By Charles Lefebvre/Ross Lavigne

Province announces mental health funding for Medicine Hat College

Sep 6, 2017 | 1:48 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The provincial government has announced funding for Medicine Hat College students to help them deal with mental health needs.

In an announcement Wednesday afternoon, Marlin Schmidt, the Minister of Advanced Education, announce the province ins providing $175,000 a year to the college for the next three years for mental health resources.

“Our government’s increased investment in student mental health programs is an important commitment to help students succeed,” said Schmidt in a statement. “Mental health challenges have a significant impact on far too many students, and we are making these public investments so all students across the province have access to these programs when they need them.”

Melissa Benson, vice-president internal with the Students’ Association at Medicine Hat College (SAMHC), was on hand for the announcement, and welcomed the funding.

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Benson notes the services offered by the college and SAMHC are popular among students.

“Lots of students here use the counselling, and we at the Students’ Association have peer support as well, and that is utilized quite a bit throughout the year,” she said.

Benson says SAMHC and the college have been in discussion about how to best utilize the funding, and they’re hoping to have plans finalized by next week, before being rolled out next month.

She adds she wants to see awareness for stress that could impact students throughout the year.

“It’s hard going into post-secondary,” she said. “You might come from a different province, it might be your first time away from home, and it’s really difficult dealing with those kinds of struggles, as well as the stresses of tests and assignments and stuff that you need to kind of cram in before the end of the semester.”

The funding is part of a $25.8 million investment to improve mental health resources for post-secondary students across the province between 2017 and 2020. It was first announced in June, but details of the funding have been made available in recent days.

The funding was announced after the province received the results of the National College Health Assessment survey conducted at 10 post-secondary institutions across the province last year.

The survey revealed 90 per cent of students felt overwhelmed at college or university, with almost 64 per cent feeling overwhelming anxiety. In addition 13 per cent of those responding said they “seriously considered” suicide.

Wednesday’s announcement follows similar announcements in Red Deer, Olds and Lethbridge made this week.