Racialized and Indigenous Students Resources
Yiching Chua, MSW, RSW
Counsellor
Yiching (pronounced “E Ching”) provides culturally safe and relevant counselling supports for Racialized students at Niagara College. Through lived experience as a Racialized woman, Yiching recognizes the importance of culture, beliefs and values, and familial expectations and obligations as it supports individual wellbeing. Yiching provides service to all Racialized Niagara College students in English and has a comprehension in conversational Mandarin.
- Campus: Both campuses
- Languages Spoken: English and conversational Mandarin
- Email: [email protected]
Jamie (she/her) is a proud member of Moose Cree First Nation. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and has worked at Niagara College since 2014.
As an Indigenous Counsellor, Jamie can help with:
- Mental health support
- Cultural wellness
- Interpersonal difficulties
- Transitioning to and out of college
- Connecting you to other campus and community services
- Racism and discrimination impacting mental health
- Other personal issues affecting your well-being
- Campus: Both campuses, Indigenous students only
- Languages Spoken: English and conversational Cree
- Email: [email protected]
Jamie Consoli, M.Ed., RP
Indigenous Counsellor
Make an Appointment
Students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized can request to meet with a counsellor who provides culturally responsive support. Counselling is a free and confidential service available year-round to currently enrolled students. To request an appointment, please visit our Contact page and connect with Counselling Services.
Make an AppointmentMental Health Resources
Counselling Resources
GuardMe Student Support Program
Transitioning to college life can be a wonderful and exciting life experience, but it can also be a time of tremendous stress and isolation as you learn to navigate new experiences and learn to balance academics with life on campus. The GuardMe Student Support Program is a service available to all students that can be contacted anytime – day or night – to speak with a Student Support Advisors who can provide support and advice.
Advisors can help you anytime, anywhere with:
- Being successful at school
- Relationships with friends and family
- Stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness and more
Advisors:
- Keep your information confidential
- Can be reached through mobile and web chat, phone and video
- Are available 24/7 for immediate or scheduled sessions, at no cost
Supports for all Students
- Adapting to new cultures
- Counsellors that speak your language, understand your culture and are experienced in supporting the unique challenges international students face
Access GuardMe Student Support
- Downloading the free Student Support App is quick and easy! Download the Telus Health Student Support app on either the Apple App Store or Google Play
- Once you have downloaded the app, complete your profile so you can browse health and wellness resources on the go, start a live chat or call with a counsellor – anytime, anywhere!
- Call 1-844-451-9700 (or +1-416-380-6578 from outside North America)
- Browse resources on the gmssp.org website.
Asian Mental Health Resources
HF Asian Mental Health and Well-being provides a continuum of services ranging from treatment of illness to promotion of wellness in the Cambodian, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Korean, and Vietnamese communities.
Website: www.hfcare.ca
The KCWA Family Counseling Team provides services to Korean Canadian families. Please call or email for counselling services.
Website: https://www.kcwa.net/family-family_counselling_kr
Phone: 416-340-1234
Email: [email protected]
Love Toronto Korean-Canadian Community Services is a network hub for Korean-Canadians in Toronto. Programs offered are medical consultation for non OHIP clients and psychotherapy referral program with a Korean therapist. Visit the website for more details.
Website: https://www.lovetoronto.org
Naseeha is a Mental Health Helpline for Muslim and non-Muslims. With the confidential helpline, Muslim youth receives immediate, anonymous, and confidential support over the phone from 12 PM – 3 AM, 7 days a week.
Website: https://naseeha.org
Helpline: 1-866-627-3342
The Bridges Niagara Wellness Program provides support to newcomers in Niagara who are experiencing language and other social barriers to accessing mainstream mental health services.
This Sikh Family Helpline is a peer-to-peer non-emergency helpline servicing the Sikh Community in Canada in Punjabi and English. They do not provide live counselling services as the helpline is currently only staffed by volunteers – however, we can direct you to the appropriate services providers in your area if necessary.
Website: http://www.sikhfamilyhelpline.com
Phone: 1-800-551-9128
SOCH Mental Health aims to empower South Asian community members to recognize and accept mental health as an essential part of their wellness through education, prevention, and building resilience. Visit the website for more details.
Website: https://www.sochmentalhealth.com
Laadliyan is a non-profit organization that inspires South Asian girls and women of all ages to become empowered individuals though engagement, education, and awareness.
Website: https://www.laadliyan.com
Black Mental Health Resources
The BYH approach brings innovative, professional, culturally relevant perspectives to understanding and addressing the root causes of challenges faced by Black children, youth, and families. Please call to get more information or visit the website for more information.
Website: https://blackyouth.ca/services
Phone: Call 416-285-9944 or Toll Free 1-833-294-8650 (Everyday 9 am – 10 pm)
Email: [email protected]
CAFCAN provides culturally appropriate social services that enrich the lives of the African, Caribbean and Diaspora (ACD) communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Website: https://cafcan.org
Phone: 416-740-1056
Future Black Female (FBF) works to empower Black girls and women between the ages of 16 and 22 to take charge of their education and career paths as well as their social, political, and civic engagement. They offer pro Black mental health services, financial wellbeing, and career and education strategies in supporting Black girls and women in the Niagara area and across Canada. Visit the website for more details.
Website: https://www.futureblackfemale.com
Black Mental Health Canada (BMHC) is a volunteer, non-profit, community base organization that was founded in 2019 to help meet the mental health needs of the diverse Black communities in Canada.
Website: https://blackmentalhealth.ca
Indigenous Mental Health Resources
Website: https://www.niagaracollege.ca/hwas/resources/indigenous
Latinx Mental Health Resources
The Bridges Niagara Wellness Program provides support to newcomers in Niagara who are experiencing language and other social barriers to accessing mainstream mental health services.
The Hispanic Development Council exists to promote the interests of the Spanish speaking communities in Canada regarding its access to services by all members of the community. Please visit the website for more details.
Website: http://www.hispanic-council.ca/supportive-counselling.html
The Center for Spanish-Speaking People (CGHH) offer services for the following areas: Settlement, Legal Clinic, Youth Program (from 15-29), Violence Against Women, Sexual Health, and Seniors. Please visit the website for more information.
Website: https://spanishservices.org
Phone: 416-533-8545
Email: [email protected]
Private Counselling (Fee for Service) and Educational Resources
The organization helps raise awareness about mental health care, contains a list of Asian therapists both in the U.S. and in Canada and an organization directory.
Website: https://www.asianmhc.org
Black Mental Health Canada (BMHC) is a volunteer, non-profit, community base organization that was founded in 2019 to help meet the mental health needs of the diverse Black communities in Canada.
Website: https://blackmentalhealth.ca
Healing in Colour envisions a world where BIPOC, in all our intersections, has access to therapy that su-pports healing and liberation. They have a directory of BIPOC therapists who are committed to supporting BIPOC— in all our intersections.
Website: https://www.healingincolour.com
A resource guide for mental health and race created by Helping Hands Youth Artist. Some of the resources are national and regional (Toronto Area).
Website: https://www.helpinghandsapp.com/Mental-Health-and-Anti-Racism-Resource-Guide.pdf
Physical Health Resources
Food Banks and Community Fridges
Did you forget to have breakfast this morning? Are you too busy to eat in the mornings? Do you not get paid until Friday so you’re eating only a nutri-grain bar for breakfast?
Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC) provides a free breakfast program called Rise & Shine. Please click on the link for more information
St. Catharines Supports
Welland Supports
Niagara Falls Supports
Health and Medical Services
Student Health and Counselling Services & Student Accessibility Services
We are here to support your personal well-being and physical and mental health throughout your student journey. We also offer supports and services for students with disability-related needs.
Student Health & Counselling provides accessible medical healthcare and mental health counselling services to all Niagara College students. These services are included in your student tuition and ancillary fees. Our medical healthcare services are provided by Registered Nurses (RN) and Nurse Practitioners (NP). Our Nurse Practitioners are advanced Nursing clinicians that can assess, diagnosis, and prescribe medications for treatment. There is no fee to see an RN or NP; however, there may be additional costs associated with labs, medications, imaging, vaccines, or other services depending on your coverage. Additionally, our mental health Counsellors (licensed Social Workers and Psychotherapists) do not require any additional fees
Our teams are here to help you access the support and resources you need to navigate your Niagara College journey.
Housing and Settlement Support
We are here to support you with your housing questions and needs.
Housing Advisor: [email protected]
Welland Campus:
905-735-2211 ext. 7763
Daniel J. Patterson Campus
905-641-2252 ext. 4190
Housing Supports
Settlement Supports
Please note that these Settlement Agencies have limited support for individuals if they are in Canada under a study/work permit. If you are an international student requiring settlement services, please reach out to the International Department at Niagara College for more information.
Financial Resources
Niagara College offers over $1.5 million in scholarships and bursaries to domestic students during the academic year, through the various programs.
NC Financial Aid – Domestic
Over $4 million in scholarships and bursaries available to qualified students. Be sure to contact Niagara College’s International Division to learn more and see if you qualify.
NC Financial Aid – International
There are lots of opportunities for Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour (BIPOC) students to win scholarships! Learn more on the GrantMe program!
Grant Me Opportunities
Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities.
IndspireAssault and Intimate Partner Violence
Follow us on Instagram @consentiskeync
Unlock your voice! Supporting Niagara College students who have been affected by sexual and gender-based violence.
Design for a New Tomorrow
Design for a new Tomorrow is an organization that provides counselling services for women experiencing domestic violence, and intimate partner abuse.
Website: https://design4newtomorrow.ca
Gillian’s Place
Gillian’s Place offers a safe refuge and support programs in an effort to end domestic violence. The shelter is in St. Catharines.
Website: https://gilliansplace.com
Niagara Sexual Assault Centre
Niagara Sexual Assault Centre is a non-profit organization that responds to the needs of survivors of sexual violence through counselling, support and emergency services to survivors and their families.
Website: https://www.niagarasexualassaultcentre.com
Crisis Phone Line: 905-682-4584
Nisa Foundation
Nisa Foundation offers anonymous and confidential telephone line available to Muslim women across North America in English, French, Urdu, Arabic and Somali.
Website: https://nisafoundation.ca/programs/nisa-helpline
Phone Line: 1-888-315-6472