Student organizations in the Maritime provinces are asking for government funding for a suite of technology based solutions for mental health issues.
The New Brunswick Student Alliance says in 2015, mental health was the most common reason students from the NBSA’s Member Unions were visiting on campus physicians.
From 2012 to 2015, in New Brunswick, the number of post secondary students requesting disability accommodation for mental health related problems and illnesses tripled.
In addition, average waitlist times for mental health related services at provincial universities averages between two to six weeks, but can grow up to six months on some campuses during the academic year.
The organizations, NBSA, StudentsNS, and the UPEI Student Union are asking for a combined $700,000 from the three governments for programs to improve mental health literacy, professional counselling, peer support and service delivery.
The suite of e-mental health technologies includes online peer support, and 24/7 365 professional telephone consulting.
The NBSA says this investment would help reduce long waitlists post secondary students looking for mental health support are facing.
