The Residence Life team is trained on mental health, including ASSIST suicide prevention training for the Residence Managers. The Community Advisors, student-staff are trained on how to create a wellness focused community and how to identify and respond to a student of concern.

The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) subsidized tutor service (student pays $5.00 per hour), matching McMaster Engineering students as tutors with McMaster Engineering students who identify as needing extra academic assistance.

Since 2012, McMaster Athletics & Recreation began a pilot project to build inclusion on university campuses across Canada, with a focus on sport and LGBTQ-identified persons. Along with CIS, CAAWS, UBC and U of T, the goal is to open a dialogue and take action to build a more inclusive (sport) community.

A cross-collaborative initiative with Mood Disorders of Canada and McMaster Student Union (COPE), the blue elephant campaign is an on-going anti-stigma initiative on campus. The blue elephant demonstrates a safe place to talk about mental illness without fear of being looked upon differently.

Student Wellness Centre in partnership with Athletics and Recreation and the Department of Kinesiology are conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial (Worry Warriors) to evaluate the effect of an exercise intervention for female sedentary McMaster students with a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The aim of the research is to create an evidence-based exercise program for students suffering from anxiety.

Indigenous Studies provides a wide range of student services to support students, enhance social connections and wellness, including a Student Counsellor (to provide ongoing assistance and support on a professional and experiential basis. This includes academic, practical and culturally appropriate advising to incoming and current students) and the Elder-in-Residence Program (attends weekly to share cultural knowledge, provide advice, lend a supportive ear and do crafts with students).

Student volunteers are specifically trained as active listeners and have an extensive list of resources and supportive services to refer students, as appropriate. Based upon the service usage since its launch, the program has expanded to provide more hours of operation to support the needs of the community.

The Student Code of Conduct has been recognized as a promising practice in the ‘Policy Approaches to Post Secondary Student Mental Health (2014) report as our revised policy provides a flexible and supportive response to students whose mental health difficulties have led to a breach of the student code of conduct.

Aboriginal Students Health Science Office’s mentorship program provides substantial support and service to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students within Health Sciences, through mentorship, skills based education and overall guidance to Health Science students and aspiring students.

The SWC has developed over 15 different groups to meet the many and differing needs of students. These groups are designed to build student resilience and enhance self-care abilities.