Introduction
Your physical and mental health is crucial to your success as a student. We really encourage you to take advantage of the resources offered for free to all U of T students. For more information, you can visit the U of T Mental Health Care website, the Health & Wellness website, and the Engineering Mental Health & Wellness website.
Resources
Your Academic Advisor
Your academic advisors are an amazing resource and support that are available to you all throughout your time at U of T. If you ever want to talk about how you are feeling, mental health, academics, or life in general, book an appointment with your advisor. EngSci ahs two academic advisors for Years 1 and 2 (you can read more about Stephen and Irma in our Meet the EngSci Office section too!):
- Stephen Johns, advisor for domestic students: engsci12@utoronto.ca
- Irma Berardi, advisor for international students: engsci12.intl@utoronto.ca
You can book an appointment with them through the Advising Portal.
Navi – Mental Health Wayfinder
Navi is an anonymous virtual agent that will help you find mental health resources at U of T. Navi can be more effective than just a Google search, as you will only receive results curated and tailored to U of T students. Navi uses a text chat interface that is similar to texting a person, which can make the experience easier and less intimidating.
Find out more about Navi on the Navi Mental Health Wayfinder website. Keep in mind that Navi is not a person and should only be used to find information about U of T mental health services. Do not provide any personally identifying or health information about yourself or anybody else.
U of T Telus Health Student Support
U of T Telus Health Student Support is a program that you can access through U of T. It offers immediate and/or ongoing confidential support and counselling for school, health and general life concerns at no cost. You can call or chat with a counsellor directly from your phone whenever and wherever you are. Support is available in over 146 languages. The number to call for U of T Telus Health Student Support is 1-844-451-9700 inside North America and 001-416-380-6578 outside North America.
Engineering Mental Health & Wellness
The Engineering Mental Health & Wellness website outlines all the mental health supports made specifically for U of T Engineering students. All the resources listed link to their own webpages, making it another great starting point for finding more specific and personalized support within U of T Engineering. You’ll also find a resource guide that puts all of these together for convenience. You can also sign up for the Mental Wellness Weekly Round-Up Newsletter to stay up to date with all the mental health services and programs offered by U of T Engineering.
U of T Engineering also has a dedicated Mental Health Programs Officer who may be contacted at mentalhealth@engineering.utoronto.ca.
U of T Mental Health Care
From their website:
U of T Mental Health Care provides a range of health services, including same-day counselling appointments, evidence-based group therapy, short-term intensive counselling or psychotherapy, and more. This is available to all full-time or part-time U of T students.
U of T Health and Wellness
The Health & Wellness Office provides U of T students with medical and mental health services to help support them in achieving their personal and academic best. If you would like to meet with a doctor and/or sign up for a Health & Wellness program, please visit the Health & Wellness website.
The campus doctor’s clinic is located at 700 Bay Street, which is around a 10-to-15-minute walk from Bahen Centre.
Health Insurance
Full-time U of T students get a health insurance plan. To take advantage of your plan, go to a participating office (many are nearby campus) and fill out a form with your practitioner. For forms and further information visit U of T Student Care.
For international students, remember that regular doctor visits are free with a UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan) card.
If you’re already covered by an equivalent health and/or dental plan (such as a parent’s or spouse’s employee benefit plan), you can opt out during the Change-of-Coverage Period, which is usually open during the month of September. Please refer to the Student Care University of Toronto Student Union Opt Out website for more information.