CICMH 2020 Conference - November 2-3 2020 
Call for Abstracts

The Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health’s Annual Conference is the meeting place for stakeholders in post-secondary mental health across Ontario and Canada. This annual event attracts over 250 participants, 20 exhibitors, and leaders in mental health from across the country. It offers over 30 workshops featuring best, promising and emerging practices in the sector.

Bright Futures: Embracing Campus Wellness
Campuses are the site of a wide range of mental health challenges, from exam-related stress and roommate relationship issues to anorexia and depression. A characteristic of a healthy campus is students feeling safe and supported in talking about their concerns. This year’s theme, Bright Futures: Embracing Campus Wellness, looks at campus wellness as the product of a host of factors. Food security, physical well-being, discrimination and sexual violence are just some of the many issues a student may face. When we address mental health, we should also consider these external factors that play a key role in a student’s experience. We encourage all submissions to adopt an approach considering intersectionality and equity in the work being done on campus. We are looking for highly interactive, evidence-informed sessions that explore the current challenges and solutions to enhance wellness on campus.

To facilitate this discussion, we will be exploring five themes:

1. Diversity and Inclusion
Institutional leadership and campus models for diversity and inclusion that simultaneously advance underserved students’ educational access and success and promote the flourishing of institutions have a significant impact on mental health. Presentations in this stream will address barriers based on discrimination and new opportunities related to demographic change, sharing practices and programs that pursue established ideals about equity.

2. Mental Health Strategies
The creation of successful campus mental health strategies can occur only through informed policies, targeted mental health promotion, and integrated care for students struggling with mental health challenges. Presentations in this stream will focus on the development, implementation and evaluation of campus mental health strategies. Submissions should provide a brief explanation of the presentation in 150 words or less.

3. Substance Use
Presentations in this stream will focus on the use of drugs, alcohol and other substances on campus. Example topics might include smoke-free campuses, as well as other critical issues such as binge drinking on campuses and driving under the influence of alcohol.

4. The Student Voice
In order to effectively address mental health issues for students, it is vital that student voices are brought to the table in meaningful, constructive, and sustainable ways. These presentations will focus on the student perspective, fostering understanding, opening lines of communication, and building access.

5. Wellness and Health Promotion
Presentations in this stream will highlight innovative mental health programs that focus on early identification, prevention and health promotion. Examples might include integrated mental and physical wellness programs; peer supports and resilience-based programs.

Abstracts will be accepted until May 11, 2020.

Honoraria, accommodation and travel reimbursement are not available for presenters.
The presenter may submit multiple abstracts for the conference. One submission for each presentation. Your submission should be 150 words or less.

Format:
Conference sessions will be offered in a variety of formats:

a) Panel discussions

b) Presentations (Workshop or Roundtable)
 
A Workshop presentation provides a platform for presenters to share expertise, and for participants to gain new knowledge and/or a new skill. The presentation will take an interactive approach that will address new programming and completed research, while giving participants a “hands-on” experience of the subject.

A Roundtable presentation should include a short (5-10) minute presentation by the presenter to introduce the topic, followed by discussion and feedback from participants. Roundtable presenters should bring targeted questions to pose to participants at the table and allocate time to summarize and conclude at the end of the session.

The Program Advisory Committee may also identify submissions for keynote plenary sessions.

Poster Presentations: This year, posters will be in a convenient and high traffic location at the conference. Your display will be set up for both days. Poster presenters will be asked to be present during breaks and lunch. Posters are 4" x 4" wide with 2 fitting on one board. We will supply the poster board stand. We will provide push pins to attach your poster to the board.

About You
Please provide presenter names as you would like them to appear in the conference program:
1.
Presenter Name(s):
2.
Title:
3.
Organization:
4.
Phone:
5.
Email:

Is there an alternate contact person (example: an assistant)?
6.
Name:
7.
Email:
8.
Phone:

Time Preference

 

9.
Your preferred presentation duration is:
60 Minutes
Poster Presentation Only
*Based on the number of presentations we receive: we may combine presentations. *If your abstract is not accepted, you may have an opportunity to submit a poster presentation.
10.
Please specify the format of your presentation:
Workshop Presentation
Roundtable Presentation
Panel Discussion
Poster Presentation

 

Conference Streams

11.
Please choose the stream that your that relates to your submission
Diversity and Inclusion
Mental Health Strategies
Substance Use
The Student Voice
Wellness and Health Promotion

 

Your Submission
The presenter may submit multiple abstracts for the conference. One submission for each presentation. If your abstract is accepted, we will reach out for your full abstract and your AV/Tech needs.
12.
Title of your Presentation: (10 words or less) (Required)

13.
Description of your presentation: (150 words or less) Required

14.
How does your submission relate to your selected stream?

15.
It is important for all sessions to be interactive and encourage participation among attendees. Please explain how your session will be interactive:

16.
Who is your intended audience? (Check all that apply)
Front-line staff (e.g. counsellors, clinicians, case managers, advisors)
Student leaders
Peer mentors
Administration (e.g. vice-president of student services, counseling centre directors, program managers)
Faculty
Health and wellness staff (e.g.: health promotion specialist, accommodations specialists, athletics and recreation staff)

17.
Please provide a short biography of each presenter (50-60 words or less) with the first presenter bio below and then using the presenter options below for additional presenters.

18.
Presenter #2

19.
Presenter #3

20.
Presenter #4

21.
Please provide details on your audio visual requirements and room set up.

Notes
All submissions will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Relevance to the conference theme
- Clarity and coherence of submission
- Relevance and utility to participants
- Evidence that the submission will encourage interaction with conference participants
- It is encouraged that presenters include a lived experience component or perspective where relevant.

ACCEPTANCE AS A PRESENTER:
- Presenters must register for the conference. Honoraria and travel reimbursement are not available.
- Presenters will be asked to submit an electronic version of their presentation prior to the conference.
- Electronic copies of the presentations will be made available to conference delegates following the conference in pdf format.
- Presenters are responsible for providing written material to conference participants
- Presenters will be provided with a designated time to present by the conference committee.