Help is just around the corner
Sometimes life hits rock bottom. It happens to the best of us and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The important thing is to seek out a helping hand, be it a family member, a friend, a religious figure or a support worker.
Fanshawe’s main campus is home to a diverse counselling department ready to help with any number of issues that come up during your academic career. From dealing with a loss, to anger management and even relationship troubles, Fanshawe’s counsellors are here to ensure that no student struggles alone.
The counselling office can be found in room F2010 or reached at 519-452-4282.
If you would rather find a program or community that specializes in a specific area of mental health, the following organizations are a good place to start.
First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP)
519-646-6000 ext. 65178
860 Richmond St.
(London Health Sciences Centre)
College is the first time many students are away from home. The high academic pressure and lack of a close support system can lead many students to develop issues with anxiety or mood swings. This program is dedicated to helping young adults who are experiencing these issues for the first time.
London Mental Health Crisis Service
519-433-2023
862 Richmond St. (London Mental Health Crisis Service)
If you ever feel like you’re in a situation where an early exit on life looks appealing, please head to the LHSC crisis centre. If you’re contemplating harming yourself or others there is a team of skilled psychologists here willing to help you work through things. If you don’t see a group that focuses on your own mental health needs, call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-866-531-2600.
Learning Disabilities Association of London Region
519-438-6213
303 Richmond St., Unit 205
College can be hard, but dealing with an attention deficit disorder makes it all the more difficult. You don’t have to struggle alone. London’s Learning Disabilities Association offers one-on-one coaching as well as a peer group that meets on the fourth Monday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Group
519-434-9191
648 Huron St. (CMHA Middlesex Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Centre)
Many people neglect to acknowledge that OCD is a mental illness just as much as anxiety or depression is. The OCD peer support group meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month and while it doesn’t accept drop-ins, anyone can RSVP by calling in.
Survivors Of Suicide (SOS)
519-434-9191 ext. 244
648 Huron St. (CMHA Middlesex Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Centre)
Dealing with the loss of a loved one or a friend is difficult, but even more so if they’ve taken their own life. It’s important to talk with others in the wake of a loss and to not internalize or bottle up any feelings of guilt or responsibility. SOS is a free eight-week group program for people dealing with the loss of someone to suicide.
London Shyness and Social Anxiety Support Group
519-668-0624
648 Huron St. (CMHA Middlesex Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Centre)
If social situations or densely packed spaces make you feel uneasy, this support group might be able to alleviate some of that nervousness. The group welcomes new members and strives to maintain an inviting and stress-free environment. They meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of every month.
London and Region Mood Disorders Self Help Group
519-434-9191
534 Queens Ave. (CMHA Middlesex)
If the thought of sitting down with a psychologist makes you uncomfortable, this is the perfect alternative. The peer support group meets every Wednesday and is open to drop-ins. By meeting away from a doctor’s office the support group creates a relaxed environment where the participants are more ‘family’ than ‘patients’.
For those who may not feel comfortable enough to leave the house, remember that you can always call any of the hotlines listed below. Not all of them are local but they’re all 24-hour hotlines because no one should struggle alone.
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- London Distress Line: 519-667-6711
- Good2Talk: 1-866-925-5454