Dear students,
With spring break right around the corner, my recommendation is to take some time to prepare for a safe and healthy week. A pause in classes is a great time to rest and reflect, whether you are staying in Ann Arbor or traveling.
Keep these tips in mind:
- If you engage in the use of alcohol (or other drugs), know the tools, resources, and policies that can help you and your friends stay safe. Check out the Stay in the Blue campaign.
- Learn about resources for safe sexual health practices, including free safer sex supplies at Wolverine Wellness.
- Help prevent sexual assault by learning bystander intervention skills. And remember SAPAC is open during spring break, has a 24/7 crisis line, and has staff who can connect with you virtually 9am-5pm EST, no matter where you are.
- Take advantage of your Uwill teletherapy sessions, which are available even when you are away from campus or during school breaks.
- Consider wellness coaching. This is a guided reflection with a trained coach who helps you optimize well-being based on your personal goals and values.
- Join a group at CAPS based on your interests or identity. Many groups start the week after spring break.
If you are traveling:
- Research the laws in your travel destination, as some medications and drugs that are legal here may be illegal elsewhere.
- Leaving the country? Don’t forget to register your trips and enroll in travel abroad health insurance, which is available for university and personal travel.
- Visit the CDC’s Travelers’ Health site for details on your specific destination.
- Ensure you are up to date on your vaccinations, keep masks handy, and eat and drink safely.
Stay healthy, Wolverines,
Robert D. Ernst, M.D.
Chief Health Officer
Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness in Student Life
Wolverine Wellness: Elevate Your Well-being!
Health and Wellness Updates
Store your batteries safely
Did you know that lithium-ion battery fires can start in less than a minute and reach over 1,000 degrees? Make sure you store, charge, and care for battery-powered items safely, especially when you are not home. E-bikes and e-scooters should never be stored inside. Learn more from the Fire Safety Research Institute.
Addiction medicine group
Curious or concerned about your substance use? The addiction medicine clinic at UHS offers a six-week in-person therapy group for people interested in making a change to the way they use substances.
Where: Room 4203 at UHS
When: 10:30am-12:00pm on Tuesdays: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9
Interested? Email UHS clinical social worker Cayla Yuhn at [email protected]
UMICH Votes
As we head into primary and special elections season, make sure you are registered and understand your voting options whether you are an in- or out-of-state student. Remember that the Michigan primary overlaps with spring break, but early voting is already underway.
Become a Well-being Influencer
The Well-being Collective invites you to learn about the common agenda for the university and provide your thoughts and perspectives on well-being at Michigan. Share your feedback and become a well-being influencer through February 29.
UHS Eye Care Clinic
Did you know UHS has an eye care clinic? The UHS Eye Care Clinic and Optical Shop has three highly trained optometrists who can help you with routine vision exams or urgent vision problems. You can also order contact lenses or try on and order frames through the optical shop. And they take insurance!