Feeling sick? Don’t go to WesWELL, the University’s Health Education Office.
According to Director of Health Education Lisa Currie, there has historically been a great deal of confusion distinguishing between WesWELL and Health Services.
The WesWELL office used to be located in Hewitt 8 before space opened up on the second floor of the main Health Services building. Even when the offices were completely separated, however, there was some confusion. Now, according to Currie, she gets several phone calls a day from students attempting to set up medical exam appointments and occasionally even a call for the Office of Behavioral Health.
“If a student wishes to see a medical provider, Health Services is the place to go,” Currie said. “Since I’m not medically trained, students really don’t want me doing an exam on them.”
WesWELL, a division of University Health Services, is designed to promote awareness surrounding healthier lifestyle choices. It is not treatment, but rather education aimed at preventing the need for treatment.
It creates a presence on campus through educational workshops, awareness activities, flyer campaigns, shows, and skits. These include the annual Unspeakable Acts event during Orientation, the Sexual Health Expo in the spring, speakers, and the Stress Free Zone during finals week.
WesWELL’s online listing of “Wellness A to Z” includes tips on issues from alcohol and drug use to homesickness and spirituality. WesWELL provides safer sex supplies and not-for-credit personal enrichment classes including yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, self-defense, and CPR.
In addition to visible efforts, WesWELL does behind-the-scenes work with Resident Advisors at the beginning of each school year to highlight its resources and is involved in advocating campus policies on sexual health awareness, alcohol, and drugs. WesWELL was one of the driving forces behind the University’s decision to prohibit indoor smoking just a few years ago.
WesWELL often works with student organizations running programs related to health education, such as global AIDS awareness and breast cancer campaigns.
“Pooling resources helps to make events bigger and better,” said Nick Benacerraf ’08, a past member of WesWELL student staff. As community outreach coordinator, Benacerraf’s job included contacting student groups relevant to health awareness and inviting them to set up tables at WesWELL events.
“Peer Health Advocates are always looking for student organizations to collaborate with on health issues,” Currie said.
Most of all, WesWELL seeks to provide students with the tools and resources to make their own decisions.
“I’m all about putting tools inside people’s toolboxes,” Currie said. “If I can give students the tools they need to make an informed choice, then I’ve done my job.”
WesWELL has drop-in office hours Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open during the evenings by request or appointment. The office can be reached at 860-685-2466, and students are encouraged to visit the WesWELL Resource Library, which contains a large collection of books, videos, periodicals, and brochures on health and wellness issues.
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