Kitchener-Waterloo

'We need to talk about what happened': UW to release report on student mental health

On Monday, a student at the University of Waterloo dies by suicide and president Feridun Hamdullahpur says the conversation about student mental health needs to continue as he plans to share a report on student mental health in the coming days.

On Monday, police confirmed a 22-year-old fourth-year student died by suicide.

The Social Development Lab from the University of Waterloo is trying to learn how temperament affects children's social and emotional development. (University of Waterloo)

The conversation about student mental health needs to continue, says University of Waterloo president Feridun Hamdullahpur, after a student died by suicide on the school's campus Monday.

"We need to turn talk into action to make sure we are doing everything in our power to remove stigma and connect people with the help they need," he said in an open letter on the school's Daily Bulletin.

On Monday, police confirmed the student, a 22-year-old man in fourth-year, died by suicide.

Hamdullahpur said there has been discussions on how the university can improve student life on its campuses. 

In the coming days, Hamdullahpur said he will receive a final report from the President's Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health, which he plans to share with the "campus community" for feedback.

He is also set to announce how the university will move forward to further support student mental health.

"Like many of you I am asking what was going on in this young man's world where taking his life seemed the only way out," Hamdullahpur said