Health includes taking care of yourself every day, understanding that challenges are normal, and knowing what to do when you don’t feel well. Find tips, resources and in-person support open to all graduate students.
Crisis Support 24/7
Crisis Centre BC
If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or thinking about suicide, call or chat online with a crisis responder any time: 1-800-784-2433 (toll free), or call or text 9-8-8.
Emergency departments
Visit the BC Health Services website for a map of Urgent and Primary Health Care providers to find one close to you.
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line
Receive online and phone counselling and crisis support.
Here2Talk
If you need to talk to a health professional, you can call, chat online, or use the mobile app to get free, immediate, 24/7 mental health counselling, available in various languages. UBC students can reach out as often as needed, anytime, from anywhere in the world.
Support for unanticipated circumstances
If you’ve been impacted by a significant event or unanticipated circumstances, there are services and resources to help you.
Mental health support
- Counselling Services: Call 604 822 3811 or book online to schedule a virtual or in-person appointment, offered Monday to Friday. They’ll listen to your needs and connect you with resources such as self-directed resources, workshops and coaching, group therapy, individual therapy and/or medical treatment.
- Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing (IMHW) program: book an appointment for counselling for Indigenous students, grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and traditional holistic practices.
- Group counselling programs: online programs are available for students through UBC Student Health.
- Here2Talk: free, immediate, 24/7 mental health counselling by phone, chat or app. Also listed under crisis support above.
Physical health and wellbeing
- Student Health and Wellbeing: Operating out of the MacIsaac Health Building, Student Health offers a wide range of health assessments and treatments provided by doctors, nurses, and specialists. You can book an appointment by phone or online. Same-day appointments available 24 hours in advance with limited availability.
- The Wellness Centre: Located in the UBC Life Building, the Wellness Centre is a peer-hosted space that offers many wellbeing programs, services and resources for students.
- Centre for Accessibility: The CfA facilitates disability-related accommodations and programming initiatives designed to remove barriers for students with disabilities and ongoing medical conditions.
Online self-guided tools
Check in on how you are doing
- Mind Health BC: take an online mental health assessment and find resources.
- HealthLink BC: check physical health symptoms and find resources.
- Student Health: find resources and helpful tips organized by topic.
Safety and security
- UBC Community Safety: Community Safety is available to assist the campus community with first aid, safety & security concerns, and more — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Safety resources include automated defibrillators and emergency blue phones, the Lost and Found database, and security and safety workshops.
- UBC Safe and UBC Alert: UBC Safe is a free mobile app designed for the UBC campus community. The multi-function app provides users with immediate access to Emergency Services, First Aid and Safewalk, as well as information on Emergency Procedures, Support Resources and many other vital links and services.
- AMS Safewalk: A designated Safewalker will accompany students, staff, and visitors who feel unsafe walking alone across campus. Request a Safewalk by calling their hotline at 604-822-5355, from 8 pm to 2 am.
- Graduate student safety: Everyone plays a role in making UBC’s Vancouver campus a safe and welcoming place. A number of resources are available to ensure graduate student safety on campus, in classrooms, while working on campus, and while researching and studying abroad.
Gender based violence support
- Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO): SVPRO is a safe place for faculty, staff and students who have experienced sexual assault regardless of identity, expression or orientation, regardless of when or where it took place.
- AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC): SASC is committed to the education and support of all survivors of sexualized violence.
- UBC Investigations Office: This office responds promptly to all formal reports of sexual misconduct and discrimination involving UBC students, faculty and staff.
- Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre: a Vancouver-based organization providing services to women, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender diverse people, ages 14 and up, who have experienced sexualized violence. They work with the BIPOC community and have counsellors specifically for Indigenous peoples. A 24-hour crisis support, counselling, and justice assistance centre: call 604-255-6344 for immediate support.
Food security support
- AMS Food Bank: This is an emergency food relief service for UBC students, offering basic nutritional food products and information about additional resources in Vancouver. The AMS Food Bank receives support from UBC and a variety of generous sponsors in Vancouver.
- GSS GradsEatWell Affordable Food Program: The GSS provides heavily subsidized and nutritious meals to UBC’s graduate student community. Pick up meals for $5 at the Graduate Life Centre during the fall and winter terms. Meals must be booked in advance via the GSS events page.
- UBC Food Hub market: Allows you to shop at-cost grocery essentials on the Vancouver campus.
- Acadia Food Hub: Community project at UBC supporting households with food and baby supplies.
- UBC Sprouts: 100% volunteer and student-run organization at UBC whose goal is to make healthy, affordable and sustainably produced food accessible to everyone. Open during the academic year, Sprouts Café offers food at discount.
Financial security support
There are also options to work on campus while completing your graduate studies, through student service appointments, on-campus work, or the Work Learn Program.
- Emergency financial support: talk to an Enrolment Services Advisor.
- GSS Graduate Student Financial Aid: apply for financial aid through the Graduate Student Society.
- Budgeting and cost planning: plan a budget and estimate your costs.
- Cost Estimator: use our cost planning tool to estimate monthly expenses.
Drug or substance use and harm reduction
- UBC Overdose prevention and response at UBC: Find out more information about drug and substance use and harm reduction, including how to respond to fentanyl and accidental drug poisoning or overdose, where to find fentanyl and drug testing strips, how to access free Naloxone kits, and other resources for support.
- Substance Use Health Resource List and Map: Created by the AMS VP External and VP Academic, this resource shows where you can pick up harm reduction supplies at UBC and Greater Vancouver (such as naloxone kits and fentanyl strips), places where you can get your substances tested, and other services that offer injection sites, naloxone and other harm reduction training, mental health support, etc.
- Vancouver Coastal Health Harm Reduction: Keeping individuals and communities safe and healthy by preventing infections, illness and injury related to drug use and sexual practices.
- UBC Student Recovery Community (SRC): This is a safe, confidential, and inclusive space for students who are in recovery or curious to explore their relationship with substances and/or non-substance addictive behaviours such as disordered eating, pornography, gaming, gambling, and more.
Resources for student parents
- Students who are parents: if you are a student who is a parent, there are plenty of programs, resources and initiatives that can assist you. This website offers information on community centres and family activities, support on campus, information on daycares and schools, and more.
- Graduate Students with Families: a printable guide with information on housing, child care and schools, fun things to do, as well as resources for settling in.
Taking care of yourself
Your health and wellness are important during grad school. Taking care of yourself will help you thrive during the stressful moments of your graduate studies. This includes more than just your physical health, but also mental and social considerations.
Exercise
Improve your mood and relieve stress by moving more. Try doing simple stretches between classes or meetings; moving even just a little can help you re-energize and feel better.
Eat well
Nourishing food fuels your body and mind, and can help maintain your mental and physical health.
Reach out for support
Connecting socially with others can help support your mental health. Spending time with family, friends, and community can reduce stress and provide a sense of belonging.
Make time to recharge
It’s important to take breaks and let your mind recharge. Try turning off your screen before bed to help you relax, or take a 20 minute power nap to feel more refreshed.
Grad school can be tough. Everyone is on their own path, with a variety of non-academic responsibilities, and there is no shame in lowering your course load for the semester. It’s important that you prioritize your mental and physical health if you are feeling overwhelmed. Keep up to date with wellbeing events directed at graduate students if you want to learn how to develop healthy habits.
Helping someone else
Help a friend: how to help if you’re concerned about a friend who is feeling hopeless or thinking of harming themselves.
Navigating challenges in your program
Some difficulties are academic rather than personal. If you are having trouble with your supervisor, your program or your progress, see our conflict resolution resources, or contact the G+PS Student Academic Support team.
Events, services, and resources
Health and Wellness: Find health and wellness events, services, and resources offered by G+PS.
Recreation: Find events at UBC that involve recreation, health and wellbeing.