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Wellness Tips for Resident Assistants

Please Note: Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully provides some guidance regarding small tweaks in practice that can have a big impact.

Normalize sharing and asking for pronouns, especially during introductions and when sharing rosters. Visit the resources below to learn more about the best practices and how you can update your name and pronouns:

Establish practice for routine check-ins with students and plan for follow-ups/referral as needed. You are not expected to handle it all, nor should you! It's important that you rely on your supports and experts to provide the best care for others.

In addition to notifying your RD when you need support in helping a resident, campus and community resources include but are not limited to:

Harm reduction and self-care are two critical strategies for supporting their overall wellness.  

Harm reduction can include anything from using protection when having sex, to wearing your seatbelt when you drive in a car, to eating a protein-rich meal before drinking. The goal is to reduce the harms associated with any activities that involve some level of risk.

Self-care can look like a lot of things, including establishing a regular sleep schedule, spending time in nature, washing your face, etc. The goal is to spend time caring for yourself and recharging your battery.

Looking for a bulk pack of safer sex supplies to distribute to your students or at an event? We’ve got you covered – literally. Fill out the Safer Sex Supply Request Form below and you’ll get an email in 3-5 business days with instructions for pick up. 

If you are looking for more information about sexual health or safer sex resources, including some materials you could print or share with other students, please visit our sexual health resource Google folder.

 

Safer Sex Supply Request Form

Follow @UMDHealthCenter on Instagram and Facebook.  Share out relevant information and resources (i.e. STI testing services, Mental Health Resources).

When discussing substance use, encourage your residents to create their own harm reduction plan before engaging in any form of substance use or going out with others who are engaging in substance use, including drinking. Using the Gold Code is a great start!

Have proactive conversations with your students about being mindful of their substance use patterns and noticing when they shift, particularly if their use increases - this can be a sign to cut back on their use and/or seek some support. Visit our Substance Use Intervention and Treatment (SUIT) page for information and referrals.  

This is the first time in a student's life that they do not have a school system or parent/guardian scheduling their meals. Encourage your residents to schedule and plan their meals and snacks throughout their day, just like they would classes, meetings, study sessions, etc. 

  • Remind residents that Food Is Fuel for their brain and body! Just as their car needs gas to perform on the road, they need fuel to perform well in their classes.
  • Falling asleep in class, difficulty focusing/comprehension and lack of energy to participate in class discussion are all caused by the brain on “empty”.
  • Consider if your class is held over a meal time inviting students to bring their breakfast/lunch. (Note: survey your students first to ensure everyone feels comfortable with people eating in close quarters and if people have food allergies).

Encourage residents to check out the Peer Nutrition Coaching service at the Health Center.

Talk of restrictive diets, weight loss, “bad” foods, etc. significantly impacts our relationship with food and our body.  At worse, it can trigger eating disorder behavior.  

Establish a culture of celebrating food and body diversity in your environment.

Resting helps support their wellness, aids in their recovery and treatment, and allows them to more fully engage in coursework when they return to class. It is also a good public health practice!

Inform students about the Policy on Excused Absence and that the University Health Center provides a template for a Self-Sign Class Excuse Note. 

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