INTRODUCTION

Beginning January 2022, The University of Toronto Student Mental Health Survey is being implemented to help us improve the mental health and substance use service delivery system for university students.  This study is part of a larger national and international effort to address gaps in knowledge regarding the prevalence and severity of mental health challenges in the Canadian student population, and the student population worldwide.

WHY IS UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO CONDUCTING THIS SURVEY?

There are many strong arguments for University of Toronto to be participating in this survey.  The student body at the University of Toronto has been greatly affected by challenges with mental health.  Following several unfortunate mental-health related incidents, the university administration conducted a formal review and proposed sweeping changes to campus mental health-related services (University of Toronto Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health).  The taskforce was able to report on summary and anonymous data regarding services sought by students.  Data from service providers can tell us which students are using services and which services are being used, but does not help us understand barriers to access or the health needs of students who are not accessing services.  To gain a robust understanding of the entire student population at U of T, we are conducting a university-wide survey that is designed to measure prevalence of mental health difficulties and help assess unmet mental health needs at the University of Toronto.

COLLABORATORS AND STUDY LEADS

The University of Toronto is part of a larger Canadian consortium led by Daniel Vigo at University of British Columbia, (https://vigolab.med.ubc.ca/).  The surveys are part of a research study titled “An integrated online approach to mental health and substance use in university students”. with funding support from Health Canada.  The Canadian consortium is also affiliated with The WHO World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) Initiative .

At University of Toronto, the lead investigators are Brian Rush (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Dalla Lana School of Public Health; Susan Bondy, Dalla Lana School of Public, and Andrea Levinson, Department of Psychiatry.

CONTACT US

Questions about the survey should be directed to WMH.ICS.DLSPH@utoronto.ca, or Antoaneta Todorova (a.todorova@utoronto.ca , 416 946 8054).

WAS THE STUDY APPROVED BY THE UNIVERSITY?

The Office of the Vice-Provost, Students, and related administrative departments are supporting this project which promises to provide much needed, systematic information, and will support our understanding on the type and level of mental health and substance use-related challenges among our student population, including challenges related to COVID-19 and our evolving mitigation strategies.

The study has undergone ethical review and approval by the University of Toronto Human Research Ethics Board (Protocol # 00039919).  The study has also received ethical approval from each of the other Canadian Universities participating in the consortium.

CONTENT OF THE SURVEY

The survey instrument being used at University of Toronto is the same one being used at a growing number of Canadian Universities.  Most of the content comes from The WHO World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) Initiative .  The WHM-ICS survey is designed to generate accurate epidemiological data on student unmet needs of students in terms of mental health and substance use, and to inform strategies to reduce mental health burden for students.

Participants will be asked to answer questions regarding their health status, with a focus on mental health, substance use, risk and protective behaviours.  Additionally, they will be asked for some basic demographic information, which will only be used to describe the people who take part in the study as a group. The survey includes questions concerning COVID-19.

WHO IS BEING APPROACHED TO PARTICIPATE AND WHAT TO EXPECT

A random sample of University of Toronto students, from all three campuses, are being invited to participate in this study, with new samples being invited on a rolling, monthly basis.  (New invitations are sent to 350 students each week.)

Students in the samples are being contacted by e-mail and invited to complete the survey online.  The email invitation will come from email address: wmh.ics.dlsph@utoronto.ca.  Participants complete the survey by following a link to a Qualtrics online survey (on an account exclusively for this survey, at Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto).

Starting after a few days, reminders will be sent to students who have not yet completed the survey.  After a few reminders, a random subsample of non-respondents may receive a phone call as a reminder.  This is to increase participation and representativeness of the survey.

Survey participants will be entered into a draw for one of 10 gift cards, per year, each valued at $100 for Amazon or U of T Bookstore (their choice). Everyone who consents to survey participation by clicking the survey link, even those who withdraw, will be allowed to enter the draw.

As researchers, we cannot provide mental health or substance use services.  However, a list of resources that students can access is provided at the end of the survey.  Also, in some situations the automated survey system may provide participants with additional resource suggestions tailored to their specific needs in the form of emails.  While answers are anonymous and we will not be able to identify or contact participants directly, the automated system may offer participants additional information and even an offer help accessing services if it detects specific responses that indicate severe distress and/or urgency.

ANONYMITY AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY

Personal identifying information used to sample and contact students is never shared or disclosed to any persons other than those staff of the University of Toronto, at the University of Toronto who are authorized to use student administrative data for the purposes of sampling and recruitment, and that information is only used for sampling and recruitment.  Personal identifying information, and information from the University of Toronto administrative data are never linked to answers given in the survey.  The University is committed to the requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), including access to information.

Once the survey is been completed, completely anonymous information is used for analysis specific to University of Toronto and combined with data from other Canadian campuses.  All research data coming from survey responses will be stored on (FIPPA-compliant, secured servers located in Canada, including a central data repository at UBC where the research team stores and accesses study data from all participating Universities.

MAY OTHER STUDENTS OR NON-STUDENTS COMPLETE THE SURVEY?

We are very grateful when students and others are supportive of this initiative or express an interest.  However, we are not seeking volunteer participants.  To ensure that the sample is representative of students at University of Toronto, only those who receive the invitation to their own e-mail should complete the survey.

IS THIS THE SAME SURVEY AS OTHER SURVEYS UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS MAY BE ASKED TO COMPLETE?

University of Toronto and its researchers and collaborators conduct many surveys.  In February 2021, the University of Toronto is participating in the Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS). The CCWS survey will invite approximately 30,000 undergraduate students to participate in February and 8,000 graduate students in April. We have made every effort to ensure that students will not be asked to participate in both of these important initiatives in the same term.  However, students may still be approached for additional surveys including course evaluations.

University of Toronto and its researchers and collaborators conduct many surveys.  In this year, the University of Toronto is participating in other multi-university surveys including the Student Wellness Survey.  Students will not ordinarily be asked to participate in both of these important initiatives in the same term.  However, students may be approached for additional surveys.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS

Should you feel the level of distress is difficult to manage and you don’t have the support that you need, there are a range of available options.  Please connect with one of the following services for mental health and substance use support.

COVID-19-related mental health needs

If COVID-19 has affected your mental health or if responding to COVID-19 related questions has added to your stress, please consider the resources available for U of T students in the following site (some of which are also highlighted in the list below): https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/covid-19/ 

My Student Support Program (My SSP)

Provides 24/7 counselling support for academic, health, or general life concerns. Services are provided in 146 languages and offered over the phone or via online chat. Download the MySSP app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play) or call 1-844-451-9700, or 001-416-380-6578 outside of America.

U of T Health and Wellness Centres

U of T Health and Wellness Centres offer mental health supports including counselling, group workshops and referrals.

BounceBack Ontario

A free skill-building program delivered through online videos and phone coaching designed to help manage symptoms of low mood, stress, and mild to moderate depression and anxiety. To learn more, visit https://bouncebackontario.ca/

Crisis Services Canada

If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or thinking about suicide, call or text with a crisis responder: 1-800-456-4566 for phone support (24/7) or text ‘start’ to 45645 for text support (4pm-midnight ET).

Good2Talk Student Helpline

Provides information, referrals and counselling for mental health and addiction. Available 24/7; call 1-866-925-5454 for phone service or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 for text service.

ConnexOntario:

Provides information on access to Ontario’s mental health, alcohol and drug and problem gambling services.  1-866-531-2600. https://www.connexontario.ca

Drugs and Alcohol Helpline: 1-800-565-8603 (available 24/7)

LGBT Youthline: ­1-800-268-9688 for phone support, 647-694-4275 for text support (4-9:30pm Sunday-Friday normally, currently available 4-9:30pm daily due to Covid-19)

Hope for Wellness Helpline (for Indigenous peoples): 1-855-242-3310 for phone support or https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/ for chat support