New Counselling Resource Available for Students
Hello everyone,
Ryerson has finalized a partnership with keep.meSAFE (external link) , an external provider of virtual counselling, mental health and crisis management services for all students.
The temporary addition to Ryerson’s existing Student Wellbeing offerings is due to service delivery changes as a result of COVID-19, and does not replace support offered by the Centre for Student Development and Counselling (CSDC) or the Medical Centre.
Existing clients of the CSDC can continue working with their current counsellor. The CSDC will be contacting students on the waitlist over the next 1-2 weeks to discuss next steps and to initiate counselling where indicated.
How to Access keep.meSAFE
All students, particularly those who are not already existing clients of the CSDC, can access the keep.meSAFE program to seek support from a certified clinical counsellor by downloading the My SSP app from the Apple Store (external link) or Google Play (external link) . The easy-to-use platform offers:
- Confidential support at no cost to students
- 24/7 access to a counsellor who understands the student's culture in their preferred language
- The option to connect through the app’s phone or chat features
- For those who are unable to download the app, keep.meSAFE is also accessible with a direct phone call to 1-844-451-9700
- Access to relevant articles, tools and resources that may also be of help
About Ryerson’s Student Wellbeing Support System
The keep.meSAFE program is temporarily part of Ryerson’s existing Student Wellbeing support system.
The university’s Medical Centre remains open for virtual appointments and referrals. Students can contact 416-979-5070 or medicalct@torontomu.ca for assistance.
The CSDC has moved to a virtual support system for current clients. Students can contact 416-979-5195 or csdc@torontomu.ca for assistance.
We also recommend the following resources to students in need:
- Good2Talk (external link) – A 24/7 line for post-secondary students who wish to speak with a trained counsellor by phone at 1-866-925-5454.
- Gerstein Crisis Centre (external link) – A 24/7 distress line at 416-929-5200 for students who are experiencing an emotional crisis and who are in need of immediate assistance.
- Big White Wall (external link) – An online peer-to-peer support community for mental health.
- Maple (external link) and BetterHelp (external link) – Online counselling services with licensed therapists that may be covered by individual benefits.
- Assistance from a family doctor/GP or local hospital (dial 911 in the event of an emergency).
For additional information about keep.meSAFE or the full spectrum of support that is available to students at this time, please visit the Student Health & Wellness webpage or don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Allan Macdonald
Executive Director, Student Wellbeing
Office of the Vice-Provost, Students
E: allan.macdonald@torontomu.ca