To coincide with World Mental Health Day, the BCIT Student Well-being Steering Committee has announced the new Student Well-being and Resilience Framework, designed to support flourishing mental health and well-being for members of the BCIT community.
Developed in accordance with the BCIT Strategic Plan, the Student Well-being and Resilience Framework demonstrates the Institute’s commitment to remaining a people-focused organization by emphasizing the importance of students’ well-being, and implementing new strategies to support them. With the heightened focus on mental health in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, BCIT’s Student Well-being and Resilience Framework is a timely resource to help inform how we provide student support.
This new framework enables BCIT to foster student well-being and resilience by taking into account the complexity of the whole student through the lens of the Eight Dimensions of Well-being: financial, psychological, physical, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, social, and environmental. Recognizing what influences and enhances well-being in each of these dimensions is necessary to supporting students in managing their own well-being throughout their time at BCIT, and in preparing them for the complex world beyond their post-secondary studies.
The three-pillar framework was informed by data from several surveys and assessments, each reflecting the needs of the student population at BCIT. By identifying the critical issues these students are faced with, the Student Well-being Steering Committee has developed goals and strategies that will enhance student wellness by addressing different levels of intervention. Consistent with the framework and guidelines for supporting mental health adopted by the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the BCIT framework addresses strategies for strengthening policies and procedures, training and education, and support services.
To respond to emerging wellness needs in the community, and to reflect the results of framework initiatives as they are accomplished, the Student Well-being and Resilience Framework will be revised on an annual basis. BCIT is committed to supporting student success, well-being, and resilience, and this framework will play a key role in enabling that continued support.
The full framework can be viewed online here.
BCIT students have access to a wide range of well-being supports. Learn more by visiting Student Services.