Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: Students are entitled to a number of facilities at York. | Fatema Ali
University is no walk in the park. In fact, it can seem like the hurdles a person has to cross just to get to the other side are never ending. Classes are difficult, peers are busy in their own lives, and staff may seem unapproachable. At times, it can feel as if the overwhelming nature of university life leaves a person with no place to turn.
Although York has contributed it’s fair share of stress to the lives of its students (longest post-secondary strike in Canadian history, rings a bell), it’s also provided a number of ways to combat stress.
To get through post-secondary institutions, it’s vital for an individual to take care of their physical and mental well-being. With the stress associated with a student’s day-to-day life, it can be hard to find the time to take care of body and mind, in addition to coursework. The good news is that students need not look far for potential wellness facilities; in fact, they don’t even have to leave campus.
York provides its students with a number of resources in regards to physical and mental well-being, some of which are actually covered by tuition. York’s recreational facilities offer an array of physical activities students can be a part of. Tait McKenzie houses a swimming pool that’s 12 feet deep. The pool offers leisure time, a women’s-only hour and a number of aquatic classes. Tait also provides students an annual membership for just $15, use of the skating rink, a plethora of fitness classes, and a myriad of intramural activities—which are sure to cater to the interests of many.
Along with providing an extensive number of resources for physical wellbeing, York has a number of amenities for wellness in general. The Appletree Medical Centre, located in york Lanes, is an on-campus physician’s office, that provides a comprehensive list of medical services to the York community.
Student counselling and development (SCD) provides a professional and supportive environment to York students. Located at N110 Bennett Centre for Student services, students can visit SCD for a number of concerns including: anxiety, depression, stress, abuse, self-esteem issues, and a myriad of other issues related to mental health.
Health education and promotion located in room 172 South Ross is comprised of a team of York staff and students that work together to promote the overall well being of students. Their main goal is to create a healthy campus through initiatives, and provide a holistic experience of health assistance, doing so via workshops, outreach and one-one-one peer support.
The wellness lounge is an example of one of the initiatives in place to improve well being. In collaboration with nursing students, the wellness lounge was established to promote a focus on self-care. Fredelyn Resurreccion, a second-entry nursing student, discussed the purpose of the wellness lounge. “The wellness lounge provides a relaxing atmosphere and space. It’s for positive vibes. People tend to come here to vent and relax.” Another nursing student, Thushara Vigneswaran, elaborated on its importance. “Just in general, having places people can unwind is important, people sometimes don’t stop to give themselves a break so the wellness lounge can be that space for them. They can come here to do their homework, have a cup of tea, have conversations with us, and avoid internalizing their feelings. Having a space like this brings awareness to people understanding the importance of self-care, and such a space acknowledges that self-care is important.”
Despite what you may have heard, York has a number of facilities available for students; they just need to utilize them.
