Today we have a guest blog from Michelle Johnson, a Senior Peer Helper from the Wellness Centre. She is going to outline the services and resources offered by the Wellness Centre on campus. Enjoy!

The Wellness Centre is a student run information centre at the University of Guelph on the second floor of the J.T. Powell Building directly above Student Health Services.  We are a part of Student Health Services and are run by peers of the Peer Helper Program.  Our means of education involves peer to peer education.  Sometimes it is easier for a student to ask another student for personal wellness information rather than asking an employee at the University of Guelph. 

We offer workshops in and out of residence on a variety of health and wellness issues relating to university life.  Students can come in and pick up brochures, pamphlets and information kits loaded with multiple resources including leaflets, fact sheets and links to both on and off campus resources on a multitude of different topics. The Wellness Centre provides opportunity for students to come in and chat about wellness issues and we provide the proper resources or referrals so students can access the support they need.  We also run events across campus spreading awareness about issues such as stress management, drinking, self esteem, nutrition and healthy eating and more! We encourage students to come visit the centre. 

We are a safe space on campus that strives to eliminate discrimination for any group that experiences oppression.  We run from a harm reduction model which deems it more effective to produce resources for students to decrease harm in risky behaviours.  Similarly, we do not advise students.  We encourage students to make decisions for themselves, but provide them with appropriate information as to make informed decisions. We are a sex positive environment that focuses on positive attitudes toward safe sex and consent.  Moreover, we run from a health at every size model that recognizes diversity of body size or shape and that health can be achieved at any size.  This model also encourages pursuit of health for health itself and not for weight loss.
 
The Wellness Centre offers information and resources surrounding a variety of topics such alcohol and other drugs, anti-violence, being single, birth control, breast cancer, caffeine and its effects, depression/suicide, diversity and discrimination, eating disorders and body image, fat, carbohydrates and protein, fibromyalgia, fitness and healthy living, gambling, grief, health at every size, nutrition, hepatitis A/B/C, HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ and sexual health, migraines, obsessive compulsive disorder, off campus living, perfectionism, pregnancy and options, relationships and communication, roommate problems, safe sex and STI’s, safe vacations, self harm, sexual assault, sleep and sleep disorders, stress, testicular cancer and being a vegetarian or vegan.

The Wellness Centre is an amazing place that provides a home away from home for students who are struggling here at the University of Guelph.  Come on in for a visit, pick up some free condoms or lube, and visit with the peer helpers!  For more information please visit our website by clicking here. Check out the Wellness centre at University of Guelph on Facebook or @Wellness_UogG on Twitter!  If you have questions please email wellness@uoguelph.ca .  Also, Melanie Bowman, the Wellness Centre manager and Student Wellness Educator is available to meet with students one to one.  Please email her at mbowman@uoguelph.ca.