Helping Students Succeed: Navigating Through Problematic Substance Use
The Umbrella Project has created a successful model that embodies best practices to provide substance use prevention, awareness, and early intervention to emerging adults within a postsecondary setting.
This guide provides online training and resources to help staff and faculty become more familiar with harm reduction and how they can support students and contribute to a healthier, safer campus. Harm reduction is an umbrella term for policies and practices focused on reducing the problematic effects of alcohol and other drug use.
The Importance of Building Healthy Campuses
Creating healthy campuses and supporting students to be successful in their education and future careers is a win-win.
Algonquin College’s core values embrace student’s health and well-being:
- Caring: We have a sincere and compassionate interest in the well-being of the individual.
- Learning: We believe in the pursuit of knowledge, personal growth, and development.
- Integrity: We believe in trust, honesty, and fairness in all relationships and transactions.
- Respect: We value the dignity and uniqueness of the individual. We value equity and diversity in our community.
Algonquin College recognizes that it has an ability to support students’ mental health through programs and training.
All three campuses are dedicated to help students be the best they can be by not only providing an excellent education, but also by providing many support services:
- AC Hub
- Centre for Accessible Learning
- Co-Curricular Record
- Counselling Services
- Employment Support Centre
- Health Services
- Library
- Mamidosewin Centre
- Office of the Ombudsman
- Peer Tutoring
- Residence Life
- Student Learning Centre (SLC)
- Student Success Specialists
- Student Support Lab (Pembroke Campus) and Student Support Lab (Perth campus)
- Testing Services
- Welcome Centre
If you have any questions or want to get involved, contact Amanda Neilson, Harm Reduction Consultant, at neilsoa@algonquincollege.com.
Additional Resources:
- Counselling Services provides confidential, non-judgmental, free counselling for students.
- Mamidosewin Centre provides confidential, non-judgemental, free counselling for First Nations, Inuit and Metis students.
- SMART Recovery 4-Point Program® helps people recover from all types of addiction and addictive behaviours.