Message from the sponsor
Across all our campuses, Nova Scotia Community College welcomes people through its doors to teach, learn and grow. We gather here to share knowledge and expertise. But we don’t only give students what they need to start businesses, develop proficiency or contribute to their community. While they’re with us—no matter where they come from, how they live their lives or what their goals may be—they’ll succeed best if we operate our environment with care for our whole community’s wellbeing.
With the guidance and insight of our mental wellness steering committee, we put our mental wellness strategy into action with three main pillars centering our work: fostering understanding, capacity and connection for the success of everyone in our working and learning community. We are proud to report on our third year of implementing this strategy, which represents an extraordinary commitment that distinguishes us among Canadian post-secondary institutions.
The mental wellness strategy was designed to ensure we’re accountable to our goals, sustainable in our efforts and innovative in our approach. Embedded in all we do is this question: how can we enhance the wellbeing of everyone who comes to us so they can self-determine a life enriched with employment, entrepreneurialism and personal bests?
Our guiding principles
We respect the origins and goals of our students and employees, with deep appreciation for all they bring to our community.
We understand mental wellness is essential for academic and career success.
We seek to make the most of our roles and the resources available to us.
We have a responsibility to take care of ourselves and each other.
With the above principles as our north star, this report outlines how we’re improving our learning environment to encourage the flourishing of students and employees no matter what their background or life context. You’ll see stories and stats celebrating new initiatives from our institution across the board as well as from campus to campus.
In 2022, thanks to the excellent input of our steering committee, we’ve offered proactive support so students and employees can access the personal development and capacity they need before challenges feel insurmountable. We’ve created assistance programs designed to benefit the unique needs of employees and students, and we’ve come up with specialized services for people who need help or want support with managing their mental health.
We’ve opened the College doors for the 2022-2023 school year feeling energized and hopeful thanks to this work. Here’s to greater wellness and to moving forward together.
Lynn Hartwell VP, Campuses and Communities