CREDIT: TIMHESTERPHOTOGRAPHY / ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK
Mental health issues are most prevalent in ages 15 to 24 but thankfully there are many services in at Fanshawe and in London that can help introduce coping strategies.

Coping strategies with difficult situations are very common while in school.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health wesbite, young people between 15 to 24 years old are more likely to experience mental illness than any other age group. Although men can have higher rates of addiction, women have higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders.

The website points out that people with mental illnesses are twice as likely to have a substance-use problem compared to the general population. Twenty per cent of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance abuse problem and people with substance abuse problems are three times more likely to have a mental illness according to the website.

Suzanne Book, senior manager of counselling and accessibility services at Fanshawe College said that it is often about coping strategies; there is an effort to self-medicate and as a result, students get into substance use to help them feel better, cover up the pain or manage their stress day to day.

“In terms of the services that we offer here, we do offer personal counselling services and also our accessibility services. A student that has a diagnosis specifically and wants to register as a student with accessibility needs, we can also look at that support through that lens, of accessibility because addiction is recognized as a form of dealing disability.”

Book said they try to offer a balance of services with regards to questions, relationship issues and having problems with stress, but added they are not an emergency service. They try to keep some appointments in the morning and afternoon when available. If students have an urgent issue, they can access same day service.

Awareness of escalating addiction and mental health issues is the point that Fanshawe is trying to help with programming and workshops such as Depression 101, Drumming in the Zone, Don’t Worry Be Happy, Don’t Hold Your Breath, What’s App and Take a Load Off. For more information on these groups, visit F2010 and inquire about days and times.

“We are trying to do both proactive programming as well as reactive services. What we are doing right now is ‘Passport to Wellness’. Here students can participate in a number of activities that would look at the different elements of wellness: the social, the physical, the intellectual and the spiritual.”

Also, the college has a meditation and mindfulness drop-in that teaches students to relax, rejuvenate the mind and spirit and provide a support network. It occurs every week on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. in F2010.

For addiction services outside the college, visit Addiction Services of Thames Valley located on 260-200 Queens Ave. Denise Cooke, communication and design coordinator has over 16 programs and services that they offer.

“We have a Heart Space Program which is women who are pregnant or parenting and have substance abuse and they want to make some changes; we have a Community Opiate Addiction Program or COPE program where we help those with opiate addictions and offer substitution therapies… we also have London Cares, which is a 24 hour, seven days a week outreach program for housing stability and needle recovery.”

The Addiction Services has certain walk-in times Mondays and Thursdays at 1 p.m.

“We will assess you and assign you into the program you require. And then once you are assessed and you go through the process, you will get regular counselling sessions that are booked appointments,” Cooke said.

In conclusion, both Book and Cooke added that early in 2016 the Canadian Mental Health Association and Addiction Services of Thames Valley will be working towards establishing a new crisis centre.

This new mental health and addictions crisis centre will be able to help with immediate crisis support for anyone who is experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis. Individuals who need a safe and supportive place will be able to stay for a short time with around the clock staff support.

This new centre will provide those in care with ongoing services and connect them with community- based support.

For more information about wellness groups on campus, please visit Counselling and Accessibility Services in F2010. They are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.