Overview
Our commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and healthy educational setting helps ensure you have what you need to reach your full potential inside and outside the classroom, successfully navigate the challenges of university life and prepare for future success.
There are resources and pathways available at McMaster to support student mental health and well-being. We encourage you to explore and access the information, tools, services and programs available and seek support immediately if experiencing a crisis or emergency. We are here to support you.
If you or someone you know at McMaster needs help, please consider sharing this page.
Guiding Principles
At McMaster, we:
- Take a holistic and personalized approach to helping students be as healthy as possible; mental health is viewed as a key component of overall health and well-being.
- Provide easily accessible mental health services and resources to meet the diverse needs of students, ensuring that all have access to resources and support.
- Collaborate with students, faculty and staff to create a supportive community where students can thrive academically and personally.
- Assess and improve mental health services to ensure effectiveness and responsiveness to student needs.
Mental Health Resources
Whether you are searching for counselling services, peer support, wellness programs or educational resources, start here to explore the services for McMaster students on campus and within the community to help you thrive.
All departments across Student Affairs are dedicated to supporting your mental health, and we are here at every stage of your university journey. We take a holistic approach to well-being, which includes your emotional, physical, spiritual and academic wellness. By working collaboratively across Student Affairs and with campus partners, we aim to ensure that the services and programs meet your needs and make effective referrals to resources available on campus and in our community.
In case of an emergency:
- On campus: call Campus Safety Services at 905-522-4135 or 88 from a campus phone.
- Off campus: call 9-1-1.
- Go to your nearest hospital’s Emergency Department. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, has emergency psychiatry services.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering self-harm, please reach out to Canada’s new suicide line, where a trained responder will listen without judgement, provide support and understanding, and tell you about resources that will help.
If you or someone you know in Hamilton is experiencing a mental health crisis, please check out Hamilton COAST or call 905-972-8338, toll-free 1-844-972-8338.
Student Wellness Centre
The Student Wellness Centre (SWC) offers various mental health services to support students. Students can access support through an intake appointment with our mental health nurse, who can help connect them with appropriate resources to support their needs. This could include short-term solution-focused counselling, connecting with a physician or participating in a wellness skills workshop or therapist-assisted program to engage with peers and learn how to support their mental health and well-being. For more urgent issues, the SWC offers same-day, single-session appointments that can be accessed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Culturally situated wellness support is also available to acknowledge the multiplicity of intersectional identities.
Okanagan Office of Health and Well-being
The Okanagan Office of Health and Well-being offers a variety of services, toolkits, resources and programs to support student mental health. Through initiatives such as Thrive Week, the McMaster Okanagan Office of Health and Well-being partners with various groups across campus to offer a series of events promoting mental health and well-being available to all students. Additionally, graduate students can participate in Mac Mindfulness, offering mindfulness practices to enhance mental well-being. For student leaders seeking to develop skills and strategies for promoting positive mental health environments, a toolkit on compassionate communication is available to download.
Student Case Management
The Student Case Management Office (SCM) provides support to students throughout their time at university, including resources to manage issues as well as crisis prevention and intervention for students who may be experiencing difficulty on campus. The role of the case manager is to enhance the conditions and likelihood of students’ personal, emotional, social and academic success. Case management services range from assessing individual needs and making referrals within the campus or community, to coordinating leaves of absence and managing multiple or complex medical needs and/or crises.
Student Accessibility Services
Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides academic accommodations and related supports for students with disabilities, including those with mental health disabilities. SAS ensures that students receive the necessary accommodations to succeed academically and maintain their well-being. To request academic accommodations at McMaster, you must first be registered with Student Accessibility Services.
Confidentiality and Privacy
McMaster’s dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive community that fosters academic and personal success for all students includes prioritizing your mental health. We believe the best care and support is provided in an atmosphere that respects privacy and ensures confidentiality.
McMaster University’s Notice of Collection, Use and Disclosure Statement provides information on how McMaster offices collect, use and share your information in compliance with the Privacy Management Policy, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
It is important for all our community members to take agency, and the opportunity to develop and make independent decisions. Our commitment to privacy and confidentiality helps to support a safe and inclusive environment to ensure that students have access to the services and resources they need.
Learn more about how McMaster protects your privacy and confidentiality for accessing campus mental health and wellness services.
Have questions about the collection and use of information? Contact Nancy Marcos (marcosn@mcmaster.ca).
Please note: It is important that you do not share personal and sensitive health information when reaching out via direct message or email.
Staying Connected
Staying connected is key to supporting your mental health. McMaster is a community of communities, and there’s a place for everyone. Finding your community of support can make a significant difference in your mental health journey and remind you that you’re not alone.
Connect with us in person by visiting our physical locations on campus. You can also follow us on our social media channels. Some of the topics shared across our social channels include self-care, exam wellness, financial literacy, career and mentorship support, scholarship information, community building and more. Engaging with positive and supportive content can boost your mood and overall well-being.
Here’s where to find us:
- Athletics & Recreation: @MacRecreation
- Black Student Success Centre: @MacBSSC
- Indigenous Student Services: @MacIndigenousss
- Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being: @McMasterOkanagan
- Residence Life and Housing & Conference Services: @LiveAtMac
- Student Accessibility Services: @SASMacU
- Student Success Centre: @MacSSC
- Student Wellness Centre: @McMasterSWC
Please note: It is important that you do not share personal and sensitive health information when reaching out via direct message or email.