As conversations around mental health gain momentum across Canada during Bell Let’s Talk Day, Mount Allison University is reinforcing its commitment through MtA Let’s Keep Talking, which encourages open dialogue and support across campus on mental health. By the age of 40, one in two people in Canada have or have had a mental illness, with youth aged 15 to 24 being the most likely to experience be affected. The University continues to invest in a variety of mental wellness initiatives across the campus, with access available to students, faculty, and staff. 

Vice President, Student Affairs, Dr. Nona Robinson, has worked to develop some of these initiatives, noting that she and her team continue to build capacity for the whole of the MtA community. 

“Mental health can affect all of us,” says Robinson. “Working together, we can build greater understanding and reduce stigma and get students the help they need at the right time. Campus and academic life can be stressful and exacerbate issues, and creating a supportive environment can help students develop skills and resilience for success.”

This past semester, mental health and well-being have been a consistent focus across student leadership training, including Residence Assistants, Academic Dons, Academic Mentors, the Navigate peer support team, Academic Support TAs, and the Black Mentorship Program. 
Across residences, classrooms, communal spaces, and online platforms, students, faculty, and staff are working together to build a culture where care, balance, and belonging are part of everyday life. Groups such as Jack.org, Rotaract, Catalyst, M4MH, MASU, running club, and more are facilitating healthy ways for students to relax, connect, and focus on their well-being.

In October 2025, Mount Allison introduced the Well-being Roadmap, a year-long initiative that highlights themes and learning opportunities each month. The roadmap is designed to spark conversation, encourage reflection, and promote healthy practices that support student wellness.  

Well-being at Mount Allison includes space for cultural and spiritual connection. Ongoing Indigenous programming and teachings are offered throughout the year with a continued commitment to engage with local knowledge keepers and provide space for meaningful reconciliation.  Weekly activities, often hosted in the chapel, offer people of any or no faith to come together to chat, colour, build Lego, puzzle, or meditate. 

The Extended Learning department is facilitating a new Student Support Certificate program, organized by Student Affairs offered to faculty and staff. The program is designed for faculty who wish to build skills and capacity to support students across a diverse range of challenges and experiences. 

Faculty and staff also have access to Not Myself Today, a workplace mental health program that reduces stigma, provides support, and helps employees better understand each other. 

Together, these efforts highlight that mental health and well-being are an important part of everyday life at Mount Allison. 

Community members are encouraged to take a moment to explore the tools, programs, and supports available across campus. Nurturing mental health and well-being is not a single conversation — it’s a daily practice and shared community commitment.

For more details on student mental health and wellness services, visit mta.ca/wellness.

Faculty and staff can log in to MtA Gateway to learn more about mental health and well-being initiatives, including the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and Not Myself Today.