New federally funded mental health program to support student success and well-being.
On 21 February, Her Royal Highness Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Deputy Minister of Health, announced a new program to help art and design students develop skills to support and maintain their mental health and wellbeing. announced.
Mindful Campus is led by OCAD University in partnership with the Center for Mindfulness Research and a collaborative network of post-tertiary art and design schools and departments, including Concordia School of Art and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). Masu. ) University, OCAD University, Seneca School of Creative Arts and Animation, York University School of Art, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD).
The initiative has received nearly $4 million in grant funding from the Government of Canada’s Public Health Agency of Canada through its “Supporting the Mental Health of Those Most Impacted by COVID-19” program.
“Our government recognizes that the pandemic has exacerbated the existing mental health and substance use challenges faced by many students and young people. Today’s funding for the Mindful Campus Initiative will help students at OCAD University and four more campuses across Canada stay healthy as they continue to adapt to challenging and evolving times. They will learn coping skills, build resilience and be able to support each other,” said Minister Carolyn Bennett. Doctor of Mental Health and Addictions, Deputy Minister of Health.
“The Mindful Campus Initiative is a timely and critically important step to ensure that well-being and mental health are top priorities for the success of the next generation of creative artists, designers and leaders. We would like to thank the Public Health Agency of Canada for funding this important work,” said Barry Patterson, Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness Research. “We are working with OCAD U to adapt and deliver evidence-based, research-based mindfulness-based training and practices to equip students with essential tools and skills to support their mental health. We look forward to serving you.”
About Mindful Campus
Mindful Campus is designed to help budding creators develop skills and techniques that support them to grow and adapt in today’s challenging times. as mental health collaborator for mindful campusthe center designs and provides iinitiative emotional health and welfare programs. This includes: video series Introduction of mindfulness, face-to-face live performances and online mindfulness program, practice support session, fellow, and staff training. The program is modeled after a mindfulness-based intervention for young people, and these courses have been adapted to focus on developing coping and resilience skills, especially for art and design students. It has been.
The program was piloted at OCAD U in March and will be rolled out to partner post-secondary institutions this fall.
“Even as we emerge from the pandemic, students continue to face an uncertain world, including climate change, rising housing costs and inflation, and current political conflicts. A mindful campus is designed to help students reduce the stress of life’s challenges. This program is designed to help students develop resilience and coping skills to deal with the challenges of life and to truly thrive. We are very grateful to our partners for their support,” said Dean Fisher, OCAD University Vice President for Student and International Affairs.
Quotes from partners after secondary
“Given the sacrifices that have been made on students over the past few years, the Mindful Campus Initiative is a science-based initiative to build community, reduce stress, and inspire creativity. We provide strategies to our art students,” said Dean Annie Gelin. Concordia University School of Fine Arts.
“While the pandemic has posed very real emotional, financial and logistical challenges for all post-secondary students, creators in art and design schools have benefited from the studio experience and “I faced the unique pressure of losing the creative influence of my colleagues,” says Dr. Peggy Shannon. , President of NSCAD University. “On behalf of everyone at NSCAD, I would like to thank the Public Health Agency of Canada for supporting the Mindful Campus Initiative and helping create an environment where emerging creative artists and designers, including Indigenous, Black and people of colour, can flourish. We’re excited to be Thriving. The world needs art and design now more than ever as people cope with isolation by participating in culture, and we all need the resilience of our students. We know we need to be able to support our overall health.”
“Seneca is grateful to the federal government and supports the Mindful Campus Initiative with our academic partners. “This project’s engaging resources and comprehensive activities will be of great benefit to Seneca students,” said Seneca President David Agnew.
“York University’s School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design focuses on the whole person. We provide our students with the tools they need to support their physical and mental health. “We need to develop techniques alongside our wellbeing strategies to achieve and maintain our creative potential,” says Sarah, Head of the Faculty of Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) at the University of York. Dr. Beichen said. “We are pleased to partner with OCAD U on this investment that embeds health at the core of our curriculum. We look forward to building on our existing efforts and expanding our health mission into new aspects of the school. ”
Click here to read the Public Health Agency of Canada’s news release.
