Consultation Process of the 2019 Task Force Report – Office of the Vice-Provost, Students

Background and Due Diligence

The Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health was convened in April 2019 to address student mental health concerns at the University of Toronto.

The task force was chaired by Dr. Trevor Young and focused on four key areas:

Reviewing student mental health services and delivery.
Coordinating services among the three campuses.
Expanding community partnerships.
Evaluating the spaces where mental health services are offered

The task force reviewed and considered information from academic literature and key publications that have informed the evolving evidence informing approaches to post-secondary student mental health. This included the Okanagan Charter, peer reviewed literature and input from subject matter experts. Most importantly, the task force engaged in extensive outreach and engagement activities, gathering input from students, faculty, and staff. This included personal experiences, stories, suggestions, and comments. The feedback highlighted the need for a cultural shift towards a “Culture of Caring” at U of T, recognizing that the university’s competitive environment could contribute to student stress.

The final 2019 report included 21 recommendations that were fully endorsed by the President of the University of Toronto. Implementation of these recommendations was immediately undertaken with key priorities identified for the first two years of the new mental health strategy, 2020 to 2022. In 2022, the University established a tri-campus leadership role, the Senior Executive Director, Student Mental Health Systems Policy and Strategy, to lead this work. The Senior Executive Director collaborates in a unique partnership with Inlight Student Mental Health Research to evaluate and measure the impact of the student mental health strategy.

The implementation of these recommendations and the on-going work to support student mental health ensures that U of T is in compliance with the legislative requirements of Bill 166 (2024) of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Effective January 2026, this website will also feature an annual report on Student Mental Health at U of T.

Stepped Care Model at U of T

The University of Toronto has adopted a stepped care model to provide flexible and comprehensive mental health support. This model organizes services and interventions by student need, readiness and intensity, enabling a flexible, accessible model that is responsive to the realities of a post- secondary environment. A key priority of the stepped care model is to build systemic capacity to respond to the diverse needs of our students, advancing EDIA and establishing more responsive mental health services across our university campus health centres.

The nine steps include the following:

Self-Care Information & Education: Resources for students to manage their mental health and wellness independently.
Self-Guided Activities: Tools and activities that students can use on their own.
Peer-to-Peer Support: Programs where students trained in peer-support models can support each other.
Organized Workshops: Group sessions on various mental health topics and led by professionals.
Guided Learning: Structured programs led by professionals.
Group Programs: Therapeutic group sessions led by professionals.
One-On-One Sessions: Individual counseling and therapy known as “one-at-a-time therapy or OAAT.”
Specialist Care: Access to specialized mental health professionals such as consulting psychiatrists.
Crisis Support & Care Team Planning: Immediate support for urgent mental health crises.

Visit the U of T stepped care model for more information on each of these steps.

In 2020, the recommendations were integrated into the first phase of an action plan with key priorities that have been implemented:

Adopt one common electronic health record across the three health centres: one system has enabled seamless access to patient information regardless of where the student may present. With real time, complete access to students’ health information, more seamless, patient centred, and safe care can be provided.
Enhance digital tools across navigation and counselling: introduction of Navi, an AI-driven Chatbot to support student navigation of campus mental health resources, a new Mental Health portal/website to support resource finding, and TELUS Health Student Support (THSS) for 24-hour access to real time telephone counselling.
Expand Peer Support models at all campuses: peer support serves as one of the most preferred and effective models of student engagement across post-secondary environments.
Enable real-time access to mental health counselling: shift to a “one at a time (OAAT)” or single-session model that focuses on the student’s priority issues when presenting for help. Students who require more intensive intervention will have access to other service models, however the OAAT model has virtually eliminated wait times to access counselling since implementation in 2021.
Improve acute-care support: with CAMH, U of T has established a dedicated navigation service for university students experiencing crisis or acute mental health needs. This model is now in development at UTSC and UTM.
Improve tri-campus physical space for the delivery of mental health services: renovations are completed or currently underway.
Provide mental wellness resources and education to staff and faculty to enhance their capacity to support and respond to students.

The launch of initiatives is now part of the continuum of services available to students at all three U of T campuses with additional improvements and resources to services ongoing.

Mental Health Resources Provided to Students

U of T offers a wide range of mental health resources to support students at every stage of their mental health journey. Comprehensive information on tri-campus resources can be found at

Additionally, colleges, faculties, and divisions have developed local resources for their students to support student wellness and mental health.

Summary of Key Services

As one of the largest and most diverse universities (approximately 100K students) in North America, U of T leverages its many opportunities to support students within and beyond the formal health centres at each campus. With a focus on a comprehensive approach to student wellbeing the university offers many supports to students. The stepped care model is an organizing framework for these services which range from health promotion, prevention and wellness-oriented services, to high intensity formal mental health interventions.

Workshops and Programs: Various workshops and group programs, focused on health promotion and tailored to different mental wellness and mental health needs are offered by the health centres and many other groups at the University. These activities include, but are not limited to, sport and recreational services, student clubs, faculties, Student Life, Accessibility Services, Centre for International Student Experience, and School of Graduate Studies.

Campus Health Centres: Offer a range of mental health services from self-directed information and resources to in-person/virtual counseling and intensive supports for students with more complex mental health needs, including hospital partnerships.

U of T Telus Health Student Support: Provides 24/7 confidential support via phone or chat in multiple languages and is highly utilized by students, evenings and weekends, ensuring students have access to support 24/7, outside of university business hours.

Navi: An AI-chatbot tool to help students navigate available resources and find the support they need. Navi augments other navigational resources available on websites through Peer Support and the university health centres.

Accessibility/AccessAbility Services: Provides accommodations and support for students with disabilities, including mental health conditions

Privacy and Confidentiality of Student Health Information

U of T Mississauga

Privacy & Data Collection
The University of Toronto health services are committed to high quality and safe care for students across all campus centres. The best care is delivered when your care providers have all your relevant health information. The privacy of your information is governed by the University’s commitment and obligation to follow the rules of a Health Information Custodian. This means our health care practitioners and team keep your information confidential and do not share the information without your consent except in the specific circumstances listed below:

To get in touch with relatives or friends if you are injured, incapacitated, ill and unable to give consent personally.
If there is a concern you may harm yourself or others.
To report apparent or suspected child abuse.
To report sexual abuse by a regulated health professional.
Where legal circumstances require the University to provide information. For example, in response to a subpoena or court order, or to fulfill other mandatory reporting obligations.

If you have questions regarding privacy, how your information is used, or this office generally, please feel free to contact your health centre by phone or by email to the University Health Privacy Officer at patientprivacy@utoronto.ca, or please raise your concerns at your next visit.acy Officer at patientprivacy@utoronto.ca, or please raise your concerns at your next visit.

U of T St. George

To safeguard your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal health information, the clinicians and staff of the Health & Wellness Centre are bound by Ontario’s Personal Health Information and Protection Act, the University of Toronto’s Privacy and Security Policy, and professional standards.

By requesting care from clinicians at Health & Wellness Centre, you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal health information for purposes related to your care. Other purposes, including the Supportive Leaves Policy, require your express consent.

The Health & Wellness Centre uses up-to-date safeguards to assist clinicians and staff in protecting patient health information. However, the law does require clinicians to disclose personal health information to authorities in or outside the university in some extremely exceptional cases:

there is concern that you may physically harm yourself or someone else
you reveal potential child abuse or neglect
you report sexual abuse by a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, or a regulated health professional
your physician determines that you to have a medical condition that impairs your ability to operate a motor vehicle
a court requires your records or that your clinician or counselor testify

These situations are unique and rarely happen.

You have the right to see your personal health records and to obtain copies of these records. Please speak to your clinician if you have any concerns about the accuracy of your personal health records.

If you’d like to discuss this privacy statement in more detail, or have specific questions or complaints about how your information is handled, please speak to Janine Robb, Executive Director Health & Wellness, at (416) 978-6316 or contact the University’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Coordinator, Kelly Carmichael, at 416 946-7303 or kelly.carmichael@utoronto.ca.

U of T Scarborough

The University of Toronto health services are committed to high quality, safe care for students across all campus centres. The best care is delivered when your care providers have all your relevant health information. The privacy of your information is governed by the University’s commitment and obligation to follow the rules of a Health Information Custodian. This means our health care practitioners and team keep your information confidential and do not share the information without your consent except in the specific circumstances listed below:

To get in touch with relatives or friends if you are injured, incapacitated, ill and unable to give consent personally.
If there is a concern, you may harm yourself or others.
To report apparent or suspected child abuse.
To report sexual abuse by a regulated health professional.
where legal circumstances require the University to provide information, for example in response to a subpoena or court order, or to fulfill other mandatory reporting obligations.

A Student-Centred Approach:

Student Advisory Committees provides annual ongoing input tri-Campus
OVPS Student Mental Health Advisory Committee (Terms of Reference)
UTSG, UTSC, UTM Health Centre Student Advisory Committees
UAB and other opportunities to consult

Mental Health Annual Report to Governing Council

Commencing in January 2026, U of T will provide to Governing Council an annual report on progress and outcomes made in response to the Mental Health strategy and recommendations of the 2019 Task Force report. The structure and content of the report will be informed by students and all reports will be posted on this website. Contents will include update of initiatives undertaken in the reporting year, data and measures of progress against goals, highlight of new initiatives and feedback from students obtained through advisory committee meetings and consultations.