Brescia expands student mental health resources with launch of the Care Program

January 11, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

London, ON – On January 8th, in a continued commitment to a university “whole campus approach” to mental health, Brescia University College launched its new Care Program. The program’s mission is to provide early identification of at-risk behaviors that impact a student’s ability to be successful and safe. The program will provide an accessible and transparent mechanism for a core “Care Team” to coordinate concerns from staff and faculty and make it easier to offer a better combination of appropriate resources and support for students experiencing difficulties.

“As an institution that has always put the needs of its students in the forefront, and one that is recognized for being student-centred, it is vital for us to provide the resources for our students to succeed academically within a safe and supportive campus environment,” says Brescia’s Vice-Principal of Students, Marianne Simm. “We are incredibly proud to launch this pivotal new program that will assist in supporting our students and their overall health and well-being.”

An eighteen-month long process, including research, consultation, development and preparation within the University, the Care Program is informed by evidence-based best practices used at universities across Canada and the U.S. To support assessment, the Care Program uses various evaluation strategies, including a nationally-recognized research-based behavioural and risk rubric.

To promote a successful launch of the Care Program, the University will be holding on-campus information booths between January 8 and January 19, which will provide information, resources for staff and faculty on using the Care Program and introduce students to the ways it can support their academic success and personal goals. “Lunch and Learn” sessions will also be available for Brescia’s faculty and staff within the first two months of the new semester that support the adoption of this campus-wide initiative.

For more information on Brescia’s Care program, visit: http://brescia.uwo.ca/life/care-program/.

Above: Brescia Vice-Principal of Students, Marianne Simm and student Natalie Brazier, at the Care Program information booth

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 For more information, please contact:

Colleen Aguilar, Director, Communications & External Relations at 519-432-8353, ext. 28293 or at colleen.aguilar@uwo.ca, or Caitlin Core, Communications, Marketing & External Relations Officer at 519-432-8353, ext. 28280 or at ccore@uwo.ca.

Brescia University College, Canada’s women’s university college, is affiliated with Western University. The 1,500 women registered as either full- or part-time students at Brescia study a wide variety of subjects in the Schools of Behavioural & Social Sciences, Food & Nutritional Sciences, Humanities and Leadership & Social Change in an empowering, compassionate, student-centred and invigorating environment. Degrees are granted by Western. The Catholic University College welcomes students from all backgrounds and values diversity.