It just got a little easier for students in Complex 2—Calumet, Bethune and Stong College—to get help, thanks to a new Walk-In Counselling Centre committed to removing barriers to accessing mental health resources.
STORY BY CHRISTINE SISMONDO
Calumet, Bethune and Stong Colleges partnered with Student Counselling and Development, Health and Well-being on this Student Success initiative and, according to Jennine Rawana, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Head of Calumet College, the new program has already been very well received.
“It’s the first time we’ve had a counselor in this complex to support students,” says Rawana. “Uptake has been amazing. It’s full all the time, so, if anything, they might have to look at expanding the hours.”
No reservations necessary. Students can simply drop by Room 103 Bethune College every Monday or Tuesday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM to check in with a counselor about anything from well-being and mental health, to coping with the stress of adjusting to a new school, or managing a heavy academic schedule.
“As opposed to going all the way across campus to the Bennett Centre, this gives students an opportunity to see a counselor here,” Rawana explains. “It also means that we can share information with them about our programs at Calumet and Stong, too, because we also have our own health and wellness programming that can support students.”
Director of Student Counselling and Development, Health and Well-Being, Lori Walls, says that booking appointments can discourage students from seeking care, especially if it’s a multi-step process, starting with an intake appointment. The Bennett Centre switched to a walk-in model six years ago to remove that barrier.
“You just come in anytime during business hours and we have a team that is on call to see the students,” says Walls. “It’s based on a single-session, solution-focused model. We’re not digging down into your past but working on what’s going on for you today.”
Walls adds that the approach builds on students’ strengths and aims to give them agency and empowerment in the process of change. The goal is to have students leave a session with a concrete plan for how to tackle whatever challenge they’re facing.
“We’re really excited to welcome the counseling program and are hopeful it will stay here,” Rawana adds, “In particular, because we’re getting such positive response from the community already.”
