The Wellness Center

The Wellness Center provides programs and resources to increase student, faculty, and staff knowledge of health and wellness concerns. It is our goal to empower individuals to make positive behavior changes for long-term health. The Wellness Center provides campus wide programming on a variety of issues including, but not limited, to alcohol use, tobacco use, body image, healthy and unhealthy relationships, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, sexual assault, stress management, and tobacco. Nutrition Counseling, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, & Tobacco Cessation are just a few of the services The Wellness Center offers the UNCG community.

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy is the manipulation of muscles and other soft tissue to reduce stress, tension, anxiety, and promote a feeling of general well being. Modern massage techniques draw from Eastern and Western healing traditions.

How to Make an Appointment

Appointments should be made by contacting the massage therapist directly.
Julie Potts, LMBT	336.337.1456
David Myers, LMBT	336.577.3347

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique for unblocking chi by inserting tiny, soft needles at particular points on the body to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang. Chi is an energy that permeates all things. It is believed to flow through the body along 14 main pathways called meridians. When yin and yang are in harmony, chi flows freely within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick, diseased, or injured, there is an obstruction of chi along one of the meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine has identified some 500 specific points where needles are to be inserted for specific effects.

Acupuncture at UNCG

The acupuncture clinic at Student Health Services will focus on common issues successfully treated with acupuncture including headaches, addictions, pain, painful periods, digestive problems, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

How to Make an Appointment

Appointments can be made by calling the Student Health Center Appointments Line at 336.334.5340

Tobaco Cessation

Mark Twain once said, “Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it a thousand times.” Maybe you are one of those people who have tried in the past or are thinking about it for the first time. It’s not easy to quit smoking, but it can be done! Our cessation services help educate you about the journey that you are about to undergo and support you through that journey.

The tobacco cessation program will take place every week in a group format that will run for 4 weeks.   Each session will be one hour in length.   Participants are expected to complete the 4 week program in order to get the maximum benefit.  This program will utilize the American Cancer Society’s Freshstart program to help inform participants and facilitate opportunities for them to grow towards a life free of tobacco.  A person interested in starting the program should wait until the next 4 week cycle to begin. 

For a list of workshops, dates and times, please visit http://www.uncg.edu/shs/wellness/smoking/ or contact Jason Robertson at 336-334-3190. 

Nutrition

Good nutrition, or healthy eating, is important not only for lowering your risk for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, but for maintaining/improving everyday function. Immediate rewards include increased energy, improved brain function, mood enhancement, and recuperative sleep.

With the abundance of nutrition information, and misinformation, flooding the media and infiltrating casual conversation, it is important to get the facts. UNCG offers access to a registered dietitian who serves as a reputable resource for nutrition assessment and planning.

So whether you need help with eating healthy on campus, managing your bodyweight, overcoming an eating disorder, or just making sense of the food label, we are here for you.

A weekly workshop series is available to all students FREE of charge.  This program is designed to combine the professional recommendations of a Registered Dietitian and the practical advice of fellow peers to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to promote healthful eating habits. Optimizing your eating habits can aid in weight management, physical energy, and mental alertness.

For a complete list of location, dates, times, and topics, please visit http://www.uncg.edu/shs/wellness/nutrition/workshop.php.

In addition the Registered Dietitian offers medical nutrition therapy to those students who demonstrate a medical need.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Eating Disorders
• Food Allergies (Celiac, etc.)
• Diabetes (new diagnosis)
• High Cholesterol (new diagnosis)
• Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Gastrointestinal Disease (Crohn’s, etc.)

NOTE: Although obesity can produce, or exacerbate, medical complications, it is not an acute disease and has no short-term solution. The knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable weight loss are addressed in the Nutrition Workshop Series.  Students attempting to manage their weight, adopt healthy eating habits, maintain energy, etc. are encouraged to attend the workshop sessions.

Students who are enrolled for 9 or more credit hours, have paid their student health fee, and require medical nutrition therapy are eligible to receive up to 8 sessions per semester. The actual number of individual appointments may be less and is based on student need, staffing, and Center time limitations.

To make an appointment for medical nutrition therapy, please obtain a referral from your healthcare provider and/or call the Wellness Center at (336) 334-3190.

Initial sessions are typically 45-50 minutes; Follow-ups 25-30 minutes.

Students who arrive 10 or more minutes late may be asked to reschedule.

Check-in directly at the Wellness Desk located on the Ground (G) Level of the Student Health Center.

Peer Education

Mission Statement:
The peer education program seeks to train student leaders to empower and engage the campus community. Through outreach and advocacy peer educators help to make UNCG a healthier and safer environment for all students.

Motto:
Lead. Empower. Advocate.

The peer education program is taught by various staff, some members are members of the BACCHUS Peer Education Network, the oldest student organization committed to the education, training and support for prevention on the college campus. Peer Educators earn up to 6 credits by taking HEA 202 and 203. Peer educator programs can provide an effective and productive method for delivering prevention and risk reduction information as well promoting healthy lifestyle choices as they relate to alcohol and other drugs, sexuality issues, wellness, body image & eating disorders, masculinity, and mental health.

Benefits of Being a Peer Educator

• Earn 4 credits
• Experiential or “hands on” approach to learning
• Gain experience in group leadership, meet new friends/people
• Service opportunity
• Develop group facilitation skills and/or presentation skills, listening skills
• Develop positive working relationship with other students, Student Health Services, Resident Hall Staff and various departments
• Gain information in specific areas of health (alcohol & other drugs, sexuality, wellness, diversity)
• Develop an area of expertise
• Involvement in a dynamic, pro-active peer program
• Become a nationally recognized Certified Peer Educator

PEERS (Peer Educators Empowering Responsible Spartans)

The PEERS group was established to encourage community engagement and participation in activities aimed at education related to safer sex, improving communication in relationships, sexuality, and overall wellness; and prevention of high risk use and abuse of alcohol, the illegal use of other drug and sexual assault.

Men Creating Change

Men Creating Change is a group of men who are committed to addressing the issue of violence against women and the definitions of masculinity as they exist in today’s culture. They currently meet on the first and third Mondays of the month in Room 015 of The Student Health Center. Also check them out on Facebook.

Friends Helping Friends Peer Educators

Friends Helping Friends Peer educators are trained students who provide programs to classes and student groups on mental health topics, with a focus on suicide prevention. To learn more about the Friends Helping Friends Peer Educator program, visit the program information page.

Safe Zone

The goal of Safe Zone is to provide a supportive and comfortable environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, and those in the process of defining their sexuality (GLBTQ) by self-identifying as individuals (allies) who can provide support, information, and a safe place within the UNCG community.

UNCG’s Safe Zone is:

• A source of information for new GLBTQ persons arriving on campus
• A source of social interaction for GLBTQ members and allies
• A source of support and information for parents, family members, and friends of GLBTQ persons
• A source of education about GLBTQ issues within the broader campus community
• A campus advocate for GLBTQ persons
• A harbor and refuge for GLBTQ persons if and when needed

All Safe Zone members must be certified by attending an all-day training session on topics that pertain to challenges faced by those within the GLBTQ community as well as issues faced by those willing to be allies. Upon completion of the initial training session, members will receive a certificate of completion as well as a Safe Zone decal that can be prominently displayed to indicate membership. Furthermore, brown-bag lunches as well as other types of informative meetings help to reinforce the initial training, to launch new ideas, to discuss areas of concern and to formulate solutions.

Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Prevention Program

Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention Program Goals & Objectives:
Our program goal is to educate the UNCG community about the impact of alcohol and other drug use as it relates to academic and personal success.
In order to achieve these goals The Alcohol and Other Drug program has identified the following objectives:

• Serve as a link for students to University support services.
• Provide Information to students, staff and faculty that foster healthy life style choices.
• Design and implement programs in collaboration with other University departments.
• Recommend changes to University policy regarding alcohol and other drugs.
• Measure the outcome effectiveness of prevention programs and activities.
• Create an atmosphere in which alcohol use is not the central focus of social events.

The program consists of the following components:

Education:

1. Develop and organize awareness events, campus outreach programs and trainings for student groups, classes, peer educators and faculty and staff.
2. Provide classroom instruction on Alcohol and Other Drug issues for all faculty and staff requests including but not limited to those from UNS 101, Public Health Education, and the School of Nursing.
3. Maintain strong inter-agency/university relations and collaborate with local, state and national alcohol and other drug prevention initiatives.

Intervention:

1. Small psycho-educational groups around issues around relevant AOD issues for college students.
2. Targeted Programming for high risk populations.
3. One on one consultation services and referrals for individual students regarding alcohol related issues.

Environmental Management:

1. Alternative Programming for Students (Alcohol Free Social Activities)
2. Social Norms Marketing Campaigns that promote healthy AOD Campus Norms
3. Promote Social, Academic & Residential Environment that supports and rewards students who make healthy & responsible choices around AOD
4. Work collaboratively with Dean of Students Office to promote Campus conduct and policy compliance

Evaluation:

Develop, implement   and evaluate studies within The Wellness Center to evaluate program effectiveness and to implement necessary program standards (CAS)

AOD Programs Offered Through the Wellness Center

• Choice Is Yours

This interactive program allows participants to explore their own decisions around situations that involve alcohol. Participants will be required to make decisions that involve what to do after a party, during a party, with a friend that is drinking, and other situations that lead them to explore their own behavior. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

• Alcohol 101

This program presents participants with the basics of alcohol use and abuse. Information participants can expect to gain includes what is a drink, signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse and legal issues related to alcohol use. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

• Alcohol Bingo

This spin on the traditional bingo game test participants’ knowledge on alcohol in general and at UNCG. Participants can expect to get information on alcohol consumption at UNCG as well as other valuable information on alcohol use. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

• Alcohol and Other Drug Jeopardy

We have taken this familiar game show and added categories related to Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs. Participants can compete in teams to test their knowledge on these issues while gaining new information at the same time. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

• Club Drugs

This program presents participants with the basics of club drugs. Information participants can expect to gain includes what are club drugs and how to protect yourself.. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

• Date Rape Drugs

This program presents participants with the basics of what are date rape drugs, types, abuse and prevention. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

• Drugs 101

This program presents participants with the basics of drug use and abuse. Information participants can expect to gain includes the different categories of drugs and signs and symptoms of drug abuse. Presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators.

Each program is presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators. To sign up for a course, go on-line to www.uncg.edu/shs/wellness/programs and fill out a program request form

Each program is presented by Wellness Center Staff or Peer Educators. To sign up for a course, go on-line to www.uncg.edu/shs/wellness/programs and fill out a program request form.

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