With Orientation and Frosh events coming up, we wanted to make sure to share resources to ensure everyone has a safe time while out having fun!
Harm Reduction and Physical Safety:
The fall is also a great time to enjoy the city with your friends. We wanted to share with you a few services and resources that might be of help to you. Some of the services in this list focus on physical safety, while others are oriented towards harm prevention and harm reduction.
The beginning of the semester means Frosh, orientation, back to school parties and more! Below are some resources to help you stay safe while still enjoying campus events and Montreal nightlife!
Late Nights and Emergencies
Security Services
For most issues on campus, contact McGill Security directly
Email: campus.security@mcgill.ca
General Inquiries: 514-398-4556
Emergencies: 514-398-3000
Walksafe – walksafe.ssmu.ca – +1 (514) 398-8040
SSMU WALKSAFE is a volunteer service run and supported by students at McGill University. WALKSAFE volunteers accompany students to and from any location in the City of Montreal so they don’t have to walk alone!
Drivesafe – drivesafe.ssmu.ca – (514) 398-8040
DriveSafe is a SSMU service whose volunteers drive students home safely from anywhere on the Island of Montreal for free. Services are available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM, and at special events like Frosh.
Frosh Street Teams is a community safety & harm reduction group organized by the SSMU External Affairs Office. During Frosh, volunteers trained in de-escalation and harm reduction circulate in Milton-Parc providing aid to Froshies and community members. To learn more about Street Teams or to sign up for volunteering, visit externalaffairs.ssmu.ca/c-a-r-e-agreement/ or contact the VP External at external@ssmu.ca.
MSERT – msert.ca – 514-398-3000
The McGill Student Emergency Response Team is a student-run volunteer service, supported by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). Look out for MSERT volunteers at all sorts of events this year!
Health, Wellness and more
McGill Student Wellness Hub – mcgill.ca/wellness-hub
The Wellness Hub provides urgent care walk-in, doctors, nurses, dentists, pap tests, STI tests, immunization, sick notes, for McGill students. McGill student ID is required, and services are offered in English and French.
The UGE – ugecollective@gmail.com
The Union for Gender Empowerment is a SSMU service, and their resources are also available to the wider Montreal community. A number of care products such as pregnancy tests, dental dams, condoms, and gender affirming products are available (PWYC) through their co-op program
The Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education – mcgill.ca/osvrse – (514) 398-3954
OSVRSE provides confidential, non-judgmental and non-directional support to those who have been impacted by sexual or gender-based violence. They offer support to all members of the McGill community (students, faculty, and staff).
Head & Hands – headandhands.ca
Medical clinic, STI testing, counselling, abortion referral, pregnancy tests, contraception, free condoms, hormone treatment program for trans-identified clients and more.Ages 12-25 only. Call or email to make an appointment.
Safer Drug Use
Cactus Montréal – cactusmontreal.org/
Cactus Montreal offers free, anonymous and confidential drug testing in a matter of minutes. They also distribute and offer safe disposal for inhalation and injection equipment.
Their safer consumption services also offer a safe and hygienic environment where people who inject drugs can consume under the supervision of qualified personnel.
GRIP Montréal
The GRIP is a drug use intervention and research group based in Montreal. They offer free drug testing services, naloxone kits, workshops and much more. Look out for their iconic van at events around Montreal!
Mental Health Resources
The start of the semester can be a truly exciting time for the McGill community as students return to campus life to start another year! However, it is completely normal for students to also feel overwhelmed and stressed by all the different activities going on and the changes in their lives during this time. In light of this, we wanted to provide a non-exhaustive list of mental health resources that will help you find the support and help you need!
McGill Peer Support Centre – https://psc.ssmu.ca/ – 514-398-3782
The McGill Peer Support Centre provides confidential, non-judgmental active listening sessions to the student body, free of charge 11 AM to 5 PM on weekdays. Students helping students!
Nightline – https://nightline.ssmu.ca/
Nightline is a student run resource that provides confidential, non-judgmental listening services over the phone or chat to the McGill community and beyond. If you have anything you’d like to discuss between 6:00pm and 3:00am you can call Nightline!
Call: 514-398-6246
Telus Health Student Support App – https://myssp.app/ca/home
Previously known as Keepmesafe, The Telus Health Student Support App provides 24/7 unlimited support by mental health professionals to McGill Students in over 30+ different languages.
Suicide Prevention Centre of Montreal (previously known as Suicide Action Montréal)
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or significant distress, please reach out to trained mental health professionals at SPCM for emergency services or counselling regarding the topic of suicide. You are not alone, reaching out can save lives.
Call: 1-866-277-3553
Chat: https://suicide.ca/en
Text: 535353
