Students

Concerned about a student?

Call: (306) 966-5757

We provide guidance, assistance, and support to faculty, staff, parents, and students who are concerned about a USask student.

Possible signs of distress

  • If a student has had a change in appearance, mood, and/or social functioning
  • A student's behaviour impacts another person’s ability to function appropriately and successfully on campus
  • If a student has expressed thoughts of suicide SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY
  • If a student has attempted suicide or you believe them to be a threat to themselves SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY
  • The student is misusing substances and it is causing others concern
  • The student is displaying odd behaviour that is causing others concern

 If the student is at imminent risk

  • Call the Saskatoon Police Service 911 or 9-911 (on campus)
  • Walk them over to Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive
  • Call Campus Protective Services at (306) 966-5555

Student Support and Outreach Coordinators (SSOC)

The Student Support and Outreach Coordinators (SSOC), are registered Social Workers, who provide immediate support to students throughout their academic journey.

We provide direct support to students who: 

  • Are in distress or crisis
  • Having thoughts of suicide
  • Are hospitalized - for any reason or have been hospitalized
  • Have a lot going on and are feeling overwhelmed
  • Are feeling stuck and don’t know what to do next
  • Are experiencing a complicated or complex problem(s)
  • Are in need of intervention and connections to university and community programs
  • Are experiencing difficulties, challenges, or barriers in their personal and academic lives
  • Are impacted by traumatic events on or off campus
  • Find themselves in trouble and need help navigating systems or various Usask policies
  • Need help with difficult academic-related conversations
  • Need strategies for resolving conflict with a peer, instructor, supervisor, or roommate
  • at risk of receiving a faculty action or requesting a leave of absence from their program
  • victims, survivors, and respondents of sexualized and gender-based violence

We provide practical immediate support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off-campus resources, and ongoing follow-up care.  

Connect with a member of our team

You can contact a member of the team directly, request an appointment by calling the general line, emailing student.outreach@usask.ca, or by booking online (link below).

General Line: (306) 966-5757

  • Residence/Huskie Athletes: Ryan Bilanksi - (306) 966-6171, email: ryan.bilanski@usask.ca
  • College of Engineering: Jamie Geger - (306) 966-6475, email: jamie.gegner@usask.ca
  • College of Nursing - Amber Fuentealba - (306) 966-6232, email: amber.fuentealba@usask.ca 

 

Engineering Student Support

Student Affairs and Outreach and the College of Engineering have partnered to provide Engineering students with direct support from a member of our team. In order to access this support, you must be an Engineering student

The Student Support and Outreach Coordinator provides practical support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off-campus resources, and ongoing solution-focused follow-up care. 

This support provides all the same services as mentioned in the SSOC.

Engineering SSOC schedule:  

  • Monday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm 
Location: Room 2A19, Engineering Building

If you are an engineering student and would like to book an appointment or connect with the SSOC call (306) 966-6475, email jamie.gegner@usask.ca, drop in during scheduled hours - Room 2A19, or book online

Nursing Student Support

Student Affairs and Outreach and the College of Nursing have partnered to provide Nursing students with direct support from a member of our team. To access this support, you must be a Nursing student

The Student Support and Outreach Coordinator provides practical support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off-campus resources, and ongoing solution-focused follow-up care. 

This support provides all the same services as mentioned above. 

Nursing support is provided Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30pm.

  • Drop-in hours are Friday from 9am to 12pm
Room 1A50.5, College of Nursing building (A Wing, Health Sciences)

If you are a nursing student and would like to book an appointment or connect with Amber call (306) 966-6232, email amber.fuentealba.usask.ca,  or drop in during drop-in or scheduled hours - Room 1A50.5 or book online

Huskie Athletics Student Support

Student Affairs and Outreach and Huskie Athletics have partnered to provide Huskie Athletics with direct support from one of our Student Student and Outreach Coordinators. In order to access this support, you must be a Huskie athlete. 

The Huskie Athletics Student Support and Outreach worker provides all the same services as mentioned above but also has a keen understanding of the additional pressures that may impact Huskie athletes. 

Additional situations we provide support to athletes include: 

  • Athletes struggling with managing pressures, time, and expectations related to practices, games, classwork, and grades
  • Athletes struggling with stress, feeling overwhelmed, and burnout
  • Athletes moving through a concussion protocol
  • Athletes who are experiencing, or have had a season-ending injury
Huskie Athletics SSOC schedule:
  • Monday 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Tuesday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 
  • Thursday 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Office Location: Merlis Belsher Place 

To book an appointment call Huskie Health @ Merlis Belsher Place - (306) 966-8176 or book online (link below).

To reach the Huskie Athletics, Student Support and Outreach Coordinator directly, email ryan.bilanski@usask.ca.

**For educational workshops and presentations related to wellness in sports contact Ryan directly.

On-Campus Residence Student Support - Counsellor in Residence (CIR)

Student Affairs and Outreach and Residence Services have partnered to provide students, living in on-campus residences, with direct support from a member of our team. In order to access this support, you must be living in USask campus residences. 

The CIR provides practical support, education, coaching, mentorship, crisis intervention & management, problem-solving, resource navigation, referrals to on and off campus resources, and ongoing solution-focused follow-up care. 

The CIR provides all the same services as mentioned above but also has a keen understanding of the additional pressures that may result while living in residence. Additional pressures/situations may include:

  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Relationship breakdowns
  • Conflict resolution strategies
  • Communication breakdowns

Residence CIR schedule: 

  • Monday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
  • Tuesday 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm 

If you live in residence and would like to book an appointment or connect with the CIR call (306) 966-6171, email ryan.bilanski@usask.ca, drop in during the CIR scheduled hours, or book online

Crisis Response

The Student Affairs and Outreach team provides a coordinated response to crises involving a student. A crisis may be caused by events such as a physical or emotional injury or illness, suicide behaviours, and safety concerns.

Contact: (306) 966-5757 or the Director directly at (306) 966-6079 

 

Wellness Workshops

We are proud to offer a variety of workshops for students, faculty, and staff. If you want a workshop delivered in your class, unit, or department, please contact Tracy Spencer @ (306) 966-6079 or by email at tracy.spencer@usask.ca 

**For upcoming workshops visit USask Wellness Workshops**

The Inquiring Mind:  This workshop focuses on promoting mental health, reducing stigma and negative attitudes, improving resiliency and coping strategies, increasing knowledge of the mental health continuum, fostering a supportive campus community, and helping to support others.

  • Length of time: 3 to 4 hours
  • Cost: FREE for students
  • Format: Virtual or in-person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced-based program by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. 

Mental Health First Aid - IN PERSON: This workshop is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem, experiencing the worsening of an existing mental health problem, or in a mental health crisis. Just like physical first aid is provided until medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate support is found or until the crisis is resolved. You will learn to recognize a change in behaviour, respond with a confident conversation, and guide to appropriate resources and support. 

  • Length of time: 12 instructional, in-person hours
  • Cost: $80.00 for students; $150.00 for faculty and staff; $190.00 for Usask alumni.
  • Format: in person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced-based program by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. 

Mental Health First Aid - VIRTUAL: This virtual workshop helps participants recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or is experiencing a mental health crisis, have conversations that encourage a person to talk about the decline in their mental well-being including discussion about professional and other supports that could help with recovery, assist in mental health or substance use crisis, and use MHFA actions to maintain one's own mental well-being.  

  • Length of time: 8 hrs -2 self-directed learning hours + 6 virtual learning hours
  • Cost: $80.00 for students; $150.00 for faculty and staff; $190.00 for Usask alumni.
  • Format: self-directed learning & virtual
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.

Building Resiliency/Resiliency 101: A workshop focused on providing tools and strategies for students to develop and/or enhance their resiliency.

  • Length of time: 90 mins (lengths can vary)
  • Cost: Free for students
  • Format: Virtual or in-person
  • CCR certified 

 Livingworks safeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone: You will learn how to prevent suicide by recognizing and engaging persons who might be having thoughts of suicide and connecting them with resources trained in suicide intervention.

  • Length of time: 3.5 hours
  • Cost: $15.00 (non-refundable) for students; $40.00 ($15.00 non-refundable) for faculty and staff; $80 for USask alumni.
  • Format: In person  
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced program by LivingWorks

**NEW** Livingworks START - Teaches participants to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support. Reach out to a student.outreach@usask.ca to receive the course which is a $40.00 value for FREE until supplies last. 

  • Length of time: 90 minutes
  • Cost: FREE ($40.00 value for FREE - until supplies (codes) last)
  • Format: Virtual  
  • CCR certified (in progress) and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced program by LivingWorks

Bringing in the Bystander (sexual violence prevention program): A skill-building bystander intervention workshop for preventing sexual violence and establishing a community of responsibility. 

  • Length of time: 3 hours
  • Cost: Free for students, faculty and staff
  • Format: virtual or in-person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Evidenced program by Soteria Solutions

Mental Health and Wellness 101: Increase your mental health literacy, how our mental health is connected to coping and resiliency, and how to reach out for support when needed. You will increase your comfort and confidence in talking about mental health and how to promote positive mental health within yourself.

  • Length of time: 60 mins (lengths can vary)
  • Cost: Free for students
  • Format: virtual or in-person

Identifying and Responding to Students in Crisis: This workshop helps faculty and staff recognize students who may be struggling or in distress, how to respond to students in distress and refer them to support services on or off campus. 

  • Length of time: 1-2 hours (lengths can vary)
  • Cost: Free 
  • Format: virtual or in-person

Introduction to Conflict Resolution: Dealing with Difficult People: This workshop focuses on conflict resolution and tools and strategies when dealing with difficult people.  

  • Length of time: 12-hour foundational conflict resolution 
  • Cost: $30.00 (non-refundable) for students; $130.00 for faculty and staff
  • Format: in person
  • CCR certified and certificate upon completion.
Certified program developed by Winnipeg Mediation Services and facilitated by a qualified mediator

Resolving Conflict Constructively: This session helps you to learn tools to improve skills in problem-solving and conflict management.

  • Length of time: 90 mins (lengths can vary)
  • Cost: Free for students
  • Format: virtual or in-person

Everything DiSC®: A personal development learning experience that measures preferences and tendencies based on the DiSC® model. This simple yet powerful model describes four basic styles: D, i, S, and C, and serves as the foundation for the Everything DiSC Application Suite. Participants receive personalized insights that deepen their understanding of self and others, making workplace interactions more enjoyable and effective.

 

Parents and caregivers Information

If you are concerned about your learner, please contact us, we can help! However, While you are able to share your concerns with us, we are unable to share information with you.

However, the University of Saskatchewan and all Student Affairs and Outreach team members are committed to the well-being of our students. In accordance with The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation, we cannot discuss details about a student or inform of their activities without the student’s direct consent. In extreme circumstances, including imminent safety concerns, information may be shared on a case-by-case basis. 

If direct consent is provided, the student, at any time, may choose to revoke consent.

 

After Hour Supports (4:30pm to 8:30am)

After-hours assistance (4:30 pm to 8:30 am)

  • Local crisis lines
    • Saskatoon Mobile Crisis (306) 933-6200 
    • Prince Albert Crisis Unit (306) 764-1011
    • Regina Mobile Crisis (306) 757-0127
    • Southwest Crisis Services 1-800-567-3334
  • Royal University Hospital - 103 Hospital Drive
  • Campus Protective Services (306) 966-5555
  • Saskatoon Sexual Assault Crisis Line (306)244-2224
  • Talk Suicide Canada 1-833-456-4566
  • Wellness Together Canada 1-855-585-0445
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line (help for all Indigenous People in Canada) 1-855-242-3310

Staff

Tracy Spencer (she/her) BHJ, BSW, RSW, M.Ed., CLC
Director, Student Affairs and Outreach


Ryan Bilanski (he/him) BSW, MSW, RSW, Q.Med
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator (Huskie Athletics / Counsellor in Residence)


Jessica Fox (she/her) MSW, RSW
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator (On leave)


Amber Fuentealba (she/her) MSW, RSW
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator, College of Nursing


Beau Gallerneault (he/him) BISW, RSW, M.Ed.
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator (Senior)


Jamie Gegner (she/her) BSW, RSW
Engineering Student Support and Outreach Coordinator (Engineering students only)


Jordan Hartshorn (he/him) BSW, RSW, RISA
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator


Shalisse Pelly (she/her) BSW, RSW
Student Support and Outreach Coordinator