Bring your voice to shape our U of A Student Mental Health Action Plan

In conjunction with the implementation of the National Standard of Mental Health and Well-being for Postsecondary Students at the University of Alberta, and following our student engagements last year, we will be hosting a series of co-creation workshops with University of Alberta staff and community members to help shape our recommendations for the student mental health action plan. We are seeking students from Campus Saint-Jean and Augustana who are interested in participating in a workshop to collaborate with staff and faculty and advocate for student needs. 

Requirements

  • Current U of A student (registered in Fall 2024)
  • Be available to attend a 2-3 hour workshop during the fall semester. 
  • Passionate about mental health promotion and advocacy. 
  • Comfort with sharing your lived experiences when necessary to help co-create improvements and recommendations.
  • Comfort and ability to participate in difficult conversations about mental health with various university stakeholders (staff, faculty, and decision-makers) and ability to manage your well-being in these dialogues. Please be aware that some of these conversations may be challenging or triggering. Supports for debrief will be available. 
  • Experience accessing university resources (mental health supports, health resources, academic supports) would be valuable.
  • Preference will be given to students from equity-denied backgrounds (BIPOC/racialized students; 2SLGBTQIA+ students, International students; students with disabilities).

Benefits

  • You will receive a $75 honorarium in OneCard funds for attending a workshop.
  • You will have the opportunity to shape future recommendations and improvements for the university and contribute to a mentally healthy campus.
  • You will gain experience and knowledge in the processes of co-creation, advocacy, and strategic planning. 
  • At your request, we will provide a letter confirming your hours in service of this project to use for future job opportunities or program applications. 

Instructions

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an email with an expression of interest to natstand@ualberta.ca. Please include a paragraph explaining: a) how long you have been a student at the university of Alberta and which campus you study at, b) your interest in the project, c) what skills and experiences you bring with you, and d) any relevant lived experience you wish to share (e.g. experience interacting with mental health services, equity-denied identities). 

We may not be able to offer a spot to everyone who expresses interest. If selected, we will contact you for a further conversation about this opportunity.