UW students will be able to access more mental health supports

By CityNews Kitchener Staff

The Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) calls it one of the most comprehensive updates to a student healthcare plan in this country.

On Monday, The Health Plan Oversight Committee voted unanimously to expand student healthcare coverage that will mean additional mental health support for students at no additional cost.

The WUSA says the health plan expansion will further recommendations which came out of the President's Advisory Committee on Student Mental Health for expanding healthcare funding and developing better referral mechanisms to community partners. 

All full-time and part-time students will have access to the program.

Changes include: 

  • Addition of the EmpowerMe, a 24/7/365 confidential student assistance program designed to support mental health and wellbeing
  • Doubling the annual coverage limits for mental health services under the health plan to 80% coverage for mental health practitioners to a new total of $800.00 per calendar year
  • Expanding the scope of allowed mental health practitioners covered under the health plan to include psychologists, registered social workers, psychotherapists, and clinical counsellors
  • Eliminating referral requirement from a medical doctor to have your psychological treatment covered by the health plan 

The new changes come into effect on January 1, 2020.

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