Referendum: Access to Mental Health Services

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Results

GSA Mental Health Referendum Question 1 – PASSES
Quorum for any referendum question shall be five percent (5%) of all eligible voters.

Option Votes
Yes 1032 (73.3%)
No 375 (26.7%)
VOTER SUMMARY
Total 1485
Abstain 78 (5.3%)

GSA Mental Health Referendum Question 2 – PASSES
Quorum for any referendum question shall be five percent (5%) of all eligible voters.

Option Votes
Yes 723 (53.5%)
No 629 (46.5%)
VOTER SUMMARY
Total 1485
Abstain 133 (9.0%)
Turnout = 1485 (38.6%) of 3852 electors voted in this ballot.
For more information, please contact the Chief Returning Officer (gsacro@mcmaster.ca).

Access to Mental Health Services

Campaign Platforms and Posters

Question 1 *

Yes Campaign           No Campaign

 The CRO received a complaint regarding the conduct of the “Question 1 Yes Campaign” in relation to the GSA referendum on Mental Health Services. Pursuant to the GSA bylaws, the CRO has reviewed the complaint and determined that there has been campaign impropriety. Pursuant to the GSA bylaw the CRO is imposing the sanction set out here.

* The GSA received several complaints regarding the conduct of the No campaign in relation to the GSA referendum on Mental Health Services. Pursuant to the GSA bylaw, the CRO has reviewed the complaints and determined that there has been campaign impropriety. Pursuant to the GSA bylaw the CRO is imposing the sanctions set out here.
The Referenda Appeal Committee has addressed the appeal from the “Question 1 No Campaign Committee, and this document  describes the final decision made by the Referenda Appeal Committee: Referenda_Appeal_Committee_Decision_2017*

Question 2 

Town hall meeting for the discussion of Yes & No campaigns
Time: 12:00 pm
Date: March 31, 2017
Location:BSB 105

Referendum_email_banner_2017_2018

VOTE CALLED FOR APRIL 1, 10 am- ENDING ON APRIL 3, 6 pm

The GSA is asking you to vote on the following two (2) questions regarding access to mental health services for graduate students starting in September 2017. The vote will determine if graduate students opt for access to mental health services at McMasters Student Wellness Centre (SWC), and\or through the Student Assistance Plan (SAP) provided by the Graduate Students Association (GSA) Health and Dental provider.

Question 1
Do you want to pay an additional $23.86* per term ($71.58 per annum [1] (part-time students will pay an additional $11.93 per term ($35.79 per annum)) to access in-person mental health services at the McMaster University Student Wellness Centre?

[Yes or No]

Question 2 
Do you want to pay an additional fee of up to $10 per annum [2] for a Student Assistance Plan provided through the GSA Health and Dental provider, which provides remote (phone call, online) mental health services?

[Yes or No]

The services accessible at the McMaster University Student Wellness Centre (SWC) are: 

  • Access to Psychologist, Counsellors, Mental Health Nurses and wellness education experts in person (along with OHIP billed Psychiatrist and Physicians)
  • Offering a broad range of services including mental health, academic issue and personal issue counselling.
  • Offering in person workshops on a magnitude of issues
  • Offering Graduate-only group counselling sessions [3]

The services accessible from the Student Assistance Plan are:

  • Access to Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers
  • Counselling service available 24-hour/7 day-a-week by phone and or online
  • Offering a broad range of Mental Health Services within the scope of Clinical Counsellors and Registered Social Workers
  • Offering several types of self-evaluation tools available anytime online and relevant time-sensitive content (i.e. tip sheets, messages on stress management) available anytime online

*Further information regarding the referendum questions will be available on the GSA Website shortly.

[1] Currently, graduate students pay $10.09 per term ($30.27$ per annum) to the SWC fees.[2] Currently, graduate students have coverage for $100 per appointment up to a maximum of $400 per annum for counselling services through the Health Plan. Graduate students pay a total fee of $186 per annum for the GSA Health Plan 
[3] Sessions will be available if the minimum number of students required is reached to warrant pulling a counsellor from their one-on-one work.

Documents

Referendum on the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) Bus Pass Agreement with McMaster’s Graduate Students for 2017-2020

The GSA is asking you to vote on the following question regarding the graduate student bus pass fee starting in September 2017.

The vote will determine if graduate students mandate the GSA to sign the 3 years agreements with HSR following the fee increase indicated in the table below or if graduate students will have to pay for their bus passes individually at the full adult rate (should they choose to travel via this method).

Question: Do you agree to pay the following fees for HSR service over the next three years?

2017 – 2018: $232.70 per annum
2018 – 2019: $257.38 per annum
2019 – 2020: 284.40$ per annum
N.B: In the absence of approval of the above fees, graduate will not receive an HSR bus pass at a preferred rate for the three years.
Posted in GSA, Uncategorized.

One Comment

  1. I have a question regarding note 2. It is stated, “[2] Currently, graduate students have coverage for $100 per appointment up to a maximum of $400 per annum for counselling services through the Health Plan.”
    However, on the GSA Health and Dental information page (link provided by GSA website: http://www.studentcare.ca/View.aspx?locale=en&uid=McMasterUniversity_Home& ) it is stated under “psychologists” that “Maximum of $50 per visit and up to $300 per policy year. Referral required.” See link for further details: http://www.studentcare.ca/rte/en/McMasterUniversity_Health_HealthCoverage_HealthPractitioners_Psychologists

    Am I missing the section of the GSA studentcare website that states that Mac Grad Students can claim “$100/appointment up to $400/year”? Or is this an error?

    Thank you for your time!

Comments are closed.