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Alumni Resources and Supports

Alumni Resources and Supports

The University of King’s College is committed to providing resources and supports to members of our community impacted by the Independent Review and Final Report. Some of the supports outlined reflect the university’s existing network of support staff and other roles with an element of care (“Campus Supports”). Other supports are being proactively introduced to address the distinct community needs anticipated around the release of the Final Report. The University will continue to provide responsive supports as needs arise. A comprehensive outline of external supports and resources available in the community (including online and in-person supports) is also provided.

Any member of the King’s community seeking supports not reflected in these documents or with questions or feedback about the supports available is invited to contact:

Sexual Health and Safety Officer Jordan Roberts – jordan.roberts@ukings.ca
Vice President Sarah Cliftsarah.clift@ukings.ca
Dean of Students Katie Merwinkatie.merwin@ukings.ca

Enhanced Supports Available from March 15 – April 17 for Alumni

Community Mental Health Supports for Alumni, Provided by King’s

The University of King’s College recognizes that individual members of the alumni community may or may not have access to healthcare coverage. In this time of anticipated need, King’s has retained freelance service from HRM-based, community mental health care providers. These mental health care providers are available to book one-time appointments with alumni wishing to discuss initial impacts of the Rubin Thomlinson Final Report. These care providers can also help alumni determine and identify any appropriate further supports.

Appointments will be virtual. Details about alumni using this service (including names and contact information) and all information shared between the alum and the care provider is confidential. This information will not be shared with the university.

How to Access These Supports

Appointments must be made directly with the care providers. If you are a member of King’s alumni community and you wish to book an appointment, you are invited to review the care provider information below and use the contact information provided to make an appointment with the care provider of your choice. Please contact the care providers to arrange an appointment by April 17. If the there is a need to extend this service, King’s will consider options for extended service provision and communicate this to alumni.

Shannon Hardy, MSW, RSW (she/her)

Shannon is a queer social worker who wears many hats, including content specialist/consultant in trauma-informed practices and approaches, workshop facilitator and therapist. In her capacity as a consultant, Shannon works with a variety of organizations across Canada, from small community groups to universities and law firms, helping them create and implement trauma-informed practices and approaches in a meaningful and effective way. To learn more about her therapeutic approach visit www.hardyconsulting.ca.

Contact Shannon via shannon@hardyconsulting.ca.

Susan Ayles (she/her)

An alum of King’s (BA’94), Susan has worked with the Elizabeth Fry Society–Mainland Nova Scotia since 2015. She is currently its Director of Programs, providing skill-building and support to people who have experienced incarceration. Her skills include helping people build coping skills and personal support networks, helping people identify and process grief and providing trauma-informed care to people who have experienced various forms of violence.

Contact Susan via sueeayles@gmail.com.

 

Campus Community Supports

Father Ranall Ingalls, Chaplain (he/him)

Father Ingalls offers support to members of the community of any faith or none. The Chapel offers space for people to explore their spirituality, hear beautiful music, or enjoy a place of solitude.

To meet with Father Ingalls, email ranall.ingalls@ukings.ca. For more information about the chapel, visit kingschapel.ca.

Michelle Mahoney, Accessibility Officer (she/her)

Michelle guides and supports the university’s implementation of King’s Accessibility Plan and works with faculty and staff to ensure that the university meets relevant standards to offer an accessible campus by 2030.

Michelle can be reached at michelle.mahoney@ukings.ca.

Jordan Roberts, Sexual Health and Safety Officer (SHSO) (she/her)

Jordan is available to support members of the community around sexualized violence, gender identity, sexual orientation, safer sex, and healthy relationships. Jordan can provide trauma-informed active listening and help individuals decide what avenues and supports are best for them.

Jordan can be reached by e-mail, phone call, or text. All communication is confidential. jordan.roberts@ukings.ca / 902-229-6123

External Supports

External Support / Free Phone Counselling & Crisis Lines

  • 211 – professional counselling available 24/7. Call 211 and ask for the women’s, men’s or all-gender helpline.
  • Good to Talk – professional counselling available 24/7 to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia. Call 1-833-292-3698 or visit https://good2talk.ca/novascotia/.
  • Trans Lifeline – call 1-877-330-6366. Operated by trans and nonbinary volunteers, open to any trans or gender-questioning person.
  • First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Crisis Line – call 1-855-242-3310.

External Supports / In Person & Virtual Counselling

  • Same-Day Counselling at Dalhousie
    • Call at 8am Monday-Friday or 11am Saturdays – 902-494-2171.
    • Free for King’s students. Ongoing counselling available with a waitlist.
  • Private Practice Counselling
    • As a student, you have health insurance via the KSU and Green Shield’s coverage unless you opted OUT in September 2022. The coverage is 80% of the cost of each counselling session, up to $1000 per academic year for social workers, counselling therapists, and / or psychologists. Find out more at https://www.greenshield.ca/en-ca/student-centre/kings-college-students-ukc
    • Some local counselling practices taking new clients are:
  • Lambda Health (queer/trans),
  • Whole Therapy,
  • ML Family Counselling,
  • Anxiety & Trauma Clinic,
  • Shift Therapy,
  • Diverse Roots Counselling (queer/trans),
  • and Fenwick Psychological and Wellness.
    • PsychologyToday is a great resource for finding a mental heath care provider. This link will show you therapists and other practitioners who practice in Nova Scotia. You can filter practitioners by gender, what they specialize in, modalities, price, insurance companies they work with, and other factors.

Browse the profiles and, if you find someone you might want to talk to, it can be good to email them and ask for a free phone consult to ask questions and see if it’s a good fit before committing to a full session. The free phone consult is also a good time to ask if they “direct bill” to your insurance provider or if you will have to pay out of pocket and submit the cost for reimbursement.

  • Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
    • https://avaloncentre.ca/
    • The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization working to eliminate sexual assault/abuse, and to change the current socio-political culture that fosters sexism, social injustice and other forms of oppression.
    • Avalon offers specialized therapeutic counselling program is available to women, Trans folks, and gender non-identified individuals 16 years and older, who have experienced a recent or historical sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, and/or sexual harassment. Avalon also provides individual information sessions to the non-offending parents of children who have disclosed sexual abuse, and to supportive partners of clients accessing services. https://avaloncentre.ca/services/counselling-services/
    • Avalon also has a number of online resources including a “virtual healing room,” a consent and self-care game, and information on how to support a survivor. https://avaloncentre.ca/avalon-resources/
  • Couch of Hope

Free counselling with counselling interns in Dartmouth. Available only to those who do not have insurance or financial means to pay for counselling. Learn more at https://www.couchofhope.com

External Supports / Self-Guided Resources and Websites

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTEPaz1VmRieI8LT8cGzrb3QgLXQ5gDQ7lWrMME2RiXcFg34lOckoEQZU-b9mZXb8mt909M3sB9GxOx/pub?delayms=60000&loop=false&start=true&slide=id.p

  • Grounding Techniques: suggestions of what to do right now.

http://nscs.learnridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/GroundingTechniquesPDF1.pdf