Health, Wellness and Safety
As a graduate student during this unprecedented time, your wellbeing is of the utmost importance. Ensuring you are making time to look after the non-academic aspects of your life will help you concentrate and succeed in your learning. Taking care of yourself, normalizing challenges, and being aware of resources that are available to you are important parts of having a successful experience at UBC. Visit UBC Okanagan Health & Wellness to find tips, resources and in-person support open to all students.
Urgent Crisis and Support
A crisis can be caused by events such as physical or emotional injury or illness, thoughts of suicide, harassment or discrimination, worries about your safety, substance misuse, violence, or academic failure.
- Health & Wellness is available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call 250 807 9270 and alert the person you speak with about your concerns to ensure you can be seen immediately.
- Security can be reached outside of these hours at 250 807 8111
- If your situation feels urgent, call 911
- Crisiscentre BC (1-800-784-2433): If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or at risk of harm, call or chat online with a crisis responder at any time.
- “People in Need” crisis line is available 24/7: 1 888 353 CARES (2273)
- Kelowna General Hospital is located on 2268 Pandosy Street, Kelowna and provides 24-hour emergency care
Online Resources
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 686868.
Canada Suicide Prevention Services offers texting and chat support: Text 45645 or Chat
Helping a friend
If you are a student who is concerned about another student, reach out and offer support using this guide of steps and resources, provided by UBC Vancouver. Please reach out to staff or faculty to assist you.
Any community member can also reach out to the Community Response Team at Interior Health, available daily 11:30 am-9:00 pm and by phone at 250-212-8533. This team of trained professionals are available to the Kelowna community to assess anyone that a community member raises concerns about.
For more information about topics such as sexual assault, drug overdose, or helping a friend in need, click here.
Counselling and Mental Health
Student Counselling
- UBCO counsellors are available for virtual and telephone appointments. Please call 250 807 9270 to schedule an online appointment. Walk-in service is not currently available.
- All students have access to free, confidential counselling and community referral services through Here2Talk.
- The UBCOSUO extended benefits include coverage for personal counselling. To access a personal counsellor in the Central Okanagan, try BCACC counsellors.
- Kelowna Community Response Team (CRT): available daily from 11:30 am to 9:00 pm and can be reached at 250 212 8533. If you are concerned about someone, you can call this team and anonymously report your concerns about the individual and this team (nurses and social workers) will follow-up.
- Third Space Charity offers free supportive virtual and in-person counselling to students of UBCO.
- Connect Counselling and Therapy Society
- Reach out Youth Counselling and Family Services
- Kelowna Mental Health/Foundry
Self-care, online
Here2Talk provides confidential counselling and community referral services in multiple languages, conveniently available 24/7 via app, phone and web.
The Wellness Centre: Online provides access to self-care modules and resources offered in Canvas specifically for UBC Okanagan students. Enroll now
Student counselling and mental health: Information and resources available to students through campus Health and Wellness.
Mindhealth BC (online)
Take a quick online assessment of your mental health and get resources for a variety of related concerns.
Here to Help BC (CMHA) (1-800-661-2121)
Helps you find quality information, learn new skills, and connect with key resources in BC. Here to Help BC has also compiled a list of free and low-cost Mental Health supports.
Tao Self-Help: Manage your well-being with tools on stress, relationship problems, substance use, and more. Register with an alumni email, which you can set up for free.
MindShift app: Learn to relax, cope with anxiety, and develop helpful ways of thinking through this app.
UBC Recreation offers ways to thrive and stay active from the comfort of your own space. Drop into virtual fitness classes, see tips for exercises, and more.
Remember the Thrive 5: Support and foster your mental health while observing physical distancing.
Join the Wellbeing Challenge: The Wellbeing Challenge is designed to help get you eating well, moving more, and staying socially connected during this challenging time.
Access the virtual walk-in wellbeing clinic:The Department of Psychology is offering Psychological First Aid services by telehealth every Tuesday and Thursday between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Available to any individual in the Greater Okanagan (age 16+) who is experiencing stress or having difficulty coping at this time. Clinicians are Masters and PhD graduate students who are supervised by Registered Psychologists.
Email: ipc.ok@ubc.ca Phone: (250) 807-8241
To learn more about understanding stress, click here.
To learn more about mental health resources available to you, refer to Mental Health Resources (April 2020 revised)
Other resources to manage your anxiety may include such things as this workbook Your Best You- Managing Your Anxiety
Indigenous Wellness Resources
Hope for Wellness (1-855-242-3310)
If you’re experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, contact the toll-free Hope for Wellness Help Line or the online chat open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
First Nations Health Authority (1-866-913-0033)
The FNHA, located in West Vancouver, provides information about health programs for First Nations
KUU-US Crisis Line Society
The KUU-US Crisis Line Society operates a 24/7 Aboriginal crisis line serving the entire province.
- Toll-Free Line (1-800-588-8717)
- Adults/Elders (250-723-4050)
- Child/Youth (250-723-2040)
Download the Lifeguard App: Developed in cooperation with British Columbia Emergency Health Services, the app can automatically connect a user to emergency responders if they become unconscious or unable to function.
SMART Recovery
Self Management Addiction Recovery Training
Toll-Free: 1 866 951 5357
Fax: 1 440 951 5358
Local Meetings
Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Services
Interior Health, Lower Mainland
Tel: 1 604 660 9382
Toll-Free: 1 800 663 1441
Narcotics Anonymous
HelpLine: 1 877 604 7613
Tel: 250 861 0354
Health Services
The Student Health Clinic provides treatment and consultation for any student health concerns and offers health information and referrals for physical, emotional, or sexual/reproductive health. A clinical team of Registered Nurses and General Practitioners can assist students with assessments and treatment of health concerns, prescriptions, first aid, harm reduction supplies, blood work, X-rays, lab tests and much more.
If you require care when the clinic is closed, refer to the Emergency and Crisis Response resources.
Walk-in service is not currently available. If you need a physician or nurse, call ahead at 250 807 9270 to book an appointment.
If you have concerns, you can:
- Stay home and call to discuss your symptoms or schedule an appointment with a nurse or physician: 250 807 9270.
- Call the public health line at 8-1-1 (HealthLinkBC). Speak with a registered nurse or access online resources for health-related questions.
Students who are looking for a family physician in the Central Okanagan are encouraged to visit Divisions of Family practice.
Walk-in and virtual clinics available in the Central Okanagan can be accessed on Medimap.
The UBC Students Home Online Program
The UBC SHOP (Students Home Online Program) is produced by the UBC School of Health and Exercise Sciences Practicum Program and the UBC Ergonomics Program. The SHOP program helps you to build healthy habits to contribute to academic and personal success.
It is split into 6 sections:
1) Set Up Your Home Workspace
2) Establish a Daily Routine/Schedule
3) Add in Movement Breaks
4) Change it Up – Get Outdoors!
5) Make Good Food & Drink Choices
6) Find Your Happy Place!
Why should you complete the SHOP Program?
1) Having good posture while working at your home workspace can significantly reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries.
2) Creating a nice home workspace for yourself will help you concentrate on your work.
3) Practicing a healthy lifestyle at home will contribute to your academic success this year!
Complete the Students Home Online Program
Ergonomics Resources
- Ergo Your Posture
- Home Office Set-Up Guide
- Fitting in Movement
- Request a Virtual Assessment
- Learn more
- Home Office Ergo Course
Movement Breaks (short 3-5 minute videos)
Other Resources
Safety is a priority for all of our students, staff, faculty and visitors at UBC.
Campus Security supports the University community to ensure the Okanagan campus is a safe place to work, study and reside, providing incident reporting, first aid, building or room access, Safewalk, and more.
Trained security personnel are available 365 days per year, with 24-hour campus-wide coverage.
Emergency: 250-807-8111
Non-emergency: 250-807-9236
UBC Alert is UBC’s emergency notification system. This system uses text, email and voice messaging to alert you of emergencies.
As a current student, you are automatically signed up for UBC Alert, however, it is imperative that you maintain your student system profile with updated contact information (cell phone and email).
Safewalk is a 24-hour service, available if you would like an accompanied walk to your car, the bus stop, to or from your class or anywhere on campus. You can also schedule regular visits to check on you every 45 minutes to 1 hour while you work.
The UBC Safe app is a free mobile app designed for faculty, staff and students in the Okanagan. Through the app, you can call Safewalk, report an incident or unsafe condition, request first aid, or find a campus map.
The Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office (SVPRO) is a safe place for faculty, staff and students to access education and support for themselves and others. SVPRO can assist with medical and reporting options, connecting survivors with community resources and providing education and training.
Tel: 250 807 9640
Email: svpro.okanagan@ubc.ca
Address: Nicola Townhome 120, 1270 International Mews
Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 1V7
Learn more about SVPRO and creating a culture of consent at UBC Okanagan.
The Disability Resource Centre, or the DRC, is available to help students with any disability-related challenges that impede their academic success. The DRC assists students by offering programs and services to foster an accessible and welcoming campus, including accommodations like accessible parking, priority placement for campus housing, notetakers, exam accommodations, and printed materials in alternate formats.
While the Disability Resource Centre staff are working remotely at this time, they remain fully functional and available during usual business hours, Monday – Friday 8:30 – 4:30.
General inquiries or students new to the DRC can contact drc.questions@ubc.ca.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to use Early Alert when they are concerned about a student’s wellbeing or academic performance—so that students who need assistance are connected with support in a coordinated approach before their difficulties become overwhelming. Concerning behaviour might include: marked decrease in academic performance; marked change in mood or behaviour; the student appears unusually withdrawn or distracted; and/or any other behaviour that indicates the student might be facing difficulties.
Access the easy-to-use, web-based Early Alert form for faculty and staff (use your CWL credentials to log in).
- UBC’s FAQs for Faculty and Staff include important information about support for mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Managing & Working During COVID-19: Updates and resources for working at UBC during COVID-19 provided by Human Resources
For a more comprehensive list of resources, click here.