ABOUT US

In response to the pandemic, the work of our Campus Health team shifted, alongside our university colleagues and students, to online formats. The focus of our activities was driven by student needs and delivered in ways to reach students where ever they were residing.

The Party Culture Working Group, spear-headed by Campus Health and co-led with students, met monthly (via Zoom) to discuss the challenges that the pandemic presented for students in relation to maintaining social connections, and to identify ways to support safe, low-risk, inclusive social activities both on and off campus.

Campus Health collaborated with campus partners to develop a proposal for transition to a smoke-free campus.  Information about tobacco use, the increased COVID-associated risks with smoking, and smoking cessation was shared using our social media channels.

Campus Health teamed up with students to develop a vision for a physical food hub and forged partnerships, both internal and external, to support programming, service delivery and additional opportunities for improving student food security.

For more – download the report

Campus Health supported UBC’s Healthy Beverage Initiative by hosting events to promote tap water and advocating for a trial to limit sales of sugar-sweetened beverages in some vending machines.

The Campus Health team, in collaboration with campus partners, led the planning and launch of a exercise referral pilot program to provide a low barrier opportunity for students to explore physical activity options to improve their mental and physical health.

During 2019-2020, we focused efforts on increasing opioid overdose prevention awareness and gained support of campus stakeholders for expanded harm reduction services on campus. Pilot initiatives such as drug-checking at Frosh 2019 and a “show-and-tell” of drug-checking equipment received positive feedback from students and strong support for this service on campus. Campus Health also supported student led efforts to increase awareness of the health effects of vaping, and distribute educational materials related to vaping, smoking and cannabis use.  We also increased awareness of smoking cessation resources and provided free cessation aids to students.

COVID-19 provided new opportunities to promote student wellbeing. Campus Health, along with campus partners, developed “Wellness Centre: Online,” a resource for students to access health and wellbeing information at home. In addition, with the  assistance of nursing students and the Jack Chapter, we created social media content on how to care for one’s mental health and wellbeing with links to evidence-based, online support resources.

For more – download the report

Campus Health was involved in consultations related to this UBC policy. Policy #131 – Sexual Assault and other Sexual Misconduct was approved by the Board of Governors on April 13, 2017 and took effect on May 18, 2017.

During the 2018-2019 academic year, several campus partners noted an increase in risky behaviours at parties held at UBCO, which fostered a culture of overconsumption, rape culture, and toxic masculinity. Campus Health supported a team of students to investigate this issue and understand from key stakeholders how we may improve the culture of partying at UBCO.

A significant development this year was the legalization of recreational cannabis (October 17, 2018). As part of the consultation process, the Campus Health team submitted feedback on proposed amendments to UBC Policy #15 (released October 4, 2018) related to cannabis use on campus.

Campus Health partnered with Students for Healthy Alternative and Risk Prevention (SHARP), a student club on campus, and nursing students to provide opioid awareness and naloxone training. Campus Health also had the opportunity to train the Emergency First Response Team on campus. Over the 2018-2019 academic year, over 1000 students, staff, and faculty were trained on understanding opioids, how to recognize an overdose and how to administer naloxone. In addition, 352 kits were given out.

For more – download the report.

Campus Health presented the VOICE 4 results about how our campus environment impacts student mental wellbeing to several key groups on campus.

The 2nd annual Golden Apple Award was held this year. Students nominated 65 professors and instructors and 14 were presented with an award. These awards have begun to influence the value that faculty place on their role in fostering wellbeing-supporting classroom environments at UBCO.

Sexual health is always an important topic with students. A group of four nursing students partnered with us in the fall to create a guidebook for resident advisors to use when talking with students about sexual health topics.

Efforts this year focused on opioid overdose awareness and the legalization of recreational cannabis. Groups of nursing students partnered with Campus Health to engage with the campus community to seek opinions, attitudes, values and concerns related to both cannabis and opioids.

For more – download the report.

The Golden Apple Awards was a student led initiative to acknowledge and honour professors and instructors for their efforts to promote and increase wellbeing in the classroom setting. 54 professors and instructors were nominated and presented an award.

Our substance use interventions usually focus on reducing alcohol risk and promoting low risk marijuana use. This year the priority became the fentanyl explosion and the declaration of a public health emergency related to overdoses. Campus Health organized social media blitz, poster campaign and at booths to educate the students about fentanyl.

Food insecurity was also a major topic of interest for students this year. Two student cookbooks were produced in addition to a resource to assist students with budgeting with a meal plan card. Campus Health also collaborated with the Nutrition Education Centre during Nutrition Month to communicate healthy eating tips to students.

For more – download the report.

The Campus Health team developed a formalized volunteer program beginning January 2016. With the assistance of the three student staff, six training modules were developed (population health/community development, food, mental health, sexual health, substance use, and sustainability) and used to train 25 students.

Thrive Week (promoting positive mental health for all) continues to expand and grow. This year six nursing students joined in our efforts with Thrive week. This term more than 40 faculty members engaged with us, with a student reach of over 2000.

Initiatives related to smoking this year included participation in National Non-Smoking Week. This included activating a large social media initiative and hosting booths around campus (and providing information and quit kits).

For more – download the report.