Dear students,

Whether you are gearing up for an internship, travel, time at home, graduation, or a combination of these, I hope you will find ways to recuperate after a busy school year.

In the summer, you may have a little more time for your mental health, so I’d like to share some important and free resources:

  • CAPS remains available to students spending the summer in Michigan who are enrolled in fall classes and would like to explore mental health support options.
  • No matter where you are this summer (including out of state or even out of the country), you can access virtual counseling, including same-day and after-hours appointments, through Uwill. U-M students routinely rate their Uwill experience at or above a 9/10.
  • Wolverine Wellness has expanded its wellness coaching program, including a new and shorter session titled “wellness coaching in uncertain times.” This session can help you navigate complex and uncertain situations with adaptability and resilience.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and I look forward to welcoming many of you back in August. To those graduating, congratulations, best of luck on everything ahead, and as always, Go Blue.

Stay healthy, Wolverines,

Robert D. Ernst, M.D.
Chief Health Officer
Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness in Student Life

Health & Wellness Updates

Share Feedback on the North Campus Well-being Pavilion
Take five minutes to share your thoughts on design options for U-M’s first-ever Well-being Pavilion, which will be installed on the Gerstacker Lawn. In partnership with DART, the project will feature sustainable architecture, zero-waste construction, and biophilic design. The feedback form is open until April 25.

Traveling Internationally this Summer?
Don’t forget to register your trips, enroll in travel abroad health insurance (which includes benefits like evacuation), and utilize UHS’s Travel Health Services to get vaccinations and advice tailored to your destination.

Free Group-X Classes
Need a break from studying and finals? Enjoy free Group-X classes from April 23-29, including cycling, Pilates, cardio kickboxing, and more.

Revised Definitions & Model of Well-being
Check out the recently revised common definitions of the eight dimensions of well-being and a more accessible design of the Model of Well-being graphic. Use these to strengthen your own understanding of the deeply interconnected nature of well-being and spread the word!

What’s Up with Measles?
In the United States recently, there has been an increasing number of measles outbreaks. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses around, but vaccination against measles is highly protective. According to the World Health Organization, “herd immunity against measles requires about 95% of a population to be vaccinated.” Locally, of the undergraduate students living on campus in Ann Arbor in fall 2024, 96.7% are fully vaccinated against measles. Learn more, including about vaccination, through the new FAQs on the Health Response site.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Check out resources and events from Michigan Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, including specially designed t-shirts promoting mental health awareness.

Health & Wellness Podcasts
Enjoy these recent student-led podcasts featuring health & wellness experts.