Brock students have access to a plethora of mental health services. Here’s a list of those services and how they could help you.
From 2019-2022, Brock’s mental health services ranked number one in Maclean’s university rankings, a list made from the results of thousands of student surveys. This can be credited to the many support services that can be found at Brock.
These services are provided by the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC) and are included in students’ annual ancillary fees. That means free counselling, free emergency services and more.
There are a variety of ways that registered Brock students can receive Personal Counselling Services. One-on-one sessions, either in-person or online, can be booked by calling 1-833-276-2533 (1-833-BROCK33) and those who would prefer group therapy can find ongoing events on ExperienceBU. All counsellors are trained in Trauma Informed Practices.
Also available for Brock students are addiction counselling services with staff from Community Addiction Services of Niagara (CASON). Students can book an appointment with CASON here.
Should students have urgent mental health needs, they can go to the Urgent Mental Health Drop-In from 9 a.m to 3 p.m on Monday at Harrison Hall and Tuesday to Friday at ST402 (Schmon Tower). International students can also speak to counsellors with lived experiences for issues related to culture shock, anxiety and social isolation.
Students can also call 1-833-276-2533 (1-833-BROCK33) for urgent/crisis counselling. This number is available 24/7. Students outside of North America can call 001 416 382 3257 for the same urgent counselling, but long-distance rates may apply. As an alternative method to calling, or for questions regarding counselling at Brock, students can email counselling@brocku.ca.
The Telus Health Student Support app (formerly called My SSP) is also an invaluable resource for Brock students. With it, students can get access to 24/7 support via phone or text message. These counsellors are licensed and respond in real-time, and support is available in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and simplified Chinese via text. Also available on the app are free wellbeing resources, articles, assessments and virtual fitness sessions. To get access to the Brock-branded version, search “Brock University Student Counselling Program” when creating your profile.
From Intention to Action (FITA) is a counselling program run by SWAC “geared towards assisting students to improve their mental health, cope with academic stress, develop better learning strategies and maintain a healthy life balance.” The program entails a psychological assessment that screens for mental health concerns and “evaluates their personal adjustment, personality, study habits and academic achievement.” Following the assessment, students are given a feedback session to review the results and develop a strategy moving forward.
To book an appointment with a mental health nurse, including same-day appointments, students can call 905-688-5550 ext. 3243 during business hours – 9 a.m to 3 p.m – to get assistance from a live agent.
The Student Health and Wellness HUB – also known as the Wellness HUB – is “a space where students can drop in to chat with a Peer Health Educator (PHE) about ways to improve their overall health and wellness.” PHEs are trained to provide peer-to-peer support for members of the Brock community. Here, students can get information about health-related topics such as substance use, nutrition, sleep, sexual health, mental health and wellness.
They also offer free STI testing, naloxone training, mindfulness meditations, puppy rooms and mini massages. The Wellness HUB is located in TH134, down the Student Success hallway next to the Market Hall and is open from 12 p.m to 5 p.m from Monday to Friday.
SWAC has also created the REACH OUT information page, intended to equip students with the resources to help them notice when a friend or themselves might need support, how to approach supporting a friend, and tips on what to do while providing support.
Also included on the REACH OUT information page are two lists, one of additional resources on Brock and the other of additional resources in the Niagara region. SWAC also has additional resources for Student Sex Workers – which include respectful, confidential and consensual support services – as well as services for Racialized Students and 2SLGBTQ+ Students.
SWAC holds regular events like Yoga Nidra, midterm preparation workshops, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) workshops and more. For a more in-depth list and updates visit the SWAC ExperienceBU or Instagram pages.
In emergency situations, students should call 911.