Loyalist College awarded $25,000 Bell Let’s Talk Grant to implement the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being

Belleville, Ontario, May 4, 2021 – Loyalist College announced today, as part of Canadian Mental Health Week, it has been awarded a one-time $25,000 grant through the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund – Kickoff Grant. Building on the College’s mental health and well-being supports, the investment will contribute to the creation of a project assistant position to implement the National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students.

“We have seen first-hand how the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented strain on our students, impacting their mental health,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO. “Having a dedicated staff member to gather data, complete research, and review our current policies and practices with a mental health and well-being lens will be a tremendous asset to the College. By implementing the National Standard, we’ll expand our mental health support services to ensure that our students, the leaders of tomorrow, have the resources they need to succeed. We’re grateful to Bell Let’s Talk for its support and dedication to strengthening mental health services in our community.”

Loyalist College was one of 123 Canadian colleges and universities selected for the Bell Let’s Talk Post-Secondary Fund – Kickoff Grant. Initial grants of more than $3 million were awarded to post-secondary institutions planning to implement the Standard, which aims to identify specific gaps or needs in their mental health support services and build new initiatives to address them. The Standard was enabled through Bell Let’s Talk funding and is led by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) in partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

About Loyalist College
Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and #1 in the country for industry research income as a percentage of total research income, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2017-18 Loyalist graduates, 88.5 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2536