Dear students,

At the health service, we are diagnosing many cases of influenza. If you develop flu-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, headaches, or muscle aches), please take these steps:

• Stay home and wear a mask when around others.
• Rest, hydrate, and treat symptoms with over-the-counter medications as needed.
• Consider testing for influenza, ideally within 48 hours of symptom onset, especially if you are immunocompromised or have underlying health issues. At-home tests are available for purchase  at UHS and other retail pharmacies. You can also make an appointment at UHS for testing.
• If you test positive, contact UHS by phone or through your patient portal to find out if you are a candidate for antiviral medication, which can reduce the severity and duration of your illness.

Not sick and don’t want to be?

• Prioritize sleep, physical activity, and a balanced diet.
• Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Consider masking around others in crowded spaces, especially before big events you don’t want to miss.

And don’t forget these important resources for your mental health, too:

• You can make an appointment with counselors in the Michigan Union CAPS office or with a counselor embedded in your school or college.
• All students have access to six free virtual counseling sessions per year, through Uwill, anywhere in the United States and many other countries, with same-day and after-hours appointments.
• Counselors are now available through Let’s Talk for drop-in conversations in locations across campus, including Trotter, Spectrum Center, and the International Center.

Stay healthy, Wolverines,

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

Health & Wellness Updates

Undergrads: Share Your Experiences!
Please participate in the U-M Healthy Minds Study for undergrads, if you haven’t already. Sharing your perspectives and experiences as undergraduate students will help us strengthen our programs and systems related to mental health, suicide prevention, and substance use support. (Grad students, your survey is coming in March!)

Reminder: Health and Wellness Vending Machines
Located across campus, these machines offer affordable personal care products, including emergency contraception for $10, over-the-counter birth control packs (aka “the Opill”) for $18, condoms, pain relievers, and more. Find the closest health and wellness vending machine to you.

Free Empowerment Self-Defense Classes through Rec Sports
Take part in verbal exercises, physical drills and discussion, and learn about different tools and aids that can be used to protect and defend yourself in various situations. Sign up now.

Download the Updated Stay in the Blue App
If you choose to consume alcohol this spring break, download the newly updated Stay in the Blue app (available in both the App & Play stores) and check out other Stay in the Blue strategies to manage your alcohol consumption in a less risky way or explore your relationship with alcohol.

Traveling Internationally for Spring Break?
If you are traveling internationally over break or for study abroad next semester, don’t forget to register your trips, enroll in travel abroad health insurance, and utilize UHS’s Travel Health Services for a travel consult or immunizations.

Looking for Something to Do?
The Well-being Collective website has a feed of health & wellness events on campus at the bottom of their homepage! Be sure to check it out the next time you’re looking for something unique to do for your well-being.

Well-being Toolkit Highlight: How to Apologize
This quick guide offers a model for making an apology–and meaning it.