Supporting health and wellbeing this fall

This message is shared on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing team.

The Health and Wellbeing team is excited to welcome you back to the Forest for another year of opportunities to thrive. Here are a few ways to care for yourself and support the wellbeing of our community this semester.

Thrive Collective Impact

Thrive is Wake Forest’s approach to supporting health and wellbeing across eight dimensions: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual.

Join us on Manchester Plaza on Wednesday, Sept. 9, for Arrive and Thrive, a campus-wide festival featuring activities, interactive stations and prizes centered around the eight dimensions of wellbeing. Later that evening, WFU students are invited to a free Wellbeing Concert from 6-7 p.m. in the Hanes Gallery at Scales Fine Arts Center, followed by a reception with the artists.

Want to get more involved? Explore our Peer Education programs.

We Are Wake: Elevating a Culture of Care

We Are Wake is our campus-wide mental health initiative and a reminder that everyone has a role to play in supporting one another. The new CARE Concierge, available at we.wfu.edu, connects members of our community with support and resources 24/7.

Through CARE 101, students, faculty and staff learn to recognize signs of distress, connect with resources and respond when someone needs help. Faculty and staff can complete CARE 101 on demand through Workday Learning. Students can request an in-person session for their organization through the Office of Wellbeing.

Accommodations

If a temporary or permanent disability or condition affects your academic or campus experience, Wake Forest has resources to support you.

For academic accommodations, the Center for Learning, Access and Student Success (CLASS) works with students with documented disabilities to ensure equitable access to academic experiences. Students are encouraged to connect with CLASS early to allow time for review and any required documentation. Visit Reynolda Hall 118, call 336-758-5929 or email .

For nonacademic accommodations, including housing, dining and parking, J.D. Jackson in the Office of Institutional Equity works with students to review requests and determine reasonable accommodations. As the University’s ADA/504 administrator, J.D. encourages students to connect early to allow time for review and any required documentation. Contact him at .

Student Tailgates and the Collegiate Recovery Community

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), substance use, including alcohol use, is declining among younger people as interest in health and wellbeing grows. At Wake Forest, 1 in 4 students report choosing not to drink alcohol, and 1 in 3 report never having consumed alcohol before coming to college.

Wake Forest supports students who choose not to use substances for any reason, including through substance-free activities at each home football tailgate. Learn more about harm reduction and recovery support at aod.wellbeing.wfu.edu.

Staying Well This Fall

Beyond these signature efforts, there are everyday ways to care for yourself and help keep our community well.

Deacon Health is the primary health clinic for students, providing health care, education and support for your physical health needs. Executive Director Cathy Higginbotham also shares a welcome-back message with helpful information for the semester ahead.

Respiratory illnesses typically increase during the fall and winter months. Help reduce the spread by washing your hands regularly, using hand sanitizer, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and considering a mask as an additional layer of protection.

Stay up to date on recommended vaccines, including the flu vaccine. Free flu vaccine clinics will be available on campus this fall for students, faculty and staff.

For more health and wellbeing resources, visit campuslife.wfu.edu/supports-and-services/health-wellbeing and follow @wfucampuslife on Instagram for updates.