Student Engagement
An Inlight-led initiative
As part of our commitment to the principle of “students as collaborators”, Inlight actively engages students in the co-design of research and knowledge translation activities that directly impact them. This research approach ensures that students are equal partners in the co-creation of the direction, development, and execution of student mental health research.
Our Definition of Student Engagement
Student engagement is the meaningful and timely involvement of students as experts in the processes and decisions that will affect them.
Based on principles of community and patient engagement in health research, student engagement is the involvement of those with firsthand or “lived” experience as equal contributing members in an initiative. In research, engagement provides new insights into the needs, priorities, and interests of those who use and are affected by research outcomes. When led in partnership with community experts, research can be more valid, accurate, and credible.
Recognizing the Diversity of Student Experience
In the context of this initiative, student and youth mental health is inclusive of mental wellness, mental illness and substance misuse. It encompasses the full length of a student’s journey — from transitions into post-secondary education to graduation — and the full range of student mental health experience— from community and individual well-being to clinical intervention, inside the classroom and out.
We recognize that there is no one student experience at U of T. U of T students vary widely in age, identity, ability, and background, and in their mental health experiences both on and off campus. In order to best understand and address student mental health challenges at U of T, we engage a diverse student voice on all aspects of this initiative. We work with students from programs and departments at all three U of T campuses and at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Students are integral to the understanding of student mental health – we are not only emerging researchers, practitioners, and advocates, but we also navigate life in post-secondary school every day.
– Lexi Ewing, PhD Student & Student Advisor
The Student Advisory Committee
Inlight works with a Student Advisory Committee composed of current graduate and undergraduate students from across the three University of Toronto campuses. The Inlight Student Advisory Committee ensures the representation, prioritization, and engagement of diverse student voice in student mental health research and related activities across the University of Toronto. Recruitment for the Student Advisory Committee happens annually.
More information about Inlight’s current Student Advisory Committee and their activities can be found here.
Resources
We are excited to share templates and resources to support the development of student engagement strategies in postsecondary student mental health research!
If you are referencing or adapting content for your own student engagement activities, please give credit to Inlight as indicated in the resource.
Student Blog
Emma McCann
Engagement Lead
Are you interested in connecting or learning more about Inlight’s approach to student engagement in research?
Please contact Emma McCann, Inlight Engagement Lead, at studentmh.research@utoronto.ca.