Health and Safety
Mental Health & Wellness Support
University can be a stressful time. Add to that the challenges of moving away from home and adapting to life in residence and you may find yourself feeling depressed, anxious or experiencing other challenges. Many other students have had similar experiences. That’s why the University has many resources and supports available to you.
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Counsellors in Residence
Counsellors in Residence are mental health therapists that provide free, short-term, and goal-oriented counselling for any student living in residence. Our counsellors operate directly within our residence buildings, allowing for more collaborative and accessible support.
Why See a Counsellor in Residence?
The adjustment to living in residence can be tricky to navigate. Students can book an appointment for a variety of reasons, including: Homesickness, Relationship, Academic Stress, Coping Skills.
Book an Appointment
Students can call (519) 824-4120 ext. 53244 to speak with a Wellness Navigator and set up an appointment with a Counsellor in Residence. These services are available at no cost to students living in residence.
What to Expect?
Initial appointments with a counsellor are 50 minutes, on average. They listen to your needs and collaborate on goal setting together. Our counsellors are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space to share your thoughts and ideas. We are here to listen.
Meet our Counsellors
Erin Lipsitt
Erin is a passionate Registered Social Worker and Residence Counsellor with 5 years of experience supporting students, especially first-years navigating independence and self-discovery.
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Erin recognizes that with this independence can also bring confusion and feelings of overwhelmed. Erin’s thrives on supporting students to make sense of their feelings and move towards change based on what is truly important to them. When Erin takes her therapist hat off, you will find her running, at yoga or spin classes as she appreciates the value of physical activity in managing strong emotional experiences. When she is not moving, Erin enjoys spending time with her adorable pup Theo who loves to remind her of the value of staying present.
Estera Lawrance
Estera is a Registered Social Worker and Residence Counsellor who thrives on connecting with first-year students and fostering a sense of community on campus.
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As a former Gryphon that once too lived in Prairie residence, she remembers the different challenges that come with adjusting to first year and navigating academic and social stressors. Estera implements her work through a lens of intersectionality and has spent much of her career advocating for inclusive trauma-informed care. She has spent many years working within the harm reduction community and is a strong advocate for social justice issues. Practicing from an anti-racist/anti-oppressive framework, her work is grounded in trust to engender change. She believes relationships can be a powerful instrument of transformation when you hold space and welcome curiosity. When she's not at work, Estera can be found chasing her kids and wandering around in the garden.
Rachel Keenan
Rachel (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker and one of our Counsellors in Residence. She is excited to make connections with first year students and the student community at large.
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Rachel is a Gryphon alumni that started her journey living in Mountain residence, and she can relate to the challenges of first year and managing different stressors. Rachel approaches therapy from an anti-oppressive, harm reduction, and trauma-informed lens, and she believes that you are the expert of your life and she is here to support you move towards your hopes and goals. Outside of campus, Rachel enjoys creative pursuits such as music and art, and spending time in nature hiking and camping.
Additional Wellness Resources
If you are unsure on where to start our Residence Life Staff (RLS) are here to support you. Connect with your RA or a member of our Residence Life Staff Team to chat about your concerns so that we can assist you in finding the right resources for your situation. You deserve to feel better, and there is help for you.
Sexual & Gender-Based Violence Support
We are here for whatever you need. You are not alone.
Sexual and gender-based violence (S&GBV) is a serious and complicated reality both on and off university campuses. S&GBV is not tolerated at the University of Guelph and our Residence Life team in collaboration with Student Wellness Services is dedicated to providing education and supports related to S&GBV.
Residence Support
When someone experiences S&GBV, our Residence Life Staff Team is trained in providing immediate support and connecting survivors with appropriate resources. We provide a safe and non-judgmental space for students to receive the support they need.
Student Housing Services may respond with one or more of the following actions in response to a complaint or request to investigate an incident of S&GBV:
- Meet with the complainant
- Meet with the respondent
- Temporarily relocate one or more parties (especially if parties reside in the same residential community)
- Provide referral for accommodation and/or support to parties involved
- Investigate the incident and communicate a decision to the respondent under the Residence Community Living Standards or the Policy on Non-Academic Misconduct (we will preserve the privacy of both the complainant and respondent and will not publicize that an investigation is taking place or notify others of the results)
- Request that Campus Safety Office investigate the incident on behalf of Student Housing Services
- Refer a case to the University Judicial Committee for decision under the Policy of Non-Academic Misconduct
- Consult with the Student at Risk Team to provide accommodation and support
- Facilitate a restorative process to repair harms (impact from incident) and rebuild trust
The S&GBV Office strives to provide trauma-informed and survivor-centric support for UofG students impacted by sexual and gender-based violence. We believe that support can help to some extent with a survivor's healing journey and may include:
- Coordinating academic accommodations
- Referrals to physical and mental health services
- Coordination of care
- Discussing reporting options
- Safety planning
- Additional support identified by survivors
If you or someone you know is impacted by S&GBV, please Contact our S&GBV Support Coordinator:
Melissa Conte
svinfo@uoguelph.ca
519-824-4120, Ext. 53020
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
You do not need to disclose or make a report in order to access support.
For more important on the University of Guelph’s resources and response to Sexual and Gender- Based Violence, please visit: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Support and Education
S&GBV Education includes access to training and education initiatives including:
- Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Awareness Training Module for Students
- Sexual Violence Support Module for Faculty and Staff
- Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Awareness Training
- Specialized training needs or requests
Please contact the S&GBV Education Coordinator:
Jensen Williams, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Education Coordinator
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Programming
During Orientation Week, our “Can I Kiss You?” event sets the standard: S&GBV will not be tolerated, active and enthusiastic consent is imperative, and Gryphons look out for each other and stand up to S&GBV when they see it happening. Additionally, Residence Life Staff facilitate activities planned as part of our campus-wide S&GBV prevention initiatives throughout the Fall and Winter semesters.
Consent: It’s as Simple as “I’M SAFE”
- Informed: there needs to be a clear and honest understanding of what someone is consenting to.
- Moment to moment (reversible): people can change their mind, want to stop, and withdraw consent at any time.
- Specific: to a certain act, and at any given time. Just because someone consented before, doesn't mean they consent now.
- Awake and Aware: consent cannot be given if someone is unconscious, asleep, excessively intoxicated, or incapacitated
- Freely given: no pressure, no coercion, and without a power imbalance.
- Enthusiastic: clear, excited, and unmistakable.
Safe Alcohol Consumption
Let’s Talk about Drinking
When you first move into residence, you naturally want to fit in. That means you may feel pressured to drink to make friends. It often feels like everyone is drinking, however, there are a lot of misleading facts when it comes to university students and alcohol consumption. Based on the 2019 National College Health Assessment Data, only about 67% of U of G students drink heavily.
84% of students at the University of Guelph are drinking once per week or less. Sometimes our perception is not always the reality!
- Everyone has their own limits, create a plan, and stick to it!
- A standard drink refers to the same amount of alcohol found in different types of drinks. One beer, one glass of wine, and one mixed drink or shot all have the same amount of alcohol in them. All can be equally intoxicating depending on how many you drink at a time. Click here to learn more about standard drink sizes and the recommended amount for both men and women.
- If you are using substances, try to stick to just one and do not mix them.
- Alternate your alcoholic drinks with water or something non-alcoholic.
- Eat something before and while drinking.
- Don’t forget to make a plan!
- Where are you going?
- How are you going to get there and home?
- Who are you going with? Remember to stick with your friends.
- What time do you want to stop using substances by?
Your front desk and ask for the RA on-call
- North: 519-824-4120p58122, Ext. 58122
- South: 519-824-4120p58123, Ext. 58123
- East: 519-824-4120p58124, Ext. 58124
First Response Team: 519-840-5000
Campus Safety Office: 519-824-4120
Off-Campus Emergencies: 911
