Bella and Wilson, caring canines to visit Okanagan College (Photo credit: Okanagan College)

By Vernon Matters Staff

Caring canines

Lovable dogs visit students to boost mental health

Jan 24, 2024 | 7:00 AM

A pair of people-loving dogs will soon be the center of everyone’s attention at Okanagan College.

Bella and Wilson are therapy dogs, and a regular part of the mental health supports that OC students receive. This week they will be at OC as part of the College’s efforts to support students with several initiatives taking place including the annual Bell Let’s Talk fundraising campaign, Jan. 24

“The therapy dogs are amazing and provide our students with so much stress relief that it is really impactful to have them at OC. Our goal is to support students… providing a variety of different ways for students to deal with stress and mental health issues is one way we do that,” James Coble, OC’s Dean of Students, said.

Bella’s owner and OC staff member Heather Thompson expressed her excitement at having Bella visit the College.

“Getting to spend time with Bella brings the students so much joy,” Thompson said. “They are all experiencing different stresses of life and it is great to give them a chance to relax and unwind by stopping to pet her and the other therapy dogs. I always love seeing the change that the dogs create in people’s days everywhere we go.”

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Other mental health supports for OC students include counseling services, which are free and confidential for all OC students. Counsellors provide short-term counselling related to personal, mental health, career and academic challenges.

For students facing additional challenges, OC counselling team members can help make connections to local mental health services in the community. Students also have access to closed support groups run by OC counsellors.

OC staff and students at the Kelowna campus can attend the Bell Let’s talk day event on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 10:30 a.m.to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Services Lower Lounge. Students can enjoy warm beverages, visit the therapy dogs and chat with OC counsellors and the peer support group students.