The topic of student mental health is part of a very important national conversation. There are young people in crisis and those struggling to cope in communities and on campuses across this country.

The issue of those who are struggling who are not able to or cannot reach out for help and the consequences that can result may be national, but it is personal for so many of us at Waterloo, particularly in light of tragic losses on our campus that we continue to mourn.

I have expressed our university’s commitment to talk about student mental health, to help remove the stigma around this issue, and to increase awareness around access the services that are available for our students. I commend the initiative EngSoc has shown to keep the conversation going by launching the Engineering Mental Health blog.

People on our campus and the broader community have communicated to me their desire for decisive action regarding student mental health and the University’s response to our students’ concerns. So, in the spring, I announced the creation of the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health (PAC-SMH). Chaired by Walter Middlestaedt, director of campus wellness, it held its first meeting in May.

The members of the advisory committee are:

Antonio Brevia, Federation of Students

Beth Keleher, graduate student, Psychology

Vanessa Lam, Graduate Students’ Association

Alex Piticco, director, student development and residence life, housing and residences

Chris Read, associate provost, students

James Rush, dean, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Nikki St. Clair, undergraduate student, Political Science

Paul Ward, associate professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

The terms of reference are available for you to read on the PAC-SMH website. Among other responsibilities or accountabilities, the advisory committee will examine the root causes of student stress, anxiety and depression. In addition, it will seek to identify proactive approaches to mitigate them. It will connect with experts, other institutions, as well as our neighbours in the community to gather information, to listen, and to help guide the process that will bring needed improvement. This conversation requires many voices and viewpoints, and we will listen.

As such, expert panels are going to support the advisory committee. There are five of them: Mental Health Experts, Student Services, Community Partners, Academics and Student Experience. The selection process for panelists is underway. Once the panels are in place, the advisory committee will provide them with questions to assist exploration and further discussion.

I have no doubt that the expertise and experience within our reach, combined with an overwhelming commitment to bring positive change for our students will result in the exchange of useful information and valuable ideas. On an ongoing basis, each expert panel will share information with the advisory committee, which meets every two weeks until December. I anticipate its final report in the fall of 2017.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank all of the contributors to the PAC-SMH for the important work they have begun to make Waterloo more attuned to the care and compassion we feel for our students.

And to the students of Waterloo, your health and wellbeing is our most important priority. We will continue to work together with you and for you.

Feridun Hamdullahpur

President and vice-chancellor