Cambrian College promotes mental health awareness this week on campus

Morning North6:13Mental health first aid

Cambrian College in Sudbury will be promoting mental health awareness by teaching faculty and students about mental health first aid. Roni Sue Brown, a student support advisor at the college, told us more about what that means and how it will help.

Staff at Sudbury's Cambrian College say there areactively trying to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health issues.

The school plans todiscuss mental health issues as part ofBell Let's Talk Day on Wednesday.

The college is training faculty and students about how to spot symptoms of mental health issues.

A student support advisor at Cambrian said staff at the school now feel more equipped to help students who may need support.

"We're noticing how comfortable even professors are you know, picking up the phone and calling us to say that they're dealing with someone, [and saying] 'What do I do?'," Roni Sue Brown said.

"I think by giving this education to them ... it's giving them some comfort in knowing what to say."

The school has been certified to teach mental health first aid since November 2013, Brown said, adding that479 personal appointments were made last year from April 2014 to May 2015. That's a35% increase from the year before.

More students are reaching outfor help when times get tough, Brown said.

"It's making students more comfortable to say, 'hey! I'm struggling right now. I need help, I don't know where to get that help'," Brown said.