Resources for Supporting Students

Spring flower in St George campus

Resources for students

If you are a student seeking mental health resources, please visit the U of T Student Mental Health Resource website.

As faculty, staff and teaching assistants you will often find yourself in situations where there's an opportunity to help support a student experiencing a mental health concern. The following resources are not a comprehensive repository of all things mental health, but a quick-reference tool to assist you in connecting students with the appropriate mental health resources.

Below you will find guidelines outlining how to respond to different situations you might encounter through your interactions with students:

 

For additional guidance and/or support in navigating mental health resources contact:

Caroline Rabbat, Director
High Risk, Faculty Support & Mental Health
Faculty of Arts & Science
caroline.rabbat@utoronto.ca
 

 

Scenarios & Guidelines for Supporting Students

A single safety risk indicator (e.g., a student writes a paper expressing hopelessness) or a cluster of lesser signs (e.g., emotional outbursts, repeated absences) indicates a need to take action to support a student. Whenever possible, offer this support privately. It is important to respond in a way that does not compromise anyone’s safety. It is also important that you not take on the role of a counsellor. 

If you are unsure about which resources are appropriate, you may reach out to Caroline Rabbat or Chad Jankowski on the A&S Mental Health Team for assistance during business hours.  After hours, or in the case of a crisis, please contact Campus Police for assistance.

Suicidal Ideation

Students who are having thoughts of suicide are in need of immediate assistance. If a student expresses suicidal ideation, direct them to one of the resources below.

  • Also notify the Student Crisis Response team (416-946-7111) so that they can follow up as needed.
  • If the risk to life feels immediate, call Emergency Services (9-1-1) or Campus Police (416-978-2222).

U of T Telus Health Student Support (Available 24 hours)
Within North America: 1-844-451-9700
Outside North America: 001-416-380-6578
Text chat: available via mobile app

  • Mobile chat-based support available in simplified Chinese, Spanish, French and English via app (alternately, online chat-based support available via keep.meSAFE website).

Suicide Crisis Helpline (Available 24 hours)
9-8-8 (call or text)

  • Canada-wide network of suicide prevention responders available to anyone who is thinking of suicide or who is worried about someone they know.

Good2Talk Post-Secondary Student Helpline  (Available 24 hours, Ontario residents only)
1-866-925-5454
Text chat: Text GOOD2TALKON to 686868

  • Free, confidential and anonymous support from professional counsellors. 

U of T Health & Wellness Centre (Available to Ontario residents only)
214 College Street, Koffler Student Services Centre, 2nd Floor
416-978-8030

  • A variety of virtual mental health services including psychotherapy, group therapy, same-day counselling, and designated counsellors for graduate students.

CAMH Psychiatric Emergency Department  (Available 24 hours)
1051 Queen Street West

  • Provides in-person emergency assessment and treatment for adults with mental health issues.

Hospital Emergency Department (Available 24 hours)

 

Sexual Violence

If a student discloses that they have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment (e.g., unwelcome sexual overtures in person or electronically), direct them to:

U of T Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre
416-978-2266

  • Provides confidential, non-judgmental consultation. Offers support in understanding, accessing, and navigating supports such as counselling, medical services, academic accommodations, financial aid, and legal aid. A disclosure to the Centre does not lead to a report unless the student wants it to.

 

Safety Concerns

If a student is concerned for their safety (on- or off-campus), direct them to:

U of T Community Safety Office
416-978-1485

  • Addresses complaints, assesses personal safety risks, provides a continuum of intervention options, co-creates safety plans, facilitates referrals and coordination with various offices in order to address safety.
  • Examples of safety concerns include: stalking and harassment, bullying and intimidation, threats, intimate partner violence, family violence, volatile behaviours and work/school conflict.

 

Seeking Counselling

If a student is feeling overwhelmed, in need of emotional support, or is seeking to access mental health care, direct them to:

U of T Telus Health Student Support (Available 24 hours)
Within North America: 1-844-451-9700
Outside North America: 001-416-380-6578
Text chat: available via mobile app

  • Free, multi-lingual, professional counselling support for school, health, or general life concerns. 
  • Immediate phone support available in 35 languages and chat support available (via mobile app) in simplified Chinese, Spanish, French and English.
  • Ongoing phone support available in 146 languages.
  • Mobile chat-based support available in simplified Chinese, Spanish, French and English via app (alternately, online chat-based support available via keep.meSAFE website).

Good2Talk Post-Secondary Student Helpline  (Available 24 hours, Ontario residents only)
1-866-925-5454
Text chat: Text GOOD2TALKON to 686868

  • Free, confidential and anonymous support from professional counsellors.
  • Provides information and referrals about services and supports for mental health, addictions, and well-being on and off campus.

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto  (Available 24 hours)
416-408-4357 (phone)
45645 (text)

  • Highly-trained volunteers provide free, confidential, one-on-one phone or chat support to individuals experiencing emotional distress, marginalization, social isolation or other forms of mental health challenges.

U of T Health & Wellness Centre (Available to Ontario residents only)
416-978-8030

  • Offers a variety of mental health services including psychotherapy, group therapy, same-day counselling, and designated counsellors for graduate students.
  • Provides individual counselling for adjustment and transition issues, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, relationships, family issues, body image and disordered eating, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc.

 

Bullying, Threats, or Stalking

If a student is experiencing bullying, threats, or stalking, the following campus resources can assist: 

U of T Community Safety Office
416-978-1485

  • Addresses complaints, assesses personal safety risks, provides a continuum of intervention options, co-creates safety plans, facilitates referrals and coordination with various offices in order to address safety.

TravelSafer  (Available 24 hours)
416-978-7233

  • A campus Security Guard or Special Constable will meet you at your location and escort you to any building on campus or campus TTC station.

 

Online Harassment

If a student is experiencing online harassment, direct them to the appropriate resource below: 

U of T Community Safety Office
416-978-1485

  • Addresses complaints, assesses personal safety risks, provides a continuum of intervention options, co-creates safety plans, facilitates referrals and coordination with various offices in order to address safety.

U of T Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre
416-978-2266

  • Provides confidential, non-judgmental consultation. Offers support in understanding, accessing, and navigating supports such as counselling, medical services, academic accommodations, financial aid, and legal aid. A disclosure to the Centre does not lead to a report unless the student wants it to.

 

Accommodation Requests

The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities so that they can achieve their full potential as members of the University community. Course instructors and TAs may receive requests for accommodations via the Letter of Accommodation from either the student or an Accessibility Advisor. For assistance responding to the request, contact:

A&S Student Success Programs Officer – Accessibility & Accommodations
416-978-7466
tanya.hyland@utoronto.ca 

  • Provides consultation and support for faculty to discuss the implementation of accommodations in the classroom.

Accessibility Services – Accessibility Advisor

  • The name of the student’s Accessibility Advisor will be noted on the Letter of Accommodation.

 

U of T Mental Health Resources for Students

The following resources provide emotional support and/or personal life counselling and are available to U of T students experiencing challenges to their mental health:

U of T Telus Health Student Support 
Within North America: 1-844-451-9700
Outside North America: 001-416-380-6578
Mobile chat available via Telus Health Student Support app
Online chat available through keep.meSAFE website

  • Free, multi-lingual, professional counselling support for school, health, or general life concerns. Ongoing phone support available in 146 languages. Immediate phone support available in 35 languages and chat support available (via mobile app) in simplified Chinese, Spanish, French and English. 

Good2Talk Post-Secondary Student Helpline (Ontario residents only)
1-866-925-5454
Text chat: Text GOOD2TALKON to 686868

  • Free, confidential and anonymous support from professional counsellors. Provides information and referrals about services and supports for mental health, addictions, and well-being on and off campus. 

Health & Wellness Centre (Available to Ontario residents only)
416-978-8030

  • Offers a variety of mental health services including psychotherapy, group therapy, same-day counselling, and designated counsellors for graduate students for a wide range of mental, emotional, and psychological challenges.

Accessibility Services
416-978-8060

  • Confidential services to help students to navigate their disability and related barriers.
  • Supports available include peer mentoring and drop-in, expertise in learning strategies and adaptive technology, support in determining and negotiating effective accommodations, and various academic and social opportunities.

Campus Chaplains Association
416-946-3119

  • Multi-faith chaplains offer one-on-one counselling and spiritual support from a holistic perspective. Offers support though a search for meaning in life, an exploration of spiritualties, and an examination of moral and ethical issues.

Indigenous Student Services
416-978-8227

  • First Nations House provides culturally relevant services to Indigenous students in support of academic success, personal growth and leadership development, including opportunities to meet with Elders and Traditional Teachers for support, guidance and teachings.

Other Resources

Although not typically considered mental health resources the following campus offices can provide valuable support to students around challenges they are experiencing that may be impacting their mental health.

 

Community Mental Health Resources for Students — Service Finders

Service Finders provide support in identifying the mental health and community services that can best meet someone’s needs. They offer confidential phone and/or chat resources in addition to online search tools.

U of T Telus Health Student Support 
Within North America: 1-844-451-9700
Outside North America: 001-416-380-6578

  • The U of T Telus Health Student Support Community Outreach Team can help U of T students world-wide to identify mental health services in their local community. This service-finder function is available in multiple languages.

Good2Talk Student Helpline (Ontario residents only)
1-866-925-5454
Text chat: Text GOOD2TALKON to 686868

  • The service finder feature of this 24-hour helpline is one we recommend for students. In addition to searching the ConnexOntario and 211Toronto databases, their operators also have access to a database of services available across the University of Toronto.

Connex Ontario
1-866-531-2600

  • Free and confidential 24/7 system navigation and information about Ontario-based services for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness and/or gambling. Their up-to-date services database includes information on:
    • Where the service is located
    • How to access the service
    • How long the wait to access the service may be

211Toronto
2-1-1

  • Provides free, 24/7 information and referrals to community and social services within Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Durham Region.