Student Mental Health Policy

1. Preamble

In September 2021, the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education launched its Plan d’action sur la santé mentale étudiante en enseignement supérieur 2021–2026. The objectives of this plan are to:

• Promote a national dialogue on student mental health;
• Support the creation of environments conducive to positive mental health; and
• Support the development of services that are adapted to the needs and characteristics of student communities.

The ministry believes it is essential that the institutional vision and mission reflect the importance of student mental health as a driver of retention and success in higher education. To this end, it is expected each postsecondary institution adopt and implement an institutional policy on student mental health.

The Vanier College Student Mental Health Policy aligns with the Québec Ministry of Higher Education’s 2021–2026 Action Plan on Mental Health in Higher Education. It is also based on the principles of the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students. These two frameworks provide a foundation for a comprehensive approach to student mental health.

2. Policy statement

Vanier College, hereinafter the College, recognizes that mental health is an essential element in student retention and educational success.

The College considers student mental health from a systemic approach and recognizes that it is influenced by personal, social, academic, and organizational factors. As a result, the entire college community shares the responsibility of participating in the creation of a campus climate and environment that promotes the well-being and mental health of the student community.

The present policy, in line with the ongoing efforts within the College, reaffirms the College’s commitment to providing a supportive, safe, and inclusive environment conducive to positive mental health, thereby supporting student success.

3. Objectives

The College aims to:

• Establish favorable conditions for meaningful participation of members of the College community in supporting student mental health;
• Identify and implement environments, practices, and measures that support student mental health;
• Respond to the diverse needs of the student community by ensuring responsive access to various services offered; and
• Foster an environment at the College that supports the development of all.

4. Scope of application

This policy applies to all Vanier College employees, students, contractors, volunteers, and visitors, engaged in activities on Vanier’s grounds, under the administrative control of Vanier, utilizing Vanier’s facilities and equipment, and representing Vanier in outside events or training.

5. Definitions

Confidentiality: Confidentiality pertains to the treatment of information. Private and personal information and information relating to the health and welfare of an individual should be accessed only on a strict need-to-know basis and handled and stored with care, and in accordance with the Act Respecting Access to Documents Held by Public Bodies and the Protection of Personal Information.

Learning environment: The diverse spaces (virtual or physical), approaches, contexts, and cultures in which teaching and learning take place; inclusive of the academic environment.

Members of the college community: Vanier College students and employees.

Mental health: “The capacity of each and all of us to feel, think, and act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges we face. It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice, interconnections, and personal dignity.”

Positive mental health: Positive mental health focuses on the positive mental aspects of a human being and their potential for growth, such as strengths and abilities, happiness, qualities such as responsibility, courage, creativity, and perseverance, as well as the material and social resources that promote or support them. A person with a high level of positive mental health is said to have thriving mental health, and a person with a low level is said to have languishing mental health.

Student community: Any person enrolled in a course of study or training activity organized by the College.

Systemic approach: A systemic approach takes a comprehensive view, recognizing that the whole campus has a role to play in supporting positive student mental health and well-being.

Well-being: The presence of the highest quality of life in its full expression of the following dimensions: cultural, emotional, mental, physical, social, financial, spiritual, and environmental.

6. Roles and responsibilities

The College values the participation and commitment of all through both personal and collective accountability. With regards to this policy, the responsibilities are shared as follows:

Board of directors:

• Adopt this policy.

Director general:

• Ensure the implementation of and compliance with this policy;
• Allocate the human, financial and material resources required to implement this policy; and
• Ensure that this policy is consistent and complementary to other policies, including those aimed at preventing and countering sexual violence in higher education, as well as harassment and discrimination.

College standing committee:

• Assume an advisory role to review and monitor this policy on an annual basis to gauge impact, progress, effectiveness, and relevance of measures, as well as make recommendations to the director general to improve policy implementation; and
• Ensure this committee includes representatives of senior management, faculty, professionals, support staff, and member(s) of the student community.

All members of the college community:

• Be familiar with and respect the policy;
• Contribute to cultivating an inclusive, safe, and respectful campus climate;
• Participate in various training, awareness, prevention and promotion activities intended for them and organized in connection with this policy;
• Be familiar with services available at Vanier College and guide students towards appropriate resources, as needed; and
• Respect student confidentiality and privacy of all personal information, as per legal requirements and college policies.

Academic dean, directors, and managers:

• Coordinate the promotion, implementation and dissemination of the policy, ensuring it is accessible to the entire community;
• Ensure that mental health support, accompaniment, education, promotion and prevention services are in place, and that information about these services is available;
• Encourage internal, interdisciplinary, and inter-network collaborations;
• Promote facilitating conditions to support student well-being and positive mental health; and
• Support professional development and training opportunities to increase community members’ ability to recognize early indications of student distress to ensure a swift response and guidance to appropriate support services.

Student services:

• Coordinate the College Standing Committee;
• Coordinate the various training, awareness, prevention and promotion activities related to this policy, as it pertains to students; and
• Assume responsibility for provision of mental health and wellness services for students.

Academic sector (faculty):

• Promote relevant college resources to students (e.g., in course outlines, in Léa class, on the first day of class, etc.);
• Refer students in distress to relevant support;
• Carry out responsibilities under the Institutional Policy on the Evaluation of Student Achievement (examples include, but are not limited to, defining course expectations and due dates in course outlines, respecting course ponderation, implementing accommodations, where appropriate) as well as other complementary institutional policies which allow for positive impacts on student mental health; and
• Reinforce the importance of student participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities on campus as well as sense of belonging to relevant college communities by way of course/class activities (where possible).

Vanier College Student Association (VCSA):

• Promote the policy to their members;
• Encourage their members to adopt attitudes and practices consistent with the policy;
• Promote a positive school climate, especially in the association (inclusive, safe and respectful climate, and where all forms of violence and intimidation are prohibited); and
• Ensure representation of diverse student voices.

Students:

• Advocate for one’s mental health and learn to recognize one’s own abilities and limitations, as well as signs of distress; and
• Seek information, access services as needed, on campus or externally, and, if applicable, provide relevant information to professional resources to receive the necessary support.

7. Continuum of actions

Awareness-raising, promotion, and prevention measures

The College implements awareness, promotion and prevention actions relating to mental health. These actions may focus on healthy lifestyle habits, harm reduction, ethical digital citizenship or any other relevant theme related to various mental health determinants. Programs focusing on the development of socio-emotional skills and stress management are also offered.

Training measures

Training related to supporting student mental health is developed and offered to managers, faculty, staff, and the student community.

Services and intervention

The College offers mental health and wellness services, through Student Services, that includes needs assessment, services, and referrals, as appropriate. The College develops partnerships with external organizations with mental health expertise, when possible, and refers its students to these organizations, when appropriate.

8. Effective date

This policy comes into effect upon adoption by the Board of Directors.

9. Policy revision

The policy will be reviewed every year for the first 3 years, and then at least every 5 years thereafter.

10. Reference documents

• National Standard: CSA Z2003:20 Mental Health and Well-Being for Postsecondary Students, 2020
• Plan d’action sur la santé mentale étudiante en enseignement supérieur 2021-2026, Gouvernement du Québec
• Plan d’action pour la réussite en enseignement supérieur 2021-2026, Gouvernement du Québec
• Cadre de référence sur la santé mentale étudiante, Gouvernement du Québec, 2022
• Red Folder – Your Guide to Recognizing & Responding to Students in Distress
• Vanier College Strategy for Supporting Student Mental Health and Well-Being 2023–2026 Executive Summary
• Vanier College Strategy for Supporting Student Mental Health and Well-Being 2023–2026