College of New Caledonia (CNC) students are now able to access free, 24-hour support services to help with a wide variety of personal issues.
This is thanks to Student LifeLine, a full-service student assistance program and wellness resource delivered by LifeWorks. Student LifeLine provides free professional supports to help CNC students maintain a healthy balance between school, work and everyday life, according to a press release from CNC.
“Personal problems, challenges and stressors can have a significant impact on a student’s performance at school,” CNC Students’ Union (CNCSU) organizer Harman Dandiwal says in the release. “Student LifeLine will address the after-hour need for support services and creates a healthy, supportive environment for all students across CNC’s campuses.”
Student LifeLine offers CNC students free 24-hour confidential legal, financial and family consultations via a toll-free phone number. Students can also access online, short-term counselling through in-person, video chat, text chat or on the phone, as well as referrals to supportive resources and organizations in the community.
A Student LifeLine mobile app is also available for iOS and Android.
Student LifeLine’s program experts offer advice, support, referrals and resources to help with a wide variety of concerns, including stress and overload, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, parenting, separation and divorce, blended families, caring for older adults, education, saving and investing, debt management, estate planning and wills, home buying and renting, work relationships, job stress and burnout, managing people, fitness and nutrition, sleep, addiction and recovery, and smoking cessation.
CNC has committed a grant to help fund the efforts of the CNCSU and the BC Federation of Students to bring a 24-hour student support service to the college. This is in addition to the expansion of student counselling services to all six CNC campuses last year.
“We’re proud to support an initiative that expands the support resources available to CNC students,” CNC president Henry Reiser says in the news release.
Currently, CNC offers student support through Student Services, as well as through the Health and Wellness Centre in Prince George. Many crises, however, occur outside of normal business hours, according to CNC wellness coach Dana Hansen.
“Evenings and nights can be difficult for people who are struggling to cope as there tends to be less distractions than during the day,” she says. “It’s great to have another resource that offers 24-hour crisis support to students.”
READ MORE: B.C. to provide 24/7 counselling for post-secondary students
editor@quesnelobserver.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter