling with mental health issues.
 
“One in 10 students have contemplated suicide, which is way too high. That just points out to the need for proper mental health supports on campuses all across the province.”