February 21, 2023 | Toronto, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
Students have been among those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with social isolation, virtual learning challenges, job insecurity, and financial hardship having a profound impact on their mental health and well-being. The Government of Canada is committed to improving mental health resilience for everyone, and particularly those who are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges or face barriers to mental health supports.
Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced nearly $4 million in funding to OCAD University to support The Mindful Campus Initiative, which will help to enhance students' coping and resilience skills and create a supportive environment in which emerging creative artists and designers, including those from marginalized communities, can flourish. The funding will support a comprehensive set of mental health promotion materials linked to a peer support network, in addition to a variety of mindfulness training and practice programs.
This collaborative initiative will be delivered in partnership with Concordia's Faculty of Fine Arts; York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design; Nova Scotia College of Art & Design University; and Seneca's School of Creative Arts and Animation.
