Mental Health and Wellness - Dalla Lana School of Public Health

If you are in distress, use the resources below to find various supports to assist in finding the the help you need.

The Dalla Lana School of Public Health has a dedicated On-Location counsellor available to support students Monday-Friday, between September and May. Call 416-978-8030 ext. 5 to book an in-person or virtual appointment and indicate your interest in receiving counselling as a DLSPH graduate student.

Immediate Support

U of T Telus Health Student Support: 1-844-451-9700.
U of T Telus Student Support connects students with free, confidential emotional health and wellbeing support conveniently available 24/7/365 via the app, telephone and web.

Good 2 Talk: 1-866-925-5454.
Good2Talk is a free, confidential service for post-secondary students in Ontario, available 24/7/365. By calling 1-866-925-5454, post-secondary students in Ontario can receive professional counselling and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.

Distress Centre of Greater Toronto: 416-408-HELP (4357).
A confidential helpline available 24/7/365 to people in emotional distress.

Gerstein Crisis Centre: 416-929-5200.
24-hour community-based crisis service for serious mental health issues.

Call 911 if you are:
feeling desperate and hopeless, worried you might hurt yourself, someone else or having suicidal thoughts, alone with no one to talk to.

Call 911 if you have:
made a plan, the means to hurt yourself or someone else (e.g. pills or a weapon), attempted suicide or have hurt yourself before.

Additional Support for when you feel distressed – UofT Student Life (utoronto.ca)

Ongoing Support

NAVI:
NAVI is a chat-based virtual assistant and a source for mental health resources.

DLSPH Wellness Counsellor Early Intervention Counselling (non-urgent):
The Dalla Lana School of Public Health has a dedicated On-Location counsellor available to support students Monday-Friday, between September and May. Call 416-978-8030 ext. 5 to book an in person or virtual appointment and indicate your interest in receiving counselling as a DLSPH graduate student.

Student Life @ U of T – Health and Wellness:
Offers a range of mental and physical health supports in the form of workshops, training, support groups, counselling services, personal health visits and more.

School of Graduate Studies Wellness Portal:
Health and Wellness resources designed for graduate students.

OISE Psychology Clinic:
Provides comprehensive assessment and intervention services to children and adolescents, and assessment and counselling services to adults. Services typically provided by students doing their clinical training under supervision. 252 Bloor Street West, suite 7-296. 416-978-0620. $ Fees vary, depending on services

Safety Supports

Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre: 416-978-2266.
For personal safety issues, including stalking and harassment, bullying, domestic and family violence, workplace conflict, and volatile behaviour.

Campus Community Police: 416-978-2222 (24/7/365).
Report assault or immediate danger of assault, fighting, suspicious persons or trespassers, sexual assault, theft in progress, collision/disabled vehicle, etc.

TravelSafer: 416-978-7233.
Provides safe escort for students walking or travelling alone between University buildings, parking lots, and transit stops near campus.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Supports

UofT Equity Offices:
The University of Toronto has specialized Equity Offices that are unique to our institution. Together, we advance the University’s commitment to equity and excellence and meet the complex needs of our tri-campus community. These Offices support the U of T community by engaging in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) education and initiatives while implementing change to build capacity and knowledge.

Family Care Office: 416-978-0951.
Provides confidential guidance, resources, referrals, educational programming and advocacy for the University of Toronto community and their families.

Indigenous Student Services: 416-978-1893.
First Nations House provides culturally relevant services to Indigenous students in support of academic success, personal growth and leadership development.

Multi-Faith Centre: 416-946-3120.
Supports the spiritual well-being of students, staff and faculty and increases our understanding of and respect for religious beliefs and practices.

Sexual & Gender Diversity Office: 416-946-5624.
Develops partnerships to build supportive learning and working communities at the University of Toronto by working towards equity and challenging discrimination.

Elder in Residence and Traditional Teacher in Residence: 416-978-8227.
Meet with Elders and Traditional Teachers for support, guidance, and teachings. First Nations House, North Borden Building, 3rd floor, 563 Spadina Avenue.

Physical Health Supports

Family Care Supports

The Family Care Office aims to support and help students who are currently balancing their academic career, as well as work, with the challenges of family responsibility. The Office’s mandate is to support students and their families with any family care issue by providing information, guidance, referrals and advocacy.

Family Care Office

SGS Leave of Absence Policy for Parental Leave – New parents may apply to their graduate coordinator for a one-session to three-session leave of absence at the time of pregnancy, birth, or adoption to provide full-time care during a child’s first year.

SGS Parental Grant – Doctoral students within the funded cohort may apply for this fund that helps offset the loss of funding as a result of taking on approved parental leave of absence at the time of birth or adoption.

Faith and Spirituality Supports

Multi-faith Spaces around Campus – Several multi-purpose spaces on St. George campus are suitable for prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices.

Multi-Faith Centre for Spiritual Study and Practice – Supports the spiritual well-being of students, staff, and faculty through interfaith dialogue and other activities that help to increase our understanding of and respect for religious beliefs and practices. 569 Spadina Avenue, 416-946-3120.

Elder in Residence and Traditional Teacher in Residence – Meet with Elders and Traditional Teachers for support, guidance, and teachings. First Nations House, North Borden
Building, 3rd floor, 563 Spadina Avenue, 416-978-8227.

Academic Supports

Accessibility and Academic Accommodations
Access resources to assist in the development of appropriate accommodations and supports while you undertake new academic challenges. Review the Accessibility Services Graduate and Professional Program Student Handbook.

Gradlife: 416-946-0148.
Provides programs to help grad students build skills, get support, and meet other grad students. Take advantage of the Grad Talks, Grad Escapes, and Grad Connections programs – 21 Sussex Drive plus various locations.

Academic Success:
Connect with us to develop a healthy approach to learning, find confidence and motivation to study, take better notes, prepare for tests and exams and manage your tasks more efficiently.

Graduate Centre for Academic Communication:
Provides graduate students with advanced training in academic writing and speaking. Writing Coursesand Workshops are offered throughout the academic year. A selection of pre-recorded workshops are also available.

Centre for Graduate Professional Skills:
An initiative of the School of Graduate Studies, designed to help all graduate students become fully prepared for their future. GPS focuses on skills beyond those conventionally learned within a disciplinary program, skills that may be critical to success in the wide range of careers that graduates enter, both within and outside academe.

Graduate Mentorship & Supervision

Health Science Writing Centre:
We offer individual student instruction, support for your writing development as you need it, writing resources, support for faculty to integrate writing into class and both synchronous and asynchronous online appointments.

Essential Research Skills Workshops:
Learn how to do exploratory research to find out what is already known on a topic, develop successful research questions, effectively search for quality resources, critically evaluate and choose the best sources and use information responsibly.

U of T Health Services

U of T Health Services delivers the same services to students as that of a family doctor’s office. The service is confidential, is geared towards the student body and provides comprehensive medical care as well as specialized services such as travel medicine, immunization and referrals for specialized treatment.

U of T Health & Wellness Centre

Health Insurance

The Graduate Students Union (GSU) administers extensive and flexible Health and Dental plans to registered students and their dependents. Information about how to opt out of these plans is also available.

Graduate Students Union

Additional Supports for Staying Well

School of Graduate Studies Wellness Portal

Identify, Assist and Refer Training

Graduate Counselling Services & workshops at School of Graduate Studies – Offered in partnership with Health and Wellness Centre – SGS Wellness Counsellors offer brief counselling services for graduate students five days a week and lead bimonthly wellness workshops. Build coping skills to help you meet the demands of your academic and personal life.

OISE Psychology Clinic – Provides comprehensive assessment and intervention services to children and adolescents, and assessment and counselling services to adults. Services typically provided by students doing their clinical training under supervision. 252 Bloor Street West, suite 7-296. 416-978-0620.
$ Fees vary, depending on services.

Gradlife – provides programs to help grad students build skills, get support, and meet other grad students. Take advantage of the Grad Talks, Grad Escapes, and Grad Connections programs – 21 Sussex Drive plus various locations. 416-946-0148.

Mindful Moments – increase your relaxation and resiliency by learning how to be mindful.

Tips from Toronto Public Health

Take deep breaths. Simple breathing exercises can help ease stress. Try breathing in deeply, counting to three, hold for a count of three, and then slowly breathe out, counting to three.
Have a routine. Structure your day and maintain positive habits.
Let in the sun. Open windows. Sunlight can improve your mood.
Exercise, dance and have fun. Blow off steam and boost endorphins.
Call or virtually connect with loved ones. Lean on each other for support.
Stay informed. Check credible sources of information for updates but take breaks when needed. Taking in the news all day can be draining. Unplug for a bit and recharge – listen to music, meditate, read or listen to a podcast instead.
Look for the positives. Share inspirational stories of people helping one another.
Engage your brain. Do a word search, Sudoku, jigsaw or crossword puzzle.
Help others. Volunteer to pick up groceries or walk the dog for a neighbour who is self-isolating. Helping someone else can make you feel good.
Seek help. If you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out. Community help is available.

More Tips