From CBC.ca. / Aug. 14, 2019 — As first-year university and college students prepare to head to class, many are worrying about how they’ll handle the new responsibilities and workload.
“I’m 70 per cent prepared mentally,” says Anureet Kaur, 17, as she packs for her move from Winnipeg to the University of Victoria.
But Kaur is also nervous about living on her own for the first time, about the academic workload and about taking on responsibilities her mom has always handled for her.
“I end up taking a lot on my plate and then I panic and get overwhelmed.”
Students have increasingly been decrying the lack of mental health resources on university and college campuses, calling it a crisis.
While statistics are hard to come by, experts estimate between two and 10 per cent of university and college students think about killing themselves. Every year, some follow through.
So mental health advocates are launching a new resource aimed at first-year students that they hope will help prevent burnout, breakdowns and, ultimately, suicides.
‘This is about prevention’
For those like Kaur who feel overwhelmed, “From Surviving to Thriving: Developing Personal and Academic Resilience” is now available online. Some schools will also hand out hard copies during Frosh Week.
“This is about prevention,” says Mary Ann Baynton, director of strategy and collaboration at Winnipeg’s Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, which created the handbook.
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