$1 million fund for colleges and
universities to accelerate implementation of the National Standard
of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary
Students
MONTRÉAL, June 10, 2021 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk today announced it is now accepting
applications for Implementation Grants through the 2021 Bell Let's
Talk Post-Secondary Fund. This annual $1
million program supports colleges and universities that are
using the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and
Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students to identify specific
gaps or needs in their mental health support services and are
building new initiatives to address them.
"The actions that schools across the country are taking to
strengthen student mental health and well-being on their campuses
are truly impressive, and we're pleased to be able to accelerate
those efforts with additional funding to assist them on their
journey to align with the Standard," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "We look
forward to hearing how this second round of funding will help
schools continue to build momentum towards a psychologically safer
learning environment that further supports student success,
especially as we look forward to our recovery from COVID-19."
In April, Bell Let's Talk awarded more than $3 million in initial grants to 123
post-secondary institutions planning to implement the National
Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for
Post-Secondary Students. In Québec, schools also have the option to
follow the Québec Action Plan on Student Mental Health for Higher
Education, which is currently being developed and will come into
effect in this fall.
The National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being
for Post-Secondary Students provides a set of guidelines to
help increase awareness, reduce stigma, improve life and resiliency
skills, and create a healthier and safer educational environment
overall. Bell Let's Talk funding helped enable the creation of the
Standard, led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in
partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
"This has been a challenging year and our campus communities
have felt the impact, in particular our students with the move to
online learning and social distancing," said Paul Davidson, President of Universities Canada.
"Their mental well-being – a key priority for Canada's universities
– is of critical importance as we navigate the challenges of this
latest wave, and also as we begin the safe return to campus. The
Standard, which reflects many of the ongoing innovations and
commitments already made by Canada's universities, is a tool that
can help institutions address student wellness challenges. It can
offer university leaders and frontline staff additional approaches,
resources and strategies to support students in achieving future
success. Thanks to Bell Let's Talk, universities have increased
access to funds needed to implement these important changes."
Eligible post-secondary institutions can now apply for a
multi-year Implementation Grant of up to $100,000 to fund programs identified in their
individual gap analyses and support their alignment with the
guiding principles and models of the Standard or the
Québec Action Plan to strengthen student mental health and
well-being. The grant application period is open from June 10 to August 27, 2021. Successful applicants
will receive funding in early 2022.
About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk mental
health initiative is focused on 4 key action pillars: Anti-stigma,
Care and Access, Research and Workplace Leadership. Since its
launch in September 2010, Bell Let's
Talk has partnered with more than 1,100 organizations providing
mental health services throughout Canada, including hospitals,
universities and other care and research organizations. To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
Katie
Hatfield
902-487-6198
katie.hatfield@bellaliant.ca
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada