Discover TMU’s ‘one-stop shop’ digital well-being hub
TMU’s new Wellbeing Central is your one-stop shop for well-being resources. Find everything you need to access on-campus support.
Finding the right well-being support shouldn't be a treasure hunt.
That's the thinking behind Toronto Metropolitan University's new Wellbeing Central — a streamlined digital hub that brings all campus well-being resources together in one easy-to-navigate space.
While students are expected to be the primary users, Wellbeing Central was designed for the entire TMU community.
Faculty and staff can also use the platform to find guidance on supporting students or to access resources for their own well-being.
“What this site will do is create a sense of belonging for students and the TMU community, to let them know that there are so many different resources that are here to support them and address their needs,” says Ewnet Demisse, campus well-being strategist.
“The site will improve the navigation of campus and well-being resources so that they can get the information that they're looking for easily.”
Funded by the Bell Let’s Talk grant, the platform offers a streamlined experience and aims to reduce barriers to learning about, and accessing well-being support.
Wellbeing Central offers three ways to explore supports: general browsing, keyword search and identity-based filters.
How the site works
Think of Wellbeing Central as your personal well-being GPS.
While all existing pages remain active, this new hub cuts through the clutter to connect you with exactly what you need, when you need it.
Keeping information accurate and up to date is the top priority.
The site offers three main pathways to support:
- Browse by category: Explore resources organized into buckets representing different dimensions of well-being, with subcategories that get more specific based on your needs.
- Search: Enter a keyword to pull up relevant resources across campus and in the community.
- Filter: customize your experience by selecting filters that reflect your identity, affiliation, lived experience and faculty or school.
The early reviews are promising. Students are already calling it clear, easy to use and genuinely helpful for building connections, especially as the new school year kicks off.
“I would recommend it because it’s a very central place for pretty much anything you’d be looking for as a student. It’s a great starting point,” shares an incoming first-year student.
A holistic approach to well-being
Wellbeing Central thinks bigger than crisis intervention.
Drawing on Indigenous perspectives of interconnectedness, the platform recognizes that well-being isn't compartmentalized – your financial stress affects your sleep, your social connections impact your academic performance and when one area struggles, others feel it too.
As one recent graduate put it, “I would say that it's a great website to improve their quality of life as a TMU student, especially because it's not something that's necessarily only used when something is wrong in your life. It can allow students to discover the fun and free services that they can use at any time.”
Building the platform together
Collaboration was at the heart of this project.
The TMU Community Wellbeing team conducted an environmental scan of existing services and consulted with campus partners to understand what resources can best support the TMU community.
“We heard there was a need to build awareness of the wide ranging resources available, and to do so in a centralized, cohesive way so that students weren't overwhelmed with needing to search for different websites or platforms,” says Demisse.
One undergraduate noted in a Wellbeing Central focus group that, “it’s stressful looking for certain types of support, so it’s nice to have everything in one place that can lead you to what you need.”
Feedback from these sessions shaped the platform’s design, ensuring it addressed the concerns of site users.
A resource for everyone
“It makes you feel more supported in all aspects of your life, part of a community,” says a Continuing Education student.
If you have a well-being resource you would like to see highlighted on Wellbeing Central, please fill out the Wellbeing Central (google form) feedback form. (external link)
Related stories: