Student Health 101

Derrick Enslow and Cindy Cheng helped launch the online magazine Student Health 101. (Danny Abriel Photo)

When students come to university for the first time, it can be daunting. Between living away from home for the first time, making new friends, taking classes unlike any you’ve taken before, and – for many – learning all about a new city, it’s not easy to make sure you’re still taking care of yourself. The best thing you can do is to be as well-informed as possible, so that if a situation arises, you know what to do – or can find out quickly. You never know what life’s going to throw at you, so you can never be too prepared.

For this reason, Peer Health and Student Wellness Services have started up a new online magazine called Student Health 101. Health-promotion student Cindy Cheng was adamant about the importance of providing students with a solid support system, starting with plenty of accurate information.

“Leaving home and coming to university, you’re alone for the first time,” she says. “We want to reach those students!”

The debut issue of Student Health 101.

But the online magazine isn’t just for freshmen who don’t know their way around. Released monthly, it provides answers and information on a variety of topics, from diet and nutrition to depression and anxiety. Headlines in the debut issue include “Roommate survival guide” and “Study skills that can put you on the A list.”

Project head Derrick Enslow selected the company that does Student Health 101 after much shopping around. “We looked at a number of different options and this seemed to be the one that resonated most with students,” he says.

This particular format is exciting because it is interactive – it allows students to post comments and video blogs responding to articles and topics of the month.

“We can really make it our own; that’s why it’s so interesting,” adds Ms. Cheng.

However, for the project to work, students need to participate. Organizers invite students to take a look at the magazine, write in about the stories they see or create a video response.

LINK: Student Health 101