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ÉTS - École de technologie supérieure


Psychological Assistance

The time you spend at university is filled with new experiences. You may also encounter many types of personal challenges and difficulties. If you have questions about your personal life or your life as a student, you can meet with a Relationship Assistance Advisor at the Office of Student Life to help facilitate your personal and social development.

You can discuss your concerns, a personal experience that may be troubling you or even how to tackle academic challenges. You will be offered a preliminary contact to quickly evaluate your needs. After that, you can arrange for up to seven individual meetings, by appointment. These services are free and strictly confidential.

Sentinelles ÉTS

Some members of the staff at ÉTS belong to the Sentinelles, whose mission is to look out for the positive mental health of the student community. If you are experiencing psychological distress, the Sentinelles ÉTS are there to welcome you, listen to you and help you get settled. There are no taboo subjects at ÉTS. Feel free to talk about anything and don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Outreach Worker

Kévin PhaneufAre you unsure whether your situation requires consultation with a professional, but you need someone to talk to, someone to vent to or even someone with a sympathetic ear to listen to you?

Are you worried about yourself or a loved one and you don’t know where to turn for assistance?

Are you looking to talk to someone who won’t judge you?

Are you looking to organize awareness-raising / prevention workshops related to specific problems?

Anxiety, feelings of isolation, loneliness, depression, discouragement, procrastination, self-doubt, romantic difficulties, financial stress, consumption issues, conflict – whatever you are experiencing is important, and there are no problems that are too small to ask for help!

Contact Kevin Phaneuf, Outreach Worker, Student Life Office, to receive immediate support without having to fill out a form: By phone (514-396-8800, ext. 6938), via Teams or by e-mail (available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and evenings by appointment).

Individual counselling

It costs you nothing for these sessions, including an evaluation meeting and six subsequent therapeutic follow-up meetings. During your first appointment, you can ask any questions you may have, such as the approach and structure of the sessions, confidentiality and the cancellations policy. After seven free sessions, it is possible to add a few additional sessions after discussion and with the approval of the student counsellor.

Your first appointment in fewer than 15 working days*

To make an appointment with a student counsellor, simply visit the Office of Student Life centre (room E-3042), call 514 396-8942 or email sve@etsmtl.ca.

*Although the vast majority of requests will be processed within 15 working days, the processing time for requests deemed less urgent may slightly exceed the usual time. However, the emergency response service (see below) is not affected.

As a complement to individual consultations, you can contact telephone counselling services and community resources that can give you the support you need.

Info-Santé, call 8-1-1
Phone service to consult a professional 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can speak to a healthcare professional at Info-Santé about non-urgent issues.

Find a CLSC in your neighbourhood: Find a CLSC

Stress and anxiety

Depression

Mental health

Addictions

Self-esteem

Procrastination

Traumatic events

Sexual health

Emergency Response Service

Emergency Response Service

Jeune homme dont on ne voit pas le visage assis dans le bureau d'une psychologue qui l'écoute en prenant des notesAre you experiencing a suicidal crisis or any other serious situation that could affect your personal, social or professional well-being? Office of Student Life (Services à la vie étudiante – SVE) offers an emergency consultation service that is available during SVE business hours.

A counsellor (psychologist or psychosocial practitioner) will take charge of your case the same day to provide you with the support you need and guide you toward the appropriate resources, as required.

Important: psychologists do not offer psychological assessment for the purpose of issuing a certificate of incapacity to pursue studies or to attend an exam. If this is what you need, consult your family doctor or a medical doctor at an emergency clinic.

Suicide.ca
24/7 support via phone, text, chat and online tools

Suicide Action Montréal
514 723-4000 or 1 866 APPELLE (277-3553)
Professional phone counselling that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tel-Aide
514 935-1105
Phone counselling service that is available 24 hours a day for people in distress. 

Tel-Jeunes (in French)
514 288-2266 or 1 800 263-2266
Phone counselling service for young people, online or by phone.

Relief
1 866 738-4873 
Québec-based association that offers support to people with anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder.

La Clé des champs (in French)
514 334-1587
Peer support network for people with anxiety.

Association québécoise de prévention du suicide (in French)
1 866 APPELLE (277-3553)

Phobies-Zéro (in French)
514 276-3105 or 1 866 922-0002
Support group for youth and adults with anxiety. Support groups in Montréal and by region.

Interligne
514 866-0103
For people concerned with sexual and gender diversity

Ordre des psychologues du Québec
514 738-1881 or 1 800 363-2644

Caring campus training

Training aimed at creating a more caring campus

Let’s work together to create a more supportive, humane and caring university community!

The Student Life Office offers a series of 4 training sessions facilitated by members of the Psychological Assistance team. You can register for any or all of the training sessions, in accordance with your specific needs and interests. 

Consult the Event Calendar for upcoming dates and to register.

Are you interested in learning strategies for dealing with an individual who is experiencing personal difficulties or psychological distress? The Sentinelles ÉTS project includes training offered in two components, focusing on psychological first aid with the goal of helping you to direct individuals in distress toward the resources that are best suited to their needs. 

This 3-hour in-person training session comprises practical exercises, role-playing and group discussions aimed at enhancing the learning experience. 

Targets for participants:

  • Develop enhanced knowledge related to mental health and psychological distress;
  • Identify individuals who are experiencing distress;
  • Identify the most effective actions and attitudes for supporting individuals with care;
  • Understand how to properly direct individuals to the main resources.

If you found Component 1 (Identifying psychological distress) beneficial, and you would like to increase your knowledge, Component 2 will enable you to do the following:

  • Question your perception of suicide or suicidal individuals;
  • Develop your ability to detect the presence of suicidal ideation;
  • Recognize individuals who are vulnerable to suicide;
  • Be equipped to encourage and guide individuals experiencing distress in requesting assistance;
  • Play an active role in suicide prevention.

This 3-hour in-person training session comprises practical exercises, role-playing and group discussions aimed at enhancing the learning experience. 

Please note that you must have completed Component 1 to register for Component 2.

Would you like to be involved in festive or social events as a volunteer or organizer? Take part in this invaluable training session related to preventing sexual violence and harm related to alcohol and substance abuse.

This training session will equip you with practical tools in the following areas: 

  • Recognizing problematic situations during social or festive events;
  • Intervening proactively (directly or indirectly) if you witness inappropriate behaviour, sexual violence or harm related to alcohol and substance abuse; 
  • Understanding the various resources and knowing where and how to properly direct individuals as needed. 

This 90-minute practical and hands-on training session will enable and equip you to ensure the enjoyment of your student activities in a safe and respectful environment.

From working as part of a team to involvement in student clubs to various other activities, there is no lack of opportunities for difficulties to arise in group settings during your academic career! This training session includes theoretical work, role-playing and group discussions with a view to learning the art of communicating within the context of tense or conflictual situations.

This training session will equip you with practical tools in the following areas: 

  • Taking advantage of the strengths of a group by adapting to different personalities;
  • Preventing or defusing conflicts through empathic communication with a focus on common goals; 
  • Approaching delicate or difficult conversations. 

You will learn how effective and respectful communication can exponentially improve your productivity and performance when working as part of a team!

Information videos

Videos

AlgoBalado

The videos are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. You can also watch them on ÉTS Youtube channel.

Sure, we all think that going to university is all about friends, fun and good times. However, since going to university inevitably means a considerable workload, reality is sometimes more like “stooped posture, bags under your eyes and sleep deprivation.”

Even so, with a bit of willpower and some useful tips, it’s possible to lead a balanced life throughout your studies and thereby prevent stress, anxiety and burnout.

Here are five helpful hints:

Plan Meals and Healthy Snacks

“Plan your meals and snacks. Buy food on sale. Cook in larger quantities and freeze the leftovers.” – Catherine Bazinet, nutritionnist at the ÉTS Sports Centre

Jeune femme qui tient des tomates dans ses mains alors qu'elle fait son marchéStart your day on the right foot by taking the time to eat breakfast! After eight to 12 hours without food, the brain’s stores of glucose – its basic fuel – are at their lowest. Breakfast ensures that you refuel and can perform better intellectually.

Enjoy fruits and vegetables at all meals and for snacks. Whether they’re fresh, frozen or canned, fruits and vegetables contain nutrients (vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) that are indispensable to your body running smoothly.

Get Exercise

“Don’t use studying as an excuse not to move around. With exams and coursework, stress levels become difficult to manage, and exercise helps to control stress. Stay active throughout the session and get even more exercise during stressful periods.”  – François Beauregard, kinesiologist-trainer at the ÉTS Sports Centre

Getting daily exercise doesn’t just increase your energy levels. It also helps you deal with stress, increases your concentration abilities, helps you sleep better, strengthens your heart and lungs and makes you feel better in general. Exercising benefits you in every way! So… are you ready to get moving? Check out what the ÉTS Sports Centre has to offer (in French).

Get Enough Sleep

A good night’s sleep is key for your concentration, energy and well-being.

Having trouble sleeping? Here are 10 tips for sound sleep adapted from the Morin method (in French).

Avoid Drinking Too Much Alcohol

The idea is not to avoid alcohol altogether, but to learn how to consume it in moderation. Women are advised not to have more than two drinks a day or 10 drinks a week. It is also important not to drink alcohol while pregnant or nursing.

Men are advised not to drink more than three drinks a day or 15 drinks a week.

Moderation By the Numbers: 2-3-4-0
Educ'alcool
Alcoholics Anonymous

Quit Smoking

If you’re thinking about quitting smoking, you can get tips and support at the toll-free iQuitnow hotline 1-866-527-7383. Hotline support staff can help you find a quit smoking centre near you (at no charge!).

And while you’re at it, why not sign up for the Quit to Win! Challenge?