If you've ever walked past the Founders Plaza on Wednesdays and purchased a fruit from the friendly Farmer's Market, you've officially made use of the many services offered by UB's Student Wellness Team.
With the stress of studying, the joys of partying, and all the fast food in easy reach, college students tend to forget about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
UB's Wellness Team are taking charge and changing that.
Comprised of Student Health Services, Wellness Education Services, and Counseling Services, the team encourages healthy behaviors through a supportive environment and offers services designed to better students' lives. With a goal to help students feel good and to improve their college performance, they present programs, as well as featured events and workshops to all registered UB students.
The Wellness Education Services office is located at 114 Student Union. The atmosphere, removed from the chaotic SU, attempts to embody relaxation so students can use the space to unwind and attend de-stressing programs.
Also, Michael Hall located at South Campus houses an office so that students on both campuses have the opportunity to use the facilities at their leisure. More often than not, students need an area that has little to no cell-phone reception so that they can take a quick break from their wired life.
The Wellness Center is attempting to help reduce that number by providing classes that promote a smoke-free atmosphere.
According to abovetheinfluence's web site, smoking is proven to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. More than 440,000 Americans die from tobacco-related causes each year, most of these begin using tobacco before the age of 18.
Also, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, each year.
Lastly, the Centers for Disease Control report that 30.2 percent of college students have used marijuana in the past year.
Each year alcohol, tobacco, and drug use rates are increasing, and our college campus is offering as much as it can to stop this number from becoming higher.
The Wellness Team offers UB students a variety of health programs to choose from.
On Mondays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there are ‘Quit Smoking Clinics.' ‘Snacking Tuesdays' occur every week from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and provides students with a tasty treat dedicated to the day. Fluid movement yoga is offered each Tuesday from 4:40 p.m. to 6 p.m. in 271 Richmond Quad, and is followed by a Modern Arnis Class from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
For those who live on South Campus there is no need to trek all the way over to North Campus facilities. Each Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. there is ‘A Time To Relax' in 309 Michael Hall.
Prince Smith, a senior electrical engineering major, has been working for the Wellness Center for three years and encourages students to take advantage of the services.
"Most of [the services] are things that most people would pay $20 an hour for, but we can get them for free," Smith said. "I've used the nutritionist, and I have gone to lots of programs, and it's definitely benefitted me."
As professors start assigning more challenging work and with first exams right around the corner, it is normal to begin feeling stressed. The Wellness Center offers massages on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment.
"The wellness center is a great place to just relax, they're always trying to educate and [to] relieve the stress of everyday [life], and it's just a place to chill," said Shelley Hain, a licensed massage therapist and a dance professor at UB, who got involved with the Wellness Center around eight years ago. "I recommend it totally to students," Hain said, "once you find it, you come back over and over."
The UB Wellness Team promotes mental, physical, and emotional health in students. So grab a fruit from the market or join one of the classes offered and take advantage of the many health services UB provides.
Email: features@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Tracey Drury
