Our Initiatives

Healthy Minds | Healthy Campuses (HM|HC) is a province-wide, locally active community of practice. HM|HC exists so everyone can work together and learn to promote mental well-being and healthier relationships with substances within BC post-secondary institutions. Communities of practice are voluntary groups of people who improve their pursuit of a shared cause through collaborative learning. HM|HC’s partnering initiatives engage students, service staff, faculty and administrators to build capacity and shape campus cultures that help all campus community members to thrive.

HM|HC was quite active in 2023–2024.

• Various efforts followed up on the 2023 Biennial Summit to continue encouraging campuses to activate the Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting University and Colleges.
• Students participated in the Leadership Committee, served on the Support Team and contributed as panel members to an HM|HC Talks (a virtual dialogue event).
• Among this year’s five talks were one focused on embedding mental well-being into course and class contexts, and another on supporting international students.
• Ten e-newsletter issues facilitated learning and referenced helpful resources.
• HM|HC continued as a consulting resource for campuses and external agencies.
• HM|HC provided welcome guidance to one BC campus conducting a regional forum to advance health and supports.
• HM|HC also strengthened its relationships with the BC Partners through regular profiles on partner agencies in the newsletter and by featuring one agency’s initiative at an HM|HC Talk.

Assessment activities for HM|HC were rooted in a responsive evaluation approach that asked open- ended questions about participants’ experience. Those involved have continued to regard their engagement as a welcome opportunity to learn alongside others and be further inspired to help bring about positive change in their campus context.