SHERIDANtalk: Breaking Barriers to Mental Health

Sheridan is pleased to announce our first-ever SHERIDANtalk event, designed to promote discussion around mental health issues and break down barriers that prevent young people from seeking help.

SHERIDANtalk will take place on March 12 from 6:00-9:30PM in the Marquee at Sheridan’s Oakville campus.  The event builds on the Canada-wide “Unleash the Noise” Mental Health Innovation Summit. Structured in the format of TEDtalks, the event will feature innovators in the field of mental health who will share their ideas and experiences. 

Speakers include: Eric Windeler and Erin Hodgins from the Jack Project; Mark Henick, the youngest President of a provincial Canadian Mental Health Association division in history and speaker at TEDx Toronto 2013; and Arthur Gallant, one of the ‘Faces of Mental Illness’ from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness & Mental Health, a campaign sponsored by Bell as part of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative.

A number of Sheridan students and alumni have bravely agreed to share their stories at the event.  Break-out discussion groups will enable participants to raise concerns about possible barriers to mental health at Sheridan and to brainstorm ideas to help overcome them.  The event will also include a Q&A session with the panel speakers. 

Sheridan also has a number of ongoing initiatives aimed at de-stigmatizing mental health diagnoses and helping students to tackle academic, personal or emotional issues that can impede their success. These include student advisement, individual counselling, group counselling, and accessible learning services.   A full list of services can be accessed at: http://www.sheridancollege.ca/life-at-sheridan/student-services.aspx

About Sheridan:

Sheridan is one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions, offering over 100 diploma, certificate, and bachelor degree programs in an environment that fosters innovation and creativity. Its 127,000 alumni help shape the future course of our society in the fields of arts, business, community service, health, and technology.  Its aim is to become Ontario’s first university exclusively dedicated to undergraduate professional education and applied learning – one that will enable students to transition in and out of formal education to suit their changing needs throughout their careers.  Its Creative Campus philosophy is a first-in-Canada approach to giving students the creative problem solving skills that will underpin their future success.

For more information, please contact:

Joe Henry, Associate Dean, Student Success

E: joe.henry@sheridancollege.ca

T:  905-459-7533 ext 5517

Christine Szustaczek, Director of Corporate Communications & External Relations

E: christine.szustaczek@sheridancollege.ca

T: 905-815-4169