We at the Department of Molecular Genetics care about our students' well-being. Moving away from home, a high workload, and the frustrations of undergrad and grad school can all be very challenging. Help is available! Have a look at the resources here that are available to you, and please reach out to let us know how we can further support you.
If you need immediate help, call 911!
UofT Mental and Physical Health Resources
The Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) at the Division of Student Life offers various mental and physical health services and programs including but not limited to:
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Booking clinician appointments, consultations, and immunization services; alongside necessary forms
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Information about different health insurance plans
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Dealing with imposter syndrome, stress, and exam/test anxiety
You can access the Temerty Faculty of Medicine counselling services (only for grad students) September - April by contacting the HWC at 416-978-8030 (select option “5”), or go to Koffler Centre room 111 and ask to see a GLSE or Faculty of Medicine counsellor; or ask a faculty or staff member to refer you. The Division of Student Life also has other useful departments such as Accessibility Services, Housing, Gradlife, and Academic Success (workshops for grad writing, study hubs, exam prep etc.)
A chat-based virtual agent that helps navigate mental health resources at U of T. Just input what you need help with, and the bot quickly provides direct links and contact information for resources.
Provides an easy-to-use webpage to find important general help/advice, resources and information for U of T graduate students (such as calendar, events, clubs, study areas, student spaces etc.)
Offers counselling for graduate students, alongside free workshops for improving mental health and healthy habits.
Offers numerous mental health services, with 10 locations across Toronto. Has a specialized emergency psychiatric department on Queen Street W.
Offers confidential psychotherapy and psychological assessment and intervention services. Services are mostly conducted by graduate students undergoing clinical training under staff and faculty supervision.
Provides a database of mental health services and relevant workshops (e.g.renting, financial aid, resume/cover letter) for all U of T students, including the MyStudent Support Program.
Other Important UofT Resources
On the campus police website, you can find community safety alerts, information on reporting incidents, where to find emergency phones on campus and more. St. George campus: 416-978-2222
Helps with personal safety concerns, as well as offering self-defense workshops.
Offers resources for those with family and caregiving obligations, such as childcare and babysitting services, eldercare, and family housing; also gives confidential appointments
Provides locations and timings of fitness and sports centres and programs offered by the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
Gives information about navigating through campus, parking locations and rates, EV charging stations, staff and student permits, bicycle lockers and racks, public transit etc.
Provides a directory and information on libraries on campus and in UofT-affiliated hospitals; also offers study spaces, copying/printing/scanning services, computer/WiFi access and available software
A campus-based pharmacy provided by the Leslie Dan Faculty for the UofT community. Offers services for prescriptions, vaccinations/immunizations, naloxone training and COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.
These offices specialize in promoting and encouraging Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) education and initiatives. Includes but is not limited to the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Sexual and Gender Diversity Office, Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre and Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office.
Indigenous, Black, Filipino, Latin American, economically disadvantaged, non-traditional (i.e. mature) students or students who self-identify with having a disability can get additional support from Community of Support.
Housing
Here's a list of housing resources for our students:
- The Grad House offers on-campus housing for full-time UofT graduate students
- UofT Student Life Housing has numerous resources/programs/services for on- and off-campus housing
- Student Family Housing offers housing for students with spouse/partner and/or 1-2 children
Outside Mental Health Resources
COVID-19 Resources
Safety and Mental Health Apps to Download
GradWell
GradWell is a mobile app developed by graduate students in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine that serves as a central hub for wellness resources and tips for a wide range of topics such as mentorships, funding, mindfulness and writing applications.
iOS link
Note: For iOS, you may need to “Trust the U of T Certificate” to download successfully: Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > University of Toronto > Select “Trust”
Offered by Campus Police and the Community Safety Office. This gives access to emergency contacts, police live-chat, real-time safety-related alerts, and more
Helps you navigate through campus and quickly search for locations such as wireless spots, parking, bike racks, subway stations, study spaces, student services, and accessibility
24 hours, free, real-time or appointment-based, confidential counselling service for support and advice about academic and personal/general life struggles
Allows users to get access and get informed on student support services, resources, events, and conferences offered by the Division of Student Life
Official system for UofT to send important mass notifications and messages quickly to students, faculty, and staff through text and e-mail