The Health and Wellness Clinic provides students with the necessary information to make healthy choices in life that will help students improve their academic success.
The Health and Wellness Clinic has different programs and events throughout the year to help students who have concerns about alcohol, drugs, relationships, fitness, nutrition, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and stress.
Most of these events take place in the Event Center located in the Student Center building of the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
The events start in October with Alcohol Awareness Week that is dedicated to educate students on the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol including underage drinking, impaired driving and the effects of binge drinking.
The next event is in November called The Great American Smoke Out and this is where students can learn how to quit smoking.
Tobacco cessation assistance is provided to students during the event and also quit kits are given to students containing nicotine gum and stress relievers.
“A lot of people smoke because they are stressed so it becomes a habit,” said Tatiana Burton, Health Promotion Specialist at the clinic.
“Those students looking to quit, they can come see me and I can help them with it,” said Burton.
Students can also benefit from individualized sessions for tobacco cessation at no cost.
During the months of December and June, free HIV testing is offered to students by the Utah Health Department.
In February students can get information about safe sex during Sex Responsibility Week.
“A lot of people have misconceptions about doing stuff [sex precautions] improperly,” said Burton.
Contraceptives, birth control and different information about healthy sex are also provided to students during the event.
A different event is also available to students called Heart Health where students can get free blood pressure screenings and cholesterol coupons.
“We educate students on risk factors for heart disease and how important it is to start protecting themselves early,” Burton said.
Distress Fest happens in April with stress management tips provided to students.
“It’s a space to come and distress,” said Burton.
Several tables are set up with information to relieve stress such as meditation and yoga. Chair massages, coloring tables, game tables, and puzzle tables are also available for students at this event.
Another event is the Sleep Hygiene event where students can ask questions to the Sleep Wake Experts from the University of Utah and get advice on how to get better quality of sleep.
“We have nap rooms and love sacks,” said Burton. “Students can come and take naps.”This event has been very popular and students requested to have this event every year.
There is also a Healthy Lifestyles Program and it is available to students all year round. Students can get advice on fitness and nutrition.”We equipped them with the skills to know what’s healthy to eat and also their limits with exercising and how far to push,” said Burton.
Students can go to the Health and Wellness Clinic and get these services at their own convenience but the earlier students get help the better.
“It’s better to prevent than to treat,” said Burton.
These specific events are planned based on the results of many surveys taken by students on campus and surveys taken from The American College Health Association by many schools in the United States. The surveys show the top ten academic impediments that slow student’s academic success and stress is the number one impediment every year.
“I like to help people help themselves, to see improvement in their lives, to see the success that they have,” said Burton. “For example, with tobacco cessation, to see them overcome a habit they’ve had for 30 years, it’s overwhelming.”
“We provide these events so students can have better academic success, promote healthy lifestyles and to help them stay in school,” said Burton.