Major Strategic Initiative 2 – Mental Health

The College will expand its fundraising efforts. The implementation of a foundation strategy will assist in soliciting funds for equipment and for scholarships to maximize the potential of the partnership with the province under its Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunities Scholarship program. The foundation will also be instrumental in securing a new campus in the Battlefords.

Major Strategic Initiative 2 – Mental Health

The pandemic has affected every Saskatchewan resident in some way but likely more so for our vulnerable students. The pandemic has accentuated the need in our province to better support mental health. North West College has always invested holistically in our students and their success. It is evident that student mental health is affecting success. Since the inception of Healthy Campus Saskatchewan, North West College has been an active participant in their great work. In 2022-23, NWC will be launching Healthy Campus North West. The College is investing in a 24-hour support line for our students called I.M. Well. The students and their family members will be able to anonymously access supports from their phone or computer on a variety of issues from financial to mental health. I.M. Well will also have information about local supports the student may access if needed. This 24-hour line will supplement the services the College provides. The College will continue its work on reviewing and implementing the National Standard of Canada Mental Health and Wellbeing for post-secondary students. Implementing these standards and having access to the 24-hour line will ensure a comprehensive transparent educated approach to supporting students suffering from mental health issues.

Creating connection and feeling a part of something supports positive mental health. Space for socializing and gathering is not available in Battlefords Campus. Space for cultural activities or for student lounge means that students have limited ability to mingle and to discuss social issues, to share and to support each other. Not only would a facility providing space for meeting with other students help to alleviate some mental health stressors, it would provide an opportunity for international students to meet with local students. These interactions are often the most memorable of a post-secondary experience. Having a coffee with a classmate can sometimes make a difference in a person’s outlook and be the thing that keeps them on track.

With a large proportion of the students having indigenous ancestry, a cultural space on Battlefords’ Campus would help to affirm the value we place in this relationship. Long identified as a need, a new campus facility was recently confirmed by the board to be a strategic priority for growth. A new facility with cultural, social, storage, lab, and other amenities will upgrade the College’s ability to serve its students in an appropriate manner where they can interact with other students, and have facilities and equipment available at other institutes.

The College has provided mental health programming for a long time. Health and community service certificate and diploma programs from our brokering agencies often do not have enough information about mental health and addictions. The College has added value to these programs by offering the students Mental Health First Aid. This supports students to gain awareness and skills in this fast growing and prevalent health concern. The College offered an after degree certificate in Community Mental Health for two years to support professionals already working in the field to gain specific knowledge and skills to better support clients suffering from mental health and addictions. The College also brought the Psychiatric Nursing program to the Battlefords knowing the significant demand for these professionals locally and provincially. Having this program in the community has also supported a better understanding of the profession and how it might be used in other ways in the provincial and First Nations health institutions to effectively support people. The College will continue to deliver programming to address these complex community issues. A great opportunity for micro-credentials.