This document aims to help post-secondary institutions understand the relationship among three major, voluntary health-promotion guiding frameworks and identify areas of overlap to support coordinated campus planning. The frameworks discussed in this infosheet are: The Okanagan Charter, The Limerick Framework, and the Canadian National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students. The Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH) provides information on these frameworks/guides for information purposes only. It is up to institutions to decide which frameworks meet their needs. A related CICMH infosheet on building a campus mental health strategy is also available for further reference.
All three frameworks are voluntary and share a core commitment to equity, collaboration, systemic change, leadership engagement, and ongoing evaluation. When combined, they provide a comprehensive holistic strategy for enhancing wellbeing on post-secondary campuses, from conception to planning to execution.
The Okanagan Charter (2015) provides a global health-promotion vision for embedding well-being across campus culture, policies, and operations.
The Limerick Framework (2025) builds on the Okanagan Charter by offering a practical, future-focused action plan centred on healthy people, healthy places, and a healthy planet, guided by the principles of partnership, participation, and measurable progress.
The Canadian National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students (2020) provides detailed, voluntary guidelines for strengthening student mental health systems within the Canadian post-secondary context.
- For further reading: The CICMH Post-Secondary National Standard Toolkit offers more information to build an understanding of the different components of the Standard.
Venn diagram breakdown below:
OKANAGAN CHARTER
What is it?
An international charter that helps post-secondary institutions make health and well-being part of everything they do.
How do you adopt it?
- Senior leadership formally signs the Charter
- The institution aligns policies, teaching, research, and operations with its principles
Calls to action
- Embed health and well-being into all areas of campus life
- Use the campus as a real-world space to test, learn from, and improve health and well-being initiatives
- Lead and collaborate on health promotion locally and globally
LIMERICK FRAMEWORK
What is it?
An international framework for post-secondary institutions to ingrate health, wellbeing, inclusivity, and sustainability into their campus.
How do you adopt it?
- Apply the three pillars across the institution
- Use the 10 actions to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation
- Adapt the framework to local context and needs
Calls to action
- Build a culture of well-being through shared leadership
- Integrate health and sustainability into all policies
- Engage students, staff, and partners
- Learn from evidence, innovation, and celebrate progress
3 pillars:
Healthy Planet – Sustainability, environmental responsibility, equity
Healthy Places – Safe, inclusive physical, social, and digital spaces
Healthy People – Whole-person well-being, equity, belonging
NATIONAL STANDARD
What is it?
A voluntary, Canadian set of guidelines that supports post-secondary institutions in strengthening student mental health and well-being systems.
How do you adopt it?
- Assess current policies, programs, and services
- Set priorities and implement structured actions
- Use evaluation and continuous improvement processes
Calls to action
- Strengthen prevention, early intervention, supports, and crisis response
- Design student-centred mental health policies and services
- Apply equity-informed, trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and Indigenous-informed approaches
OKANAGAN / LIMERICK: SHARED PRINCIPLES
- International and global health promotion focus
- Sustainability and planetary health
- Transforming campus culture
- Cross-disciplinary and whole system integration
LIMERICK / NATIONAL STANDARD: SHARED PRINCIPLES
- Accessibility for all
- Strong equity and anti-discrimination focus
OKANAGAN / NATIONAL STANDARD: SHARED PRINCIPLES
- Health and well-being go beyond lifestyle change
- Systems-level approach
- Continuous improvement mindset
OKANAGAN / NATIONAL STANDARD / LIMERICK: SHARED PRINCIPLES
- Health promotion is a whole-campus responsibility
- Collaboration and community engagement
- Student-centred, inclusive, and accessible approaches
- Evidence-informed practice and continuous improvement
- Leadership engagement and systemic change
