SLC Team Showcases Pioneering Mental Health Framework at Higher Education Summit

Submitted by the IMHS Taskforce

St. Lawrence College’s Integrated Mental Health Strategy (IMHS) core planning team members recently presented at the 2024 Higher Education Summit with a peer roundtable session focused on the strategy. As the first session of its kind at HES, it drew an engaged and diverse audience from across the sector, providing a platform to share two years of SLC’s strategic development and implementation insights. SLC's strategy aligns with the Post Secondary Mental Health Standards and the Okanagan Charter, reflecting the College's commitment to fostering well-being as a collective responsibility across the campus communities. 
 
The strategy's vision emphasizes the creation of empowered, resilient, and healthy campus communities where both students and staff feel connected, safe, and supported in their journey to succeed and flourish. The roundtable delved into the framework’s five foundational pillars: literacy, education, and stigma reduction; workplace support; physical environment enhancements; cultural change initiatives; and academic supports. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions about the practical applications of these focus areas and explored collaborative approaches to further integrate mental health priorities into institutional practices. 

By capitalizing on existing strategic initiatives and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through its Integrated Mental Health Task Force, SLC continues to lead the way in our sector, promoting mental health awareness and systemic change. This session not only reinforced the importance of mental health on post-secondary campuses but also aimed to inspire institutions across Ontario to adopt similar innovative practices for the benefit of their communities.