Students at Durham College continue to face challenges accessing timely and effective mental health care services, with delays in securing appointments and referrals posing significant barriers.
While resources exist to support students, accessibility remains a pressing issue, particularly for those seeking urgent care or struggling with the stigma of seeking help.
One of the primary challenges students face when seeking mental health support is long wait times for initial appointments and specialist referrals. Students experiencing stress, anxiety or other mental health concerns often struggle to secure timely counselling or psychiatric care, delaying their path to proper diagnosis and treatment.
According to the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, “wait times to see a campus counsellor can now range from one week to three months, and the number of students seeking academic accommodations due to a mental health issue has increased considerably.”
The process of navigating mental health services on campus can also be overwhelming, with many students unsure of where to start and possibly getting the wrong guidance.
Durham College student Draven Flood, who says he was advised to focus on weight loss when he sought mental health support, visited the Campus Wellness Centre but was assigned a life coach instead of a therapist. He felt stigmatized when the advice focused on lifestyle changes rather than mental health, being told to “get more sleep, drink more water and go to the gym.” Flood believes the response ignored his real needs.
“The biggest concern that students in residence face when trying to access mental health care is that they generally do not know where to start,” said Lexie Murphy, a member of the residence outreach team at Durham College. “Although they know they are wanting mental health support, they typically do not know what they are looking for or what they are expecting from the mental health services.”
This reluctance can result in students delaying their first step toward seeking mental health support, exacerbating their struggles over time.
Despite these challenges, the college has implemented several mental health initiatives within residence to offer students accessible support. The residence outreach team provides one-on-one meetings where students can discuss their mental health concerns in a confidential setting.
“Outreach meets with students one-on-one to discuss any mental health concerns that may arise and give students space to talk about anything in their lives that they may be wanting to discuss that is causing them stress or anxiety,” Murphy said.
Additionally, resident advisers (RAs) receive training to support students experiencing stress, anxiety or conflicts within residence. The student leaders serve as a first point of contact for peers in need, providing a supportive presence and connecting students to professional resources as necessary.
Students in residence also have access to 24/7 crisis lines for immediate support. When urgent mental health concerns arise, the residence outreach team conducts crisis assessments to determine the appropriate level of support needed.
“When a student presents with an urgent mental health concern and in need of immediate support, outreach will meet with the student one-on-one to conduct a mental health needs assessment,” said Murphy. “This is all determined in that crisis meeting and followed up with safety planning to ensure the student is able to stay safe and has the resources to do so.”
While residence-based mental health resources exist, students still encounter several barriers when trying to access care. A major issue is a lack of awareness about available services. Many students may recognize their need for mental health support but struggle to navigate the system effectively.
Additionally, concerns about stigma deter students from using on-site resources. Murphy explained that “despite the strides in normalizing mental health support in society, there still stands a stigma that deters people from reaching out in the first place.”
Durham College continues to work toward improving mental health accessibility for students. By fostering a culture of openness and reducing barriers to access, the college aims to create a more supportive environment where students feel empowered to seek help without hesitation.
As demand for mental health support rises, addressing these challenges remains a critical priority for residence life and campus wellness services.