Ben Costen photo Marie Ogbumor prays at the Nepean Community Bible Study on Jan. 25, one of the local prayer groups available to Algonquin students.

When Marcus Frazer was 11-years-old, his brother committed suicide. The trauma of the event would have left him “totally lost” had he not been able to talk through his troubles with someone.

Now 21, and in his third year of applied museum studies, he often meets with Rev. Lee McNaughton at Campus Ministries.

CM is just one of the counselling services Algonquin students can consult when they confront hardships in their life. But most would never have made it to college had they not spoken with someone, be it a counsellor, doctor, family member or friend.

Frazer moved from Holstein, a Mennonite community, and was alone in Ottawa. CM has allowed him to make some friends and get back on his feet after his brother's death. Frazer takes comfort from the thought that there is someone you can learn from during times of sadness.

"If God wasn't my centre, then schooling would be impossible. I would not be able to focus," he said.

Christianne Serson, now 20, and in her second year of police foundations, met with a sexual assault counsellor when she was 16.

“It was definitely a positive experience,” said Serson of talking with a counsellor. She met with the Times in hopes that others to may learn from her experience, that positive help is available.

She learned that she could cope with the stresses in her life by painting and drawing expressive art. Serson also recommends exercise - it helps work out the frustration, or breathing exercises, while focusing on a single colour, when intensive exercise is out of the question.

“More than medication, the counselling helped,” said Serson.

She thinks that Algonquin students, a lot of them being younger, might be unprepared for the responsibility of being self-driven.

“They think it’s going to be a big game, but they get here, and it’s not.”

“I wouldn’t be at college right now,” if she hadn’t received counselling, Serson said. She would have stayed in the same circle of thoughts, suffering from a lack of motivation, anxiety, depression, and an overall lack of guidance in her life.

Open Doors, which specializes in youth counselling, helped her to overcome her fears and live a more social life.

Serson has changed her mind and would like to be a child youth worker instead of continuing in police foundations. She wants to work with children - which she sees as a way of giving back to those who helped her through her tough times.

Emily Blondeau, 22, in her first year of office administration, met with a grief counsellor as a child when her mother died and has also consulted Algonquin’s counselling services.

“People don’t realize counselling is nothing to be ashamed of,” Blondeau said. “It’s always good to talk with someone.”

It’s important to know what you need help with when you go to a counsellor, and that a counsellor is primarily there to listen to you, Blondeau said, wanting students to avoid frustration. They can recommend specialized counsellors if necessary, or help you decide who you need to talk with if you’re not sure.

Jeffrey Agate of counselling services agrees. More serious cases, such as anorexia, for example, are referred to the Ottawa General Hospital - which has specialized counselling available, as well as the medical care required.

Blondeau understands that many who might need counselling don’t seek it because they’re afraid the counsellor might not be able to help them. The indecisiveness that accompanies depression might also make students anxious about telling all their problems to a stranger.

But sometimes no one else is better able to understand you.

When you can’t help yourself, and your family doesn’t understand your situation, you need to look for alternatives, Blondeau said.

“[Algonquin’s counselling services] are good to help you cope, and talk you through your problems,” but they’re more focused on helping you get by through your years at Algonquin, not curing your issue, she said.

For that, a specialized counsellor would be needed.

If Blondeau hadn't talked with counsellors then she would have been "too closed in." She lived in fear and needed to reach out and talk with someone. She feels less alone now and is more open-minded about her options in life, she said.

Adam Fulford, 25, and in his first year of radio broadcasting has talked with counsellors, doctors, a psychiatrist, and has visited the centre for students with disabilities at Algonquin.

Fulford has had to deal with a learning disability since he was a child, and panic attacks since he was eight. He has suffered from a lack of motivation and dropped out of high school for a time.

He wishes that before prescribing Ritalin, his psychiatrist would have been more meticulous about its side effects.

"You're giving speed to children," said Fulford.

"How many brain cells did it kill?" he wondered, even though the drug eased his panic attacks and allowed him to focus on his homework.

Fulford began abusing drugs as he got older. Ritalin had made him tolerant to speed, he said.

It was when he started having meetings once a month with his doctor that Fulford's life began to change.

"I showed him my soul," said Fulford. His doctor knew everything about his life so he didn't feel the need to conceal any facts.

Just being able to talk with someone of stature who would give their time to Fulford helped.

From being addicted to drugs and dropping out of high school, Fulford is now in college, is getting good marks, and is in two successful bands. He's happier with life.

"People need someone to talk to without any boundaries," Fulford said.

The straight talk with his doctor helped Fulford realize that most of the harm in his life was self-inflicted.

He might have figured that out on his own, he said, but it would have taken him longer to make it to college.

"It's scary, when you look around at your friends. You see if you don't sober up you might be in jail or dead in 10 years."

He still tells his doctor everything.