Mental health
University can be stressful and it’s easy to find yourself feeling overwhelmed. If you're lonely, worried about the future or struggling with mental health issues, we can help.
We take a collaborative approach to mental health support; our team includes counsellors, doctors, nurses and spiritual care providers.
SWC clinical counselling team
Our Clinical Counselling Team provides counselling appointments and supportive resources to University of Victoria students. UVic Counselling is committed to establishing a supportive, non-judgemental, collaborative environment. We are dedicated to offering support that is sensitive and respectful of your personal values, culture and lifestyle. Learn more about our clinical counselling team.
Looking for support but unsure where to start? Take a look at our care options:
| Self-Help Resources | Groups & Workshops | Individual Appointments |
|---|---|---|
| Sometimes students are too busy for an appointment! Learn new coping skills and strategies at your own pace. Our resource lists include videos, apps, community resources, self-guided programs, and more. |
Group counselling can be more powerful than individual counselling and it includes peer support. Workshops are a great way to learn and discover new skills and strategies to support your wellness. |
Meet individually with UVic Counselling practitioners for one-on-one support.
|
Indigenous counselling
Students who self-identify as Indigenous have the option of booking counselling appointments with an Indigenous Counsellor. Learn more about Indigenous counselling.
Counselling for law students
Law students have the option of booking counselling appointments with Christina Friesen who is the designated Counsellor for Faculty of Law Students. Christina is based out of the Fraser Building and offers individual counselling services to any law students looking for support. Learn more about counselling for law students.
Groups & workshops
Student Wellness encourages students to explore mental, physical and spiritual wellness programs, support groups, and workshops. These can be a great way to address any concerns students may have.
Our mental and physical health and wellness programming includes SWC Group programming workshops at the SWC in the Health and Wellness Building.
Our spiritual health and wellness programming includes free weekly programs at the Multifaith Centre such as yoga, meditation, Pet Cafe, game nights, and retreats.
Learn more about student wellness events.
SupportConnect
SupportConnect is a free, confidential mental health support service for UVic students. Get connected with qualified counsellors, consultants and life coaches anytime, anywhere.
SupportConnect offers short-term solution-focused counselling with the same counsellor. You and your counsellor will work together through a set of sessions to assist you in moving forward.
SupportConnect is available 24/7 by phone and online. They also offer video and in-person counselling options. You can reach out for any reason, big or small. Services include short-term counselling, wellness coaching, financial advising, and Computerized Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
By phone
When you call the toll-free number, a qualified counsellor will respond to your request. You can call SupportConnect anytime, from anywhere you are.
Toll-free (calls from North America): 1-844-773-1427
International collect calls: 1-250-999-7621
On the website
Download the app
Downloading the free Student Support App is quick and easy!
Search TELUS Health Student Support on either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and download the app. Complete your profile so you can browse health and wellness resources on the go, start a live chat or call with a counsellor – anytime, anywhere!
The University of Victoria will be collecting your personal information for the purposes of providing SupportConnect services. This information is collected under s. 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions or concerns about how your personal information is handled please contact privacyinfo@uvic.ca.
Feedback
Do you have feedback for SupportConnect? Fill out our feedback form to share your thoughts on your SupportConnect experience.
Self-help resources
Do you prefer to look into resources on your own for concerns? Click below for more information and resources to get you started.
Career Exploration
A lot of students worry about the future and what will happen once they leave university. It can be a stressful transition, but there are many resources to support you right now and after you leave UVic.
Career Assessment
We offer counselling for students who are unsure about their academic or career path.
The process of getting to know yourself and making satisfying career decisions can involve a lot of uncertainty and exploration. We are here to explore these questions with you.
Career Workshops
We offer career workshops each term for students interested in exploring career options and discovering future career possibilities.
Everyone feels down or sad sometimes, but depression is more than just feeling sad. It can be overwhelming and leave you feeling hopeless. Remember that there are many available resources and people who are here to help.
Resources
- The Anti-Depressant Skills Workbook provides self-help materials to help manage depression.
- The Canadian Mental Health Association resources on depression and bipolar disorder.
- Informed Choices About Depression is a resource that answers questions that many people have about depression.
Grief is a natural part of life. It is a normal response to the sorrow, emotion and confusion that comes from losing someone or something important to you. It is a unique journey with a mixture of emotions and reactions. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but there are some healthy and unhealthy coping strategies.
It can help to talk with friends, family or a professional. Talk to others who have experienced loss as well. Our workshops can be a good way to connect with others experiencing similar things. If you find that you are feeling overwhelmed, hopeless or helpless, consider getting professional help.
Grief is a journey that requires time and energy. Do what you can to take care of yourself. Give yourself time and space. Pace yourself. Be compassionate towards yourself. Remember that grief happens at its own pace and be patient with yourself.
Resources
- Victoria Hospice offers community bereavement support, including telephone support, counselling, a variety of bereavement support groups, information and education, and referrals where appropriate.
Making and maintaining healthy relationships is key to positive mental health. Healthy relationships make you feel good about yourself and about others.
The UVic Student Society has a wide variety of clubs and course unions that you can join. Other ways to form social connections include intramurals, sports teams, advocacy groups or spiritual groups. Club and Course Union Days are held at the beginning of each semester. They are a great way to get to know more about activities on campus.
Resources
- Conversation Cafés are a space for students looking to learn and practice other languages.
- The UVic Global Community offers social events and supports for international students.
- Volunteering on campus, including New Student Connect Engaged Leaders or other Student Life Leadership programs. Volunteering can be great for making connections, building skills and giving back to our community. These all contribute to positive mental health.
- Events on campus.
Please note that some of these options are not currently available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stress and anxiety can get overwhelming quickly. If you can deal with those feelings before they become a big problem, it can help a lot. Strategies that might work for you include:
- Learn ways to manage your time effectively. Learning how to schedule your key responsibilities and keep on track with due dates will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed.
- Make time to do things that you enjoy.
- Take a break. This will allow you to be more productive and take on challenges.
- Be realistic. Remember that not every stressor is as bad as it seems right now. Think about whether the problem will still matter in a week, month or year from now.
- Breathe. If you feel overwhelmed, take a few deep breaths. This will help you slow your heart rate and calm down.
- Try different stress relief strategies to find the ones that work best for you.
Resources
Private practice therapists
Many therapists provide a sliding price scale or a student rate. This can be a good way to make the most of the coverage your extended health insurance offers. The best way to find out a counsellor’s pricing options is to check their website or send them an email to ask about pricing.
Resources for finding a private practice therapist:
- BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
- Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
- BC Psychological Association
- Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- BC Association of Social Workers
It can be good to talk to a mental health professional and ask questions to make sure they’re a good fit for your needs. Questions to ask may include:
- What are your fees and do you have a sliding scale or student rates?
- Do you offer an initial brief consultation for free?
- How much experience do you have helping people who have issues like mine?
- What does a typical session look like?
- What approaches and techniques do you use?
- What is your availability or wait time right now?
Consider contacting them by phone rather than by email – you may get a better sense of their approach and personality. You should feel free to shop around to find someone whose approach works for you. Pay attention to your instincts.
Student coverage
Make sure you check your health care plan for coverage information before you book an appointment with a therapist.
Make sure to check what types of therapists are covered by your insurance plan, as well as how much of the cost your plan will cover. If you’re covered by other extended insurance plans (e.g., your parents’ extended health care, out-of-province medical plans), please contact your provider to find out how much coverage you have.