Mental health support at the University of Alberta

With the importance of good mental health being recognized more each year, it is vital that students, faculty and staff at any post-secondary institution are made aware of the free and charged mental health resources available to them. 

The University of Alberta uses many different avenues to provide students and staff with access to mental health support.

Mental health support for students

The university’s Mental Health Supports for Students web page offers a comprehensive collection of resources available to current students, including links to Counselling and Clinical Services, the University Health Centre, the Sexual Assault Centre, and much more; a list of free mental health workshops; a How-To help guide for supporting others; and a ‘Need Help Now?’ button at the top of the page which directs the user to a list of 24/7 mental health support lines.

Mental health support for faculty and staff

The university dedicates a page on its staff human resources website to promoting good mental health. The page, called Healthy Mind, includes a list of mental health resources for faculty and staff; information on how to access free resources, such as mental health counselling through the Employee and Family Assistance Program; information about upcoming free and paid education and events; and a ‘Get Help Now’ button which directs users to a 24/7 crisis support line. 

University staff members also have access to a health spending account, which they can use toward the cost of certain types of paid counselling from registered psychologists and other accredited counsellors.  

The University of Alberta also actively promotes good mental health to the campus community by:

• Including information in its staff and student newsletters on how to access mental health resources offered through the university
• Celebrating international events such as World Mental Health Day, which takes place every year on Oct. 10 
• Promoting mental health resources available to staff and students on the university’s Sustainable Development Goal dashboard
• Posting signage around the university about mental health-related resources and events
• Offering free and paid learning events such as lunch and learns and seminars 
• Offering a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Mental Health undergraduate program through the Augustana campus in Camrose, Alberta