Here2Talk,
British Columbia’s first dedicated mental health support service for
post-secondary students, is marking a successful first year providing guidance
and support to 3,285 B.C. students.
“This has
been a difficult year for everyone, and post-secondary students have faced
unprecedented pandemic-related challenges, along with the annual stress of
final exams and anxiety around securing a summer job,” said Anne Kang,
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “We want students to
know Here2Talk is available for them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready
to offer support and guidance.”
Here2Talk
launched in April 2020 as a free mental health counselling and referral service
providing year-round, 24/7 mental health support services for all B.C.
post-secondary students, whether they live in Canada or abroad.
“Post-secondary
students need access to quality mental health services now more than ever,”
said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Here2Talk
is a safety net for many students since it was launched one year ago, and as
the program begins its second year, even more post-secondary students will
receive the vital support and connection they need during the pandemic, and
after.”
Here2Talk
has been used more than 10,300 times since the service was launched in April
2020. The chat feature has proved most popular, with 75% of students
using it compared with the call option, which has been used 25% of the time.
Students’ satisfaction with the service is high, with 82% saying it provided
them with the support and tools they needed, while 75% of students said
they would refer their friend or classmate to Here2Talk.
“Here2Talk
provides accessible support and counselling service to B.C. students. The
feedback from thousands of students who have already used it has been
overwhelmingly positive,” said Brittny Anderson, the Premier’s Special
Advisor on Youth and MLA for Nelson-Creston. “This program is critical for
supporting students who have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic.”
Students can
access chat sessions with a trained counsellor online at Here2Talk or by
downloading the free Here2Talk app through the Apple App Store or Google Play
Store. They can speak with a counsellor by phone toll-free at 1 877 857-3397 or
at 604 642-5212. Students calling from outside Canada can dial +1 604 642-5212
(international calling charges may apply).
Here2Talk
call and chat services are available in English and French, with some
additional languages such as Punjabi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish and
Arabic, supported over the phone based on availability to call centre
providers. If a language-specific counsellor is not available at the time of
the call, services are offered in English and supported by a third-party
translation service as required and as available.
In addition
to Here2Talk, other supports are available to students on or off campus and in
the community, including virtual mental health supports available on the
Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions’ website, such as Healthy Minds,
Healthy Campuses. This resource helps post-secondary institutions develop
support network activities and policies to raise awareness of mental
health and encourage healthy decisions around alcohol and other substances
among post-secondary students.
Another
resource is Foundry Virtual, a vital service that helps ensure young people and
their families can access services, such as walk-in peer support and virtual
counselling sessions.
Improving
mental health in post-secondary institutions is an integral part of
government’s actions outlined in A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for making
the system of mental health and addictions care better for people, no matter
where they live in the province.
What students are saying about their experiences with Here2Talk –
“I
finally, for the first time in months, spoke out about something bothering me
that I had been keeping in. The counsellor I spoke to helped me so much and
gave me so many tools to help me cope. I felt like we got through so much in
our 30 minutes, and I felt so much better. I felt the humanness in my
counsellor as well, which was so nice. Thanks so much!”
“I had a
good experience with this! It is comforting to know there is someone I can turn
to when I am having a tough time and when I feel like I do not have someone to
talk to in real life. They listen and make you feel heard! I am glad that a
service like this was created for post-secondary students.”
“I was
feeling so overwhelmed with everything I had to do this week, as well as very
homesick. Chatting with a counsellor helped me to see how strong and brave I
am, and gave me strength to face the week ahead and finally be able to sleep in
peace. Thank you.”
Quick Facts:
- Youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years are more likely to report mental illness and/or substance use disorders than other age groups, influenced by pressures ranging from financial stress to personal relationships, academics, sleep problems and stigma in seeking help.
- The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training invests $1.5 million annually into Here2Talk.
- The on-demand service, operated by Morneau Shepell, supports students dealing with challenges such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, the pressure to perform, crises, racism and relationships.
- Counsellors can refer students to local resources in their communities.
Learn More:
- CLICK HERE for more information about Here2Talk
- CLICK HERE for other mental health supports on the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions’ website
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