Health & Well-being

Among academics, social life, and all the great things to do in Austin, something students often neglect is their health and well-being. College students are notorious for their irregular sleeping habits as well as for over-consumption of caffeine and/or alcohol and poor diets. Combine this with the stressors of semester life and you can make yourself sick. You can keep yourself in great mental and physical shape with help from the university’s resources.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS

UT Austin’s Division of Recreational Sports boasts several gyms, multiple swimming facilities, tennis, and basketball courts on campus to help you stay active and in shape. Fitness classes are offered for a small fee at Gregory Gym and the Recreational Sports Center. Students interested in team sports can check out the intramural team opportunities available each semester.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES (UHS)

Located on the first floor of the Student Services Building, University Health Services offers general medical care, urgent care, women’s health, sports medicine, and allergy and immunization care. Visits for currently enrolled students are often covered by student fees. If you are sick at home and unsure whether to schedule an appointment or perhaps you don’t feel quite sick enough to come in, call the 24-hour Nurse Advice Line at 512-475-NURS (6877).

UHS’ pharmacy fills valid prescriptions from UHS’ or outside providers. The pharmacy accepts most prescription drug insurance cards. It has reasonably priced over the counter medications and can process contact lens prescriptions.

In addition to clinical services, UHS houses the Health Promotion Resource Center and the UT Center for Students in Recovery. The Health Promotion Resource Center provides courses and peer-led workshops on topics such as Nutrition 101, Freshman Food Orientation, smoking cessation, contraception, and CPR as well as a lending library and extensive Web information. The Center for Students in Recovery serves students in active recovery from addiction and those who are adult children of alcoholics/addicts through individual and group counseling and an alumni network.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

Students without medical insurance have the option of purchasing student health insurance. The UT System has partnered with UnitedHealthcare StudentResources to provide affordable insurance to all students. Students can contact UHS’ representative at (512) 471-1040 and can find more information at the UnitedHealthcare website.

COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (CMHC)

The Counseling and Mental Health Center provides short-term individual counseling, support groups, therapeutic groups, and psychiatric services. Special programs include Voices Against Violence, which helps students with issues of sexual and dating violence as well as stalking, and the online stress management program Stress Recess. 24-hour telephone counseling is also offered at 512-471-CALL (2255).

BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS ADVICE LINE (BCAL)

If you notice that a fellow student, faculty, or staff member is not acting like him or herself and/or you become concerned about that person, you may consider calling BCAL at 512-232-5050. BCAL is a joint effort of the Counseling and Mental Health Center, the Office of the Dean of Students, the Employee Assistance Center, and the University Police Department. BCAL is staffed 24/7. For examples of when you might call BCAL, visit the Advice Line website.