Stronger Together
National Standard for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post Secondary Students
The leap to higher education is among life’s defining moments. Our post secondary standard empowers institutions to foster environments where mental health is a shared priority. Rooted in compassion and guided by evidence, it’s more than a guideline—it’s a commitment to student well-being.
What is the Standard?
The National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students — the first of its kind in the world — is a set of flexible, voluntary guidelines to help post-secondary institutions support the mental-health and well-being of their students.
The Standard is adaptable, so each post-secondary institution can decide what is achievable based on their situation, resources, and community context.
And because it’s grounded in a commitment to continuous improvement, each can determine its own priorities for improving student mental health and well-being over time, no matter where they start.
Downloadables
The first of its kind in the world — is a set of flexible, voluntary guidelines to help post-secondary institutions support the mental-health and well-being of their students.
Insights and strategies from campuses aligning with the Standard
Related Initiatives
This tool is designed to support Canadian post-secondary institutions as they begin aligning with the voluntary National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students.
This resource highlights common barriers and enablers that institutions are experiencing in their work to promote and improve student mental health on campus.
We asked 4 post-secondary students to share their unique perspectives on mental health topics, including life promotion, harm reduction, mental health supports, learning environments, and interpersonal factors.
Where to start?
Our Starter Kit is designed to help post-secondary institutions take their first steps in implementing the Standard.
Discover common barriers and enablers that post-secondary institutions are experiencing as they work with the Standard.
Our Guiding Your Work resource will help ensure that your implementation efforts agree with its recommendations.
Learn more about the Campus Mental Health Action Tracker that allows your post-secondary institution to track implementation of the Standard – for free.
Background on the Standard
Read the literature review summary on emerging and promising practices for the psychological health and safety of post-secondary students.
Standard Support Tools
The Standard is accompanied by eight tools featuring practical guidance to support your implementation journey.
The tools were created by the technical committee that developed the Standard and cover a variety of topics including:
- Strategic alignment and leadership
- Culturally safe and inclusive learning environments
- Data gathering and evaluation
- Crisis response
- Privacy and confidentiality
Get early access to resources to help you align your implementation journey with the Standard
Additional Resources
Watch a video series featuring students sharing insights on a range of mental health topics, from life promotion and harm reduction to mental health supports, learning environments, and the interpersonal factors of mental health, as reflected in the guidance of the Standard.
Read about post-secondary institution successes and lessons learned one year after the Standard’s October 2020 release.
Learn how to better support students throughout the pandemic with our Post-Secondary Student’s Guide to Student Mental Health During COVID-19.
Read a report about COVID-19’s impact on campus mental health from student affairs leaders.