Which units are included in the common consent to share information form and the core collaborative model?
There are four core units at the center of UBC’s wellness support network:
- Centre for Accessibility
- Counselling Services (which includes Wellness Advisors)
- Student Health Service
- The Wellness Centre
With a student’s permission, these units will be able to share relevant information about the student’s physical and mental health when necessary to better assist the student.
To help protect student privacy and maintain a manageable circle of care, wellness professionals from the four core units (Student Health Service, Counselling Services, Centre for Accessibility, and the Wellness Centre) will be the only individuals with access to relevant student wellness information as consented to on the common consent to share information form. All other advising units will continue to follow their existing student confidentiality procedures and commitments.
What kinds of professional development opportunities are being provided to ensure cultural competency among wellness staff with regard to working with international, Aboriginal, and graduate students?
To date, a core group of approximately 60 wellness professionals have received specific cultural competency training from UBC experts in international student wellness, Aboriginal student wellness, and graduate student wellness. Key takeaways from these sessions will continue to be communicated to staff and faculty across the university as professional development sessions are carried out throughout the next year.
What kinds of tools will be available to students online?
Online self-help resources on students.ubc.ca/health-wellness are being expanded to better assist students in their self care. These resources will be in the form of apps, interactive modules, videos, articles and handouts. In addition, therapist-assisted online therapy will soon be offered to help students access the appropriate level of support.
What will the new, expanded Wellness Centre look like and where will it be located?
The new Wellness Centre will have two components: a digital space, through which students can access self-help resources online; and a physical space, the location of which is still being determined. The physical Wellness Centre will be an inviting and accessible place for all UBC students. It will include the following features:
- Comfortable furniture for students to study, spend time with friends, and relax
- Warm, friendly faces, such as those of the Wellness Peers and other students
- An open environment that features activities and programming for all students
- A natural flow of traffic into and out of the Centre
- Relaxing and private areas near the back of the Centre for students who may be struggling or in need of time alone
- Wellness Advisors and Wellness Peers to assist students with mental health and wellbeing concerns
- A hub of wellness advice and professional information
The new Wellness Centre will be designed to reduce any stigma associated with seeking help, and students may have multiple reasons for entering the Centre. It will also be closely tied to related online resources, encouraging student resilience and proactivity.
Currently, the existing Wellness Centre continues to operate out of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre as before. It provides trained student peer support, safer sex products, tips and trick for students to have the best UBC experience possible, and a connection to other health and wellness resources on campus.
You may continue to monitor facultystaff.students.ubc.ca for information about the full launch of the expanded Wellness Centre and the wellness support network in the coming months.
How does the Early Alert system work alongside the new wellness support network?
Early Alerts can be entered by UBC staff and faculty as before. Please refer to the green folder for any emergency procedures.
Under the new collaborative stepped care model, students referred to wellness resources through the Early Alert tool will have more immediate access to support services. Early Alert cases will be directed into the collaborative stepped care model of service, through which they will be invited to create a wellness plan personalized to their unique needs and goals. This model will provide a broader range of support to students, as well as a more effective approach to resolving mental health and wellbeing concerns.