George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
It is important that George Brown Polytechnic faculty and staff feel equipped to support students’ mental health, as well as their own. Below is some information on how to get help for a student at, and outside of, George Brown.
If you have any questions, please contact letstalk@georgebrown.ca.
FAQ
How do I refer a student to counselling?
No referral is necessary, but please ensure your students are aware that Counselling & Student Well-being Services is here to help them.
George Brown students physically located within Ontario can book an appointment during business hours.
Students outside of Ontario can access support through Alumo (formerly WeSpeakStudent), provided by the Student Association.
If you want to support a student in distress — though not in an emergency — you can provide them with our [Crisis Support page], which is full of links and contact information to community resources. You can also send an email to letstalk@georgebrown.ca (with the student’s consent) to request a more urgent appointment. Please note that although we do reserve a daily urgent appointment spot, there may be a wait of up to three business days, depending on current capacity. We do not recommend this for students who need immediate assistance.
What should I do if a student in distress needs immediate help?
On campus
If you have concerns about a student’s immediate safety on campus, please contact George Brown’s Public Safety & Security department by calling 416-415-4000 or 0 from an internal Cisco phone. You could also text 416-723-4761.
Off campus
Direct your student to their local emergency services. See our Crisis Contacts page for more resources.
If a student is travelling abroad for a mandatory, program-approved experiential learning opportunity, International SOS (ISOS) can support them in the event of an emergency by connecting them to local services through the ISOS app. You could also contact our Public Safety & Security department by calling 416-415-4000.
How else can I support students' mental health?
Our team of professional counsellors can visit classrooms or provide a 15- to 20-minute info session for students on how to access counselling services and what to expect when visiting the counselling office. Our counsellors’ schedules fill up quickly. If you would like a counsellor to visit your class, please submit a request a minimum of two weeks ahead of the date you would like the counsellor to visit.
To learn more about responding to students’ mental health concerns you can:
- Complete More Feet on the Ground: A free, self-directed, online course for those who are looking to learn how to recognize, respond, and refer students experiencing mental health issues on campus.
I need help with my own mental health. How can George Brown support me?
We encourage you to visit the Employee Wellness page on GBCommunity to learn about the supports available to you, such as Telus Health, our Employee and Family Assistance Plan.
You can also find a variety of resources for employees and people leaders on Workplace Strategies for Mental Health to navigate work-related issues.