New Website Addresses Ontario Law Students’ Mental Health Needs

Publication Date

8-9-2014

Document Type

News Article

Abstract

New Website Addresses Ontario Law Students’ Mental Health Needs

TORONTO, September 8, 2014 – Ontario’s 4,100 law students have an important new resource for student wellness and mental health funded by the Ontario Government and developed by York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in collaboration with the province’s six other law schools.

JustBalance (www.justbalance.ca) is an engaging new website that provides support for Ontario law students dealing with stress, anxiety, and other wellness and mental health concerns.

The JustBalance website – which includes Osgoode Hall Law School and law faculties at the University of Toronto, University of Ottawa (Common Law Section), University of Windsor, Queen’s University, Western University and Lakehead University – offers a quick and easy way for students to hone in on their concerns and find helpful on-campus and external resources.

The website was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities who announced last October a commitment of $92,606 over two years.

Prior to the development of the website, students from the seven law schools were surveyed about what they'd like to see on it. Concerns they wanted addressed revolved around issues such as navigating law school culture, not feeling cut out for law, feeling stressed, worrying about the future, and their relationships and personal life.

“The JustBalance website brings law schools and law students in Ontario together for the first time to address law students’ mental health needs,” said Melanie Banka Goela, Osgoode’s Student Success and Wellness Counsellor who spearheaded what is referred to as the Ontario Law Student Mental Health Initiative.

“Our primary aim is to improve the mental health outcomes of Ontario’s 4,100 law students and future lawyers,” said Banka Goela, a professional counsellor and lawyer who graduated from Osgoode in 2003. Her role at Osgoode is to help students develop and fulfill their personal and academic potential by providing confidential short-term individual counselling; crisis counselling; academic skills counselling for upper-year students; wellness groups and workshops; and referrals.

Osgoode Dean Lorne Sossin described the JustBalance website as “a really important new resource” for student wellness and mental health that will provide “a forum for exploring the systemic and personal issues facing today’s law students in a way that is both relevant and meaningful."

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York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York U’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York U is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York U’s 11 faculties and 27 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York U’s community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 250,000 alumni.

Media Contact: Virginia Corner, Communications Manager, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, 416-736-5820, vcorner@osgoode.yorku.ca

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