Lakehead University launches 24/7 global peer support network TalkCampus as part of 2021 Wellness Strategy
March 17, 2021 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.
Lakehead University is the latest institution to commit to supporting the well-being of students by choosing to partner with innovative mental health solution, TalkCampus.
In 2021, Lakehead University launched its new Wellness Strategy to support the needs of students, recognizing that investing in the enhancement of health and wellness will better position students for success in the classroom.
“Lakehead University Student Health and Wellness is so pleased to be working with TalkCampus to add a peer support platform to our suite of health and wellness services,” said Irene Pugliese, Manager of Wellness Services.
“TalkCampus is a fantastic resource, especially for those who may not be on our campuses. With this app, students can connect with University peers all over the world. We encourage all our students to take advantage of this great resource.”
With TalkCampus, students have free access to instant, ongoing peer support via their smartphones within a familiar and intuitive network. While traditional support services have a vital role to play for student mental health, online peer support plays a powerful role for upstream, early and ongoing intervention.
TalkCampus is a proactive and preventative mental health solution that is inclusive to all students, whether on campus or studying remotely. With so many students studying at home in isolation, having someone to talk to and share with can make all the difference.
A recent survey found that since using TalkCampus, 85 per cent of students find it easier to ask for help when they need it and 82 per cent find it easier to cope with life.
“Studying online has become the norm for so many students over the last year and we know it can increase feelings of isolation and loneliness,” said Jamie Druitt, Head of Product and Partnerships at TalkCampus.
“Having somewhere to connect with others and share openly and honestly about how you’re really feeling can combat this, boost resilience and ultimately help students to cope. We’re delighted to welcome Lakehead University to the platform and look forward to supporting their students.”
One of the key features of TalkCampus is its ability to embed a university's student services directly within the app, ensuring students know exactly what support is available to them and how to access this. In addition, real time escalation ensures that students who are at a higher level of risk get the support they need.
To use the app, Lakehead students can download it to their phones and access it with their Lakehead University email address.
This pamphlet contains more information.
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
