Contestoga College sees 10% jump in students seeking counselling

Conestoga College has seen a 10 per cent increase in counselling appointments, as the college works with the Canadian Mental Health Association in a pilot project that offers additional mental health services for students.

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Though the recent partnership has been in the works since May, it's especially timely as college students have expressed concern over their workload as a result of the five-week strike in the fall.

"Our college students this fall endured a strike and they are a few weeks behind in their curriculum and playing catch up right now," said Helen Fishburn, senior director of services at CMHA Waterloo-Wellington.

"That adds another layer of stress for them so we are pleased at this particular time to be able to go in a provide additional support to the student services team."

"It's a good time to pilot this enhanced support for students recognizing that what we're hoping is that we will be able to continue this level of enhanced crisis support for students at stressful periods like finals moving forward," Bonnie Lipton-Bos, director of student success services, told CBC News.

Walk-in counselling

In addition to the current mental health services at the college, Here 24/7 has been offering its call-in services and walk-in counselling sessions during the evenings since early December at the Doon campus.

Here 24/7 is mental health and crisis service offered across the Waterloo-Wellington Local Health Integration Network.

Student success services also offers evening counselling appointments for students.

Lipton-Bos said that Here 24/7 will be on campus until Jan. 10 — two days before the end of the fall term. 

So far, she said, no decisions have been made on if the pilot will be extended into the winter term.