A program referred to as the first of its kind in Manitoba, is teaching students how to support classmates who may be facing mental health challenges.

The program is called More Feet on the Ground. This free online mental health resource consists of a live online workshop that teaches students how to recognize, respond and refer someone who is experiencing mental health issues on campus.

Delvinder Zamir is a Student Life Coordinator with the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology or MITT. MITT is taking a leading role in implementing this program. Zamir says this program really covers the four R's, teaching students how to:

  • Recognize signs that someone may be experiencing mental health concerns.
  • Respond appropriately to someone who needs support (based on your relationship with them and the signs present.)
  • Refer someone to mental health supports and services in an appropriate way.
  • Reflect after interacting with someone who may be distressed or upset.

Zamir says the training empowers students with a valuable set of skills they can use in their own lives and in the workplace after graduation.

"There are moments when a student may encounter someone experiencing mental health issues and not know how to respond appropriately," she says. "This training helps empower them to recognize when someone is dealing with a mental health issue, respond appropriately and refer them to someone for mental health support."

Harwinder Kaur is a student in the Post Graduate Diploma program in Human Resources Learning and Development. She credits the program with making a positive impact on her life.

"I dealt with homesickness and mental stress when I moved from India to Canada as an international student," she admits. "This training has been very helpful. It's helped me to understand positive mental health, how to recognize the signs if any of my friends are facing mental stress and has given me the tools to respond appropriately to someone who needs support."

Niverville resident Kayla Hoskins is a Student Accessibility Advisor at MITT and facilitator of the mental health program. She says the workshop provides a safe space for students to discuss mental health.

"This workshop brings together a diverse set of students, who have varying ideas and experiences around mental health and how they share their feelings with others," says Hoskins. "Some of these students, have never spoken openly with others about mental health. I think the reason More Feet on the Ground is so impactful is because it brings students together, provides a safe space to discuss their understanding of mental health and stigma, and gives them a common language to share, discuss and understand these difficult topics."

Melanie Leslie is a social worker/ counsellor at MITT.

"Mental health issues are not a sign of weakness that should be silenced. It's ok to not feel ok sometimes," she says. "Through the More Feet on the Ground program we are striving to engage in positive conversations around mental health and how we can all work together to talk openly and sensitively around mental health."

Click here to learn more about the program or to access the online component.

Delvinder Zamir and Harwinder Kaur join Corny Rempel in talking about More Feet On The Ground.