One of the most over looked things in a college students’ life is their health. Moving to a new city, adjusting to living away from your family, and keeping up with a heavy work load is a lot to deal with that often no one takes time out to see how it is affecting their mind and body, which can lead to some serious health issues.

Fortunately, the Student Health Services at Boston University have created the Office of Wellness and Preventative Services, which offers a series of different programs designed to make students aware of different health issues that they may face while in college, how to handle them, and the different resources available at BU that can further help them.

The goal of the Office of Wellness and Preventative Services is to “strive to support students’ physical and emotional well-being in a variety of ways.”

In an interview with Katharine Mooney, a recent graduate from the School of Public Health and the new Wellness coordinator at SHS, she told me about the different programs and resources that would be most beneficial to incoming freshman and current students.

Stress Buddy
The Stress Buddy program was created by the Student Health Ambassadors, so it was created for students by students. It is a 45 minute workshop that focuses on teaching students how to identify stress and their triggers and how to manage stress with tip on relaxation, exercise, healthy eating, and on campus resources. Student groups, dorm floors, or even a group of friends can request a stress buddy’s workshop for their group whenever they feel that they need a stress relief session, such as before midterms or finals!

The Wellness Blog
The Wellness Blog has been up for two and a half years and it is a plethora of information! The blog has post written by students and doctors on various health issues such as substance abuse and sexual health. There are also podcast that deal with managing anxiety and how to get a good night of sleep. This is a one stop place filled with helpful resources on just about any medical issue that a college student might face!

There are even more programs provided by the Office of Wellness and Preventative Services, for more information go to their website, email them at wellness@bu.edu, or call 617.353.3575.

A special message from Katharine Mooney to the class of 2016

Welcome to Boston University, Class of 2016! As you transition into your new life at BU, remember that many of us are here to support you when you feel homesick, stressed out, frustrated with a roommate, concerned about a friend, or anxious about exams. Reach out to your RA, your professors, and my colleagues at Student Health Services. We look forward to meeting you!

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