Welcome to the Residence Wellness Hub

Your hub for accessing Student Wellness resources in Residence.

The Residence Wellness Hub is designed to be a low-barrier resource to access suite of wellness resources, and a convenient starting point to access the full range of Student Wellness resources at the UBC Okanagan campus. See the calendar below or stop in to get connected!

Located in the Nechako Commonsblock (NHC 251), students living on campus can access a variety of wellness resources without leaving the residence community.


Wellness Hub Drop-in Calendar | Fall (Term 1) 2023

 

Looking for more resources? Visit UBC Okanagan’s Health and Wellness website by clicking the link below.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS


* Express STI Testing is temporarily closed for a few weeks *

Can you make time for a quickie?

In an ongoing effort to make STI testing more accessible and convenient, Student Wellness is providing express STI screening in Nechako Residence! No appointment is needed.

**Remember to bring your Provincial Health Number or iMed so we can send your samples to the lab. We will also need your student number for registration.

Did you know?

The only way to know if you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is to get tested, since it is common not to have any symptoms when you have an STI. The good news is that STIs are manageable, if not curable! The bad news is that if left untreated, they can lead to complications. Using condoms can reduce your risk of getting an STI but it does not eliminate your risk. If you’re sexually active, regular STI testing is key!

When should I get tested for STIs?

As per BCCDC’s website:

It’s a good time to get tested for STIs when:

  • You have a new sexual partner(s).
  • You or your partners have other sexual partners and it’s been more than three to six months since your last test.
  • You notice any changes in your body, or have symptoms.
  • You had sex with someone who has an STI.
  • You had sex without a condom or the condom broke.

It’s a good idea to get tested for STIs regularly, usually every 3 – 12 months. For example, if you or your partner(s) are having sex with new or casual partners, you might want to test every 3 or 6 months. It is not usually recommended to test more often than every 3 months (ie. monthly). It takes time before an STI infection will show up on a test. This is called the “window period”.

For more information visit their website here

Here's how it works

Routine STI screening includes testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

  • Once you arrive at intake, we will email or text you a questionnaire.
  • The nurse will call you over and will explain how to collect your own samples and you will take the provided swabs or urine cup to a nearby bathroom. It’s fast, easy and painless.
  • Once finished, you will return your samples (in a paper bag) and we will be in touch within 2 weeks if there are any positive results. No news is good news!
  • The whole process takes a few minutes.
  • We may also give you a requisition to get bloodwork done at a community lab. This tests for HIV, syphilis and makes sure you are still immune to Hepatitis B.
What samples will I need to provide?
  • Generally speaking, if you have a penis, you pee in a cup. If you have a vagina, you do vaginal swabs. If you have received anal sex, you do a rectal swab.
  • If you have had oral sex, the nurse will collect a throat swab for you, since this one is a little tricky to do by yourself.
  • Please Note: If you need a urine test, very little urine is needed, but it’s best if you go 1-2 hours without urinating before doing the test.
What if I want more privacy or to ask the nurse personal questions?

We recognize that these events are not for everyone. If this is the case for you, you can book a private appointment at the Student Wellness Clinic (UNC 337). For more information on how to book, please visit the Student Health Clinic page here.