UNB to train, pay some students to help peers with mental health struggles

College students on the College of New Brunswick and 4 different universities are being skilled with federal cash to assist fellow college students with their psychological well being struggles, the federal government introduced Friday. 

MP Jenica Atwin was on the UNB Fredericton campus to elaborate on using $2 million introduced earlier. 

The three-year campus peer help pilot might be led by the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation and see 100 college students employed throughout the 5 faculties, which additionally embody College of Prince Edward Island, Trent College, Drugs Hat School and College of British Columbia.

Christa Baldwin, the manager director of the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation of New Brunswick, stated peer help is emotional and sensible help between individuals who share frequent experiences. 

The scholars might be skilled to share coping methods, assist navigate the psychological well being system and “can actually instill hope in folks.”

She stated that is one thing already finished in universities, however coaching will enhance the coed’s potential to assist.

The 100 positions might be distributed to the 5 universities based mostly on inhabitants and wish.

61% of scholars felt psychological well being decline

College students’ psychological well being has deteriorated within the final two years, as isolation and a worldwide well being disaster took a toll on everybody’s potential to manage.

In accordance with analysis finished by the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation, 61 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 24 say their psychological well being has declined for the reason that starting of the pandemic.

At UNB in Fredericton, college students’ psychological well being challenges have been compounded by the lack of the only real psychiatrist on the Scholar Well being Centre in 2020. The psychiatrist was suspended by the School of Physicians and Surgeons after a number of sexual assault complaints from sufferers. The college and psychiatrist are at the moment being sued by one of many victims.

There’s nonetheless no psychiatrist listed on the well being centre web site.

UNB spokesperson Kelsey Pye stated the Scholar Well being Centre has a “referral relationship” with a psychiatrist locally.

Sydona Chandon, government director of the New Brunswick Scholar Alliance, stated the alliance is completely satisfied to see this program however continues to advocate extra companies.

St. Thomas College shares counselling and well being companies with UNB, however it’s not a part of the peer help program. The Saint John campus of UNB can be a part of the peer counselling pilot.

Pye stated UNB Fredericton employs 5½ full-time counsellors and one full-time director of counselling, who additionally counsels college students.

UNB Fredericton, NBCC Fredericton and St. Thomas College share a province-funded LGBTQ wellness co-ordinator. The three campuses additionally share a specifically skilled sexual assault help advocate.

‘Half of an entire’

Bonnie Lipton-Bos, the nationwide supervisor of the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation, stated the peer helps could be working alongside counsellors and different service suppliers.

“They’re one half of an entire,” she stated.

The scholars who might be employed might be vetted to verify they’re in a spot the place they really feel properly and in a position to tackle this work. They’d even be provided assist as a part of this system to take care of their very own psychological well being.

“That is a part of turning into a peer supporter,” she stated. “Understanding self-care methods, easy methods to care for your self, the place to set boundaries and easy methods to ask for assist your self.”

In accordance with the New Brunswick Well being Council, 30 per cent of New Brunswick youth have perceived psychological well being wants, however a lot of these wants go unmet due to stigma, lack of consciousness of sources and lengthy wait instances.

In 2019-2020, youth referred for dependancy and psychological well being companies waited 58 days from the day their referral was acquired to the day a clinician was assigned as their caseworker, the council reported in January of this 12 months.

Youth within the Saint John space have a shorter wait time of 41 days, however youth in Madawaska and the northeast, typically have to attend greater than three months, or 95 days.