Special Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness
Appointment of the Special Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness

Elizabeth Kristjansson was appointed Special Advisor, Mental Health and Wellness for the University of Ottawa effective July 1, 2020, a position created in the wake of the 12 recommendations presented in May 2020 by the President’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness.
At the end of her three-year mandate, Dr. Kristjansson will have played a key role in addressing the University of Ottawa's mental health and wellness priorities and helping to ensure that the institution has the resources to provide quality services without delay. Her expertise in neighborhoods and community health will be an asset in this new role.
Find immediate support
If you are in distress or in a crisis, there are several resources available (by phone or online)
on the Mental Health and Wellness website.
For emergencies on campus: 613-562-5411.
For emergencies off-campus: 9-1-1.
Messages and updates
Study on the Mental Health of Black Communities
Students and parents are invited to participate in a study on the mental health of Black communities. This will help to better understand the mental health factors associated with the experiences of youth from Black communities. Interviews are confidential and will take place in either French or English. This study is being conducted by the Vulnerability, Trauma, Resilience and Culture Lab (VTRaC) of the University of Ottawa and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
For more information, please visit the study's webpage.
Mandate
The Special Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness ensures that the University implements the recommendations of the President’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness in an effective and timely manner, while addressing remaining gaps and working towards improving the well-being of our students, professors and staff, and fostering a culture of caring and support.
Roadmap
These committees will build upon the expertise and work of defunct committees that addressed similar concerns (President's Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness, the Action Group on Mental Health (CAG) and Wellness and the Standing Committee on Student Wellbeing). This work includes the Roadmap to Wellness produced by the CAG, as well as the findings and recommendations of the President’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness.
Mental Health and Wellness Steering Committee (MHSC)
The mandate of the Mental Health and Wellness Steering Committee is to support the University Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness in advancing mental health and wellbeing at the University of Ottawa, providing strategic direction, oversight and leadership.
Terms of reference
Scope
Ensuring effective coordination with existing and planned resources and initiatives, the MHSC will plan and ensure the execution of mental health and wellness strategies, initiatives and activities at uOttawa. Specifically, the MHSC will:
- Provide support and advice on the implementation of the President’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness recommendations.
- Through the MHAC, provide a forum to discuss gaps and emerging issues related to mental health and wellness. This will ensure it is responsive to the community and its diverse and evolving needs and perspectives. On this basis, the MHSC will make adjustments or recommend adjustments to overall strategies.
- Provide support and advice on the development and implementation of the uOttawa mental health strategy going forward, in alignment with Transformation 2030 and using the 2020 Roadmap to Wellness as a starting point.
- Monitor and evaluate progress in advancing mental health and wellbeing at the University of Ottawa.
- Act as a community in advancing mental health and wellbeing at the University of Ottawa.
Committee Membership
The MHSC shall comprise members who have authority to carry out actions within their mandate. The University Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness serves as the Chair.
MHSC members are appointed for a three-year term, renewable.
Members
- One HR Representative;
- The Director, Wellness and Recreation;
- Two Vice-Deans, Undergraduate Studies;
- One Vice-Dean Graduate Studies;
- One Faculty Affairs Representative;
- One Corporate Communications Representative;
- One International Office Representative; and
- One Teaching and Learning Support Service Representative.
Resource people
- One Senior Mental Health Advisor;
- One Manager, Planning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs;
- And, as needed, experts on specific issues.
This Committee will build upon the expertise and work of defunct committees that addressed similar concerns. This work includes the Roadmap to Wellness produced by the Action Group (CAG), as well as the findings and recommendations of the President’s Advisory Committee on Mental Health and Wellness.
Meeting Attendance and Schedule
The MHSC will meet as often as required to fulfill its mandate, as convened by the Chair, and no less than every 4 weeks. Meetings will be held in both official languages. Secretariat services are provided by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs.
Working groups can be struck by the Committee on an as needed, ad hoc basis to address specific needs, recommendations, or projects and can include key stakeholders. MHSC members will participate in working groups that suit their interest and skills.
Accountability and Reporting
The chair reports on the MHSC’s work to the Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs. Items brought forward for decisions by the Provost will involve those recommendations and reports on initiatives with broad or significant organizational impact. They will be first discussed with the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, and brought forward to the Administration Committee (CA) if required.
Alignment
The Committee complements other university committees that work towards improving student and community life and experiences. Examples include such committees as the Psychological Health and Safety Committee.
The Committee does not address disciplinary concerns for students or employees, the academic aspects of student retention or academic matters.
Members
Chair
University Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness
Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs
Members
Director, Wellness and Recreation Sector
Student Affairs
Executive Director, Communication
External Relations
Manager, Digital Development
Teaching and Learning Support Service
Vice-Dean, Students
Associate Professor
Faculty of Arts, Department of Communication
Associate Vice-Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Associate Professor
Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies
International Student Support Services Manager
International Office
Vice-Dean, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Full Professor
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
Senior Advisor, Labour Relations
Financial Resources, ERP Project
Resource Persons
Wellness and Return to Work Advisor
Human Resources
Senior Mental Health Advisor
Student Affairs
Annie Garant
Manager, Planning
Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs
Mental Health and Wellness Advisory Committee (MHAC)
The MHAC will serve as a forum to bring to the attention of the University Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness emerging issues related to mental health and wellness that need to be considered; consult and discuss on important issues related to the overall objectives of the mental health and wellness strategy; and serve as a mechanism for reporting to the uOttawa community on progress on mental and wellness initiatives.
Terms of reference
Committee Membership
The MHAC membership comprises participants who represent of the University community diversity and who possess perspective or expertise that could be drawn upon. Committee members will have lived experience and/or have a strong interest in mental health and wellness. Additional ad hoc members will be identified by the University Advisor and added as needed. Members are appointed for a one-year term, renewable.
Representatives of the Mental Health and Wellness Steering Committee will also attend these meetings on an as needed basis.
The University Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness serves as the Chair.
Members
- Representatives of the uOttawa community
- At least four undergraduate students (including one from the University of Ottawa Students’ Union)
- At least three graduate students (including one from the Graduate Student’s Association)
- At least two non-academic staff members
- At least two full time professors
- At least one part-time professor
- Representatives of the broader community
- One Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH) representative
- One Ottawa Public Health (OPH) representative
- One Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) representative
- One Morneau-Shepell representative
- Resource people will be:
- The Wellness and Return to Work Advisor, Human Resources
- One Manager, Planning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs
- As needed, experts on specific issues
Meeting Attendance and Schedule
The MHAC will meet twice each semester.
MHAC members will participate in working groups that suit their interest and skills.
Secretariat services are provided by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs.
Members
Chair
University Advisor on Mental Health and Wellness
Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs
Members
Supervisor, Collection Sector
Financial Resources
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section
Part-time Professor
Faculty of Education
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Social Sciences
Full Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences
Graduate Student
Faculty of Social Sciences
Part-time Professor
Faculty of Education
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Social Sciences
Graduate Student
Faculty of Medicine
Executive in Residence
Telfer School of Management
Full Professor
Telfer School of Management
Educational Development and Digital Learning Specialist
Teaching and Learning Support Services
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Social Sciences
Graduate Student
Telfer School of Management
Graduate Student
Telfer School of Management
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Arts
Undergraduate Student
Faculty of Science
Chief Administrative Officer
Faculty of Arts
Graduate Student
Faculty of Education
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section
Graduate Student
Telfer School of Management
Director of student support programs
Morneau Shepell
Resource Persons
Wellness and Return to Work Advisor
Human Resources
Senior Mental Health Advisor
Student Affairs
Annie Garant
Manager, Planning
Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs