Your guide to thrive: 8 ways to balance health, wellness and university life this year
UM offers a variety of student support services to help you succeed
Navigating university life can be both exciting and challenging. Taking care of your health and well-being while juggling course work, pursuing a social life and managing the costs of living can be a tricky balancing act. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone: UM offers a variety of resources to help you succeed. Here are 8 tips for creating your own personal wellness plan and your guide to UM’s Student Support services.
1. Prioritize your mental and physical health, however that looks for you.
University Health Service (UHS) has clinics on both campuses that provide access to medical care, while the Student Counselling Centre (SCC) provides free individual and couples counselling and workshops and groups on a variety of helpful topics. Health and Wellness empowers you to take control of your own health by encouraging you to build healthy habits, connect with a Healthy U peer health educator or attend regular events like pet therapy. They are also UM’s distribution site for the Take Home Naloxone program.
Move your body and have some fun by activating your membership to UM’s sport and recreation facilities. If meditation or joining a drum circle are more your style, join one of the sessions offered though the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre.
If you are a student or resident in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Student Services at Bannatyne campus is your one-stop shop to connect to get the support and referrals you need.
2. Take steps to feel more financially secure
UM’s Financial Aid and Awards office is the place to go for information about scholarships and bursaries. If you’re in financial need, don’t forget to apply for the UM General Bursary by October 1!
The office provides information on government student loans and coordinates the university’s emergency loan program for those who find themselves in immediate need of financial support. You can also apply for the Work-study program to find part-time, on-campus employment, or stop by the Student Food Bank, which can help offset the cost of groceries during tough times.
3. Get set up with the accommodations you need
UM is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive community for all students. If you require academic accommodations or accessibility supports, make sure you connect with Student Accessibility Services. Find out more about accessibility on our campuses, including information on service disruptions, transportation services, and accessible and gender-inclusive washrooms.
4. Seek support if you’re navigating challenging situations
If you need urgent support, UM offers brief, same-day crisis counselling and emergency services to students in very high distress during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) If it’s outside of office hours, consider contacting a 24/7 off-campus crisis resource.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would benefit from support, the Sexual Violence Resource Centre can help you assess your needs, explore your options and figure out next steps. They also provide education and training on healthy relationships, consent, responding to disclosures of sexual violence and more.
If anything in your personal or academic life is affecting your studies, Student Advocacy and Case Management can be of assistance. They help you navigate university processes and advocate for your rights as a student at UM.
5. Connect with your community on campus and access supports designed specifically for you
There are many ways to make connections at UM. Whether you are looking for other students who share your interests, or places to go for community events and resources, there is a student centre, group, or information hub for you.
Examples include the Indigenous Student Centre, International Centre, UM Commons for new students and UM Black Alliance. UM’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community page lists services, resources and ways to connect with like-minded people and allies. The Interfaith Student Coalition brings students who represent diverse world-views and spiritual traditions together to engage and find common ground.
6. Explore UM’s wellness spaces
UM has a variety of spaces you can access to rest, recharge and connect in quieter ways. The Student Wellness Centre on the Fort Garry campus is a calm and cozy place that includes a lounge, a private self-regulation station and a wellness library. Healthy U peer health educators and Health and Wellness staff are available to provide a listening ear or referrals to other support services, should you need to connect.
The Bannatyne and Fort Garry campuses both feature sacred spaces where people of various spiritual beliefs can go to find a quiet spot. This includes a Muslim Prayer Room on each campus, a Circle Room at Migizii Agamik on the Fort Garry campus and the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre in UMSU University Centre.
Outdoors, Mashkiki Gitigaan, the Medicine Garden of Indigenous Learning at the Bannatyne Campus, is a welcoming place for people to meet, share and learn about the importance of traditional knowledge and medicines. On the Fort Garry campus, a Garden for Well-being is in-development along the Red River. When it opens, it will provide opportunities for self-reflection, contemplation and connecting with the land, in a safe, accessible and sustainable space.
7. Set yourself up for academic success
Health, well-being and academic success are closely linked. If you need an academic advisor to help point you in the right direction, want to meet with a tutor or take a workshop to enhance your skills, or want some advice for figuring out your career journey, UM offers a variety of academic supports to help you along the way.
8. Be in the know about what’s happening on campus and beyond
UM regularly shares information, opportunities and stories related to health, wellness and student supports through various communications channels. UM Today has a network page specifically for students. The Student Weekly e-Newsletter is delivered every Tuesday for undergrads and Thursday for grads, straight to your UM email. You can also follow our UM Student Instagram and UM Student TikTok accounts for fun and informative content.
Still curious about student supports? Find all the details on the Student Supports webpage and the Student Health and Wellness webpage.