Supporting your student’s health and wellness
UBC is committed to fostering the health and wellbeing of our campus community and offers a number of resources and programs to support your student whether they are studying on-campus or in a virtual environment.
On-campus resources
Located in the University Centre, Student Wellness offers both a student health clinic as well as counselling services. Details on how to book an appointment are available online or by phone at 250-807-9270.
Some types of appointments are available online, in-person, or over the phone. Student Wellness is currently not accepting any walk-in appointments.
It is critical that your student knows how and when to access support, wherever they are studying from. Learn more about our approach to counselling, self-help resources, crisis lines, and mental health support.
For many students, this may be the first time they have to manage appointments themselves. Parents, family members, and supporters should help students learn how to access the resources and services available at UBCO.
Health insurance
Good health starts with making sure that your student has up-to-date health insurance. Please refer to our health insurance resources:
- BC Medical Services Plan: The British Columbia (BC) government Medical Services Plan (BC MSP) is a mandatory public health insurance plan for everyone who lives in BC for six months or longer.
- Extended Health and Dental Plan: The Students’ Union Okanagan of UBC (SUO of UBC) has partnered with StudentCare to provide students with extended health and dental coverage.
- International students can refer to health insurance for international students, for more information.
In addition to the services offered by Health and Wellness, the SUO of UBC offers counselling through their external partner Third Space Life Charity.
Wellness Centre Online
All students can enrol in UBC Okanagan’s Wellness Centre Online – a free Canvas space for students to access up-to-date health education and information, access tips and strategies for wellbeing, and learn more about health-related resources on- and off-campus. Students can participate in groups, workshops, and webinars to ensure that they thrive while attending UBC.
Thrive 5 tips for student wellness
Ensuring your students are making time to look after the non-academic aspects of their lives will help them concentrate and succeed in their learning. Research consistently points to five ways to promote a healthy, balanced life.
At UBC, we call these pillars the “Thrive 5”: move more, sleep soundly, eat well, give back, and say hi.
Learn more about how your student can achieve the Thrive 5.
Move more
Incorporating activity into each day can help manage stress and boost your mood. UBCO Recreation provides plenty of opportunities for every student to move more through on-campus events, off-campus events, and more.
Sleep soundly
Encourage your student to establish sound sleep routines to get better quality rest. If your student is struggling with sleep, recognize that sleep disturbances are often indicative of mental health challenges and encourage them to access the Wellness Centre Online for strategies.
Eat well
No matter where your students are studying, encourage them to eat foods to fuel their minds. Consider letting them know about initiatives on campus, like free breakfast at PICNIC. UBCO also offers dietician drop-in services and dietician support on the Nutrislice app.
Many students will be cooking and planning meals on their own for the first time. You can help by creating a meal plan and grocery lists for September to make the transition easier.
Give back
Students can explore their interests and enhance their experience by getting involved or by joining a club or course union. Students who are involved tend to have a more fulfilling campus experience and tend to have a wider support network in times of need.
Say “hi”
Stay connected with others! Your student is not alone, remind them to keep in touch with their supporters and the UBCO community.
