Orientation Package

We’ve compiled a long list of resources that are useful for students, parents and staff to prepare for transitioning to postsecondary education and the start of the new semester. Share these resources on your campus!

Resources for Students

Set to Go

www.settogo.org/for-students/
Set to Go is an online resource to help prepare for the transition to college and beyond – from developing basic life skills and building social-emotional competence, to learning the fundamentals of mental health and substance abuse and navigating the transition itself.


Life on Campus

www.mentalhealthamerica.net/life-campus
Life on Campus is a year-round program that actively promotes in the fall and spring semesters as an education effort with web-based information for college-aged youth.


Transition Resource Guide

www.transitionresourceguide.ca
This guide is a way for students with disabilities to arm themselves with knowledge they need to access resources at college and university and to make a successful transition from secondary to postsecondary school.


CMHA :: Your Education – Your Future :: Introduction

www.sj.cmha.ca/youreducation/introduction.html
This short online course is designed to make transition to college or university easier. It goes through all the steps of going to school, providing information and tips for anyone living with a mental illness.


Transitions

https://issuu.com/weusthem/docs/transitions_issuu/38
This guide provides first-year students with information on topics including time management, relationships, sexual activity, mental illness, suicide and addictions. It also includes mental health self-help information and contains recommendations where students can go to get help on their campus.


More Feet on the Ground

www.morefeetontheground.ca/
This serves as a resource for postsecondary students and provides comprehensive information about common mental health and addiction concerns, including signs/symptoms, treatment options, facts and statistics, and stories of lived experience. It also serves as a database for students to look up which mental health resources and facilities are available on their campus.

Resources for Students and their Families

Transition Year | Parent Edition

www.transitionyear.org
Transition Year is an online resource center to help parents and students focus on emotional health before, during and after the college transition. The guide covers topics such as expectations for student life and help-seeking.

Resources for Staff

Faculty Module – Mental Health Awareness

www.algonquincollege.com/faculty-module-csd
This is a one-hour, online training course that was developed by Algonquin College’s Student Support Services in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association. The program was developed to help faculty better understand their role in identifying and supporting students with mental health issues.


Student Mental Health and Wellness

Framework and Recommendations for a Comprehensive Strategy (PDF)
Pages 27-34 of this Queens University report talk about transitioning students, in the context of helping new and old students orient themselves, as well as continued mental health supports throughout the year.


Flourish Program

www.utsc.utoronto.ca/projects/flourish
The Flourish program at University of Toronto Scarborough Campus is an evidence-informed program that assesses the strengths and wellbeing of students at the start of their time at university, and works on building off those strengths to promote resilience and for students to flourish throughout their university career. Parallel to Flourish, a Strengths-Based Resilience program was also designed with many resources such as a Signature Strength Questionnaire (SSQ-72) and Flourishing Inventory. To learn more about Flourish, read our interview with project lead, Dr Tayyab Rashid, here.

Transitioning to campus life: youth mental health

CAMH Psychiatrist Dr. Andrea Levinson talks about youth mental health on campus and how both students and parents can manage issues that arise during that stressful time.

More Information

Browse Spotlight Interviews