Additional Funding to Support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Post-Secondary Students

Released on March 31, 2021

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing an additional $211,000 to support a partnership that focuses on the health and wellbeing of post-secondary students.

Healthy Campus Saskatchewan brings 19 post-secondary institutions together to provide students with the knowledge, tools and resources they need to achieve their personal and academic goals. 

"This group fosters healthy, resilient campus communities, which will help improve the wellbeing of students" Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley said.  "This additional funding marks our recognition of the importance of this work, especially given the added stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

The Ministry of Advanced Education and the Ministry of Health have provided a combined total of $341,000 to support Healthy Campus Saskatchewan in 2020-21.

"Student mental health has and will remain a priority for the Government of Saskatchewan," Advanced Education Minister Gene Makowsky said.  "Focusing on ways to help improve the health and wellbeing of students, will lead to improved academic outcomes and help alleviate the burden felt by students during this challenging time."

The main areas of focus for Healthy Campus Saskatchewan include: mental health and wellbeing, suicide awareness and prevention, sexual violence prevention, substance use, pandemic responses, and accessible and inclusive environments. 

Healthy Campus Saskatchewan is coordinating the rollout of the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey, one of the first province-wide rollouts, with the goal of establishing baseline data around student wellbeing on a provincial scale.

"We are grateful the Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the exciting role Healthy Campus Saskatchewan can play in supporting over 53,000 post-secondary students," Healthy Campus Saskatchewan spokesperson Bev Drew said.  "Our community of practice is working on numerous innovative projects to support student mental health, wellbeing, and success in an upstream way.  We are eager to improve the lives of students through continued collaboration with the Government of Saskatchewan, colleagues, and students across the province."

For more information about Healthy Campus Saskatchewan, visit www.hcsk.ca, Facebook (@HealthyCampusSaskatchewan), Instagram (@healthycampussask), and Twitter (@HCSask).

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