Eating disorder and substance use supports are expanding on campus as the Innovative Eating Disorder and Substance Use Counsellor Model: Expanding Equitable, Scalable Campus Mental Health Care has been selected for a grant. This grant will provide Carleton’s Health and Counselling Services and the harm reduction team with funding over two years to help build on existing services to reach more students.

Services will expand through 10-week meal support and low-intensity eating disorder groups. Funding will also support creation of a “supporting a friend/student with substance use” module to be co-developed with Rideauwood and Community Addictions Peer Support Association. This interactive module will teach substance use literacy, benefits and risks of substances, peer recognition, stigma-free support using motivational interviewing basics and potential self-referral pathways.

The project will also pilot digital self-help and self-assessment tools, building on work by Body Brave and St. Joseph’s Hospital Hamilton, aligning with Ministry of Health priorities for digital self-management.

Over the past two years, Carleton piloted an eating disorder counsellor role in partnership with the WaterStone Foundation that demonstrated strong impact:

  • 96% of students reported support as beneficial
  • 89% of students felt more understood
  • 81% of students felt less alone

However, gaps remain as only 27% of students felt comfortable eating with others and fewer than half reported hope for their future health.

The Innovative Eating Disorder and Substance Use Counsellor Model: Expanding Equitable, Scalable Campus Mental Health Care builds on the pilot’s foundation by embedding dual role eating disorder/substance use counsellors, delivering counselling sessions annually while also training staff, supervising graduate placements and mentoring peer navigators.