Students working together at a table in the Agora of the Active Living Centre

Who we are

Healthy U is made up of a team of friendly volunteers who are certified student health educators. We are passionate and knowledgeable about relevant health topics and are available to answer questions, provide information, and connect fellow students to resources.

Healthy U volunteers provide mental health, sexual health, and overall wellness education through office hours, outreach events, workshops and presentations to groups, and online content.

Is Healthy U Right for Me? 

Healthy U is a peer support service and is not a substitute for counselling.
 

Healthy U can

  • Provide a private place to talk with a UM Healthy U student volunteer about your physical, mental, and sexual health questions and needs—your overall well-being;
  • Provide you with information and education on a variety of wellness topics (e.g., how to cope with stress; contraception information, etc.);
  • Inform you of available service and support options on and off campus and provide you with appropriate resource packages (e.g., package on how to improve your sleep). 

Healthy U cannot

  • Provide someone for you to meet with on a regular basis throughout the term—typically students only meet with a Healthy U volunteer once unless they have a new and different question/need.
  • Provide the help you need for complex, continuing mental health concerns such as post-traumatic stress, attention deficit disorder, depression, sexual violence or trauma — if this is what you’re seeking, please use the resources suggested by SCC reception staff;
  • Provide the help you need if you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
     

Volunteer with Healthy U

Do you have a passion for Health and Wellness? Do you want experience and training in health promotion and prevention? Are you interested in an opportunity to be involved in the health and well-being of your peers? Then Healthy U at the University of Manitoba is looking for you!

Please note: Healthy U applications are currently closed. Please email us at hwprogram.assistant@umanitoba.ca to be notified when we open applications again.

Why volunteer with Healthy U?

The Healthy U volunteer program is an opportunity for students to become health leaders on campus and gain hands-on experience in the field of health promotion and prevention. A Healthy U volunteer is a highly trained individual who is committed to educating their peers and raising awareness on a variety of health and wellness topics related to mental health, physical health, sexual health and substance use that may affect students during their time at university and beyond.

We are looking for applicants who are:

  • committed and caring
  • disciplined and driven
  • creative
  • team-players

Someone who demonstrates:

  • reliability
  • a strong interest in health and wellness
  • positive energy
  • strong communication skills
  • confidence
  • a willingness to do public speaking and approach students to speak with them
  • a willingness to be a positive role model
  • a familiarity with social media and/or basic computer skills

What to expect

Healthy U volunteers provide mental health, sexual health, and overall wellness education through office hours, outreach events, workshops and presentations to groups, and online content.

Once per week, each Healthy U volunteer will be required to fill a 2 hour, office hours session to meet 1:1 with peers. Office hours are not required during the final examination period – Healthy U volunteers are invited to volunteer to staff office hours during those times.

Volunteers may plan, design, create and host an interactive outreach events, presentations or workshops to educate University of Manitoba students on health related topics.

Contribute to online health and wellness content including social media accounts on health-related topics, contribute to the Healthy U Blog as well as promote Healthy U activities through UM Today, Student Weekly, etc.

Promoting health and wellness resources on and off campus.

Collaborate with other student groups or organization/departments on campus to address specific health and wellness needs by supporting, collaborating and attending health and wellness related events.

What's expected of you

Students who are chosen to be part of the program are required to:

  • Commitment to volunteer with the program for the Fall/Winter academic term.
  • Be enrolled as a full-time University of Manitoba student for the duration of the Fall/Winter academic year.

Commitment

  • Attend and complete mandatory fall training and team building
  • Be available each Friday in September from 2:30 – 4:30 pm for additional topic related training.
  • Be available each Friday during the Fall/Winter academic year from 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. for Healthy U team meetings.
  • The commitment and expectation of the program is 3.5 - 6 hours weekly.

Benefits

  • Develop highly sought-after skills transferable to the workforce such as planning and project development, group facilitation, health education, and interpersonal skills.
  • Gain experience volunteering in the field of health and wellness.
  • Be involved in a multi-pronged approach to addressing the health education interests of your peers.
  • Gain a sense of community and belonging.
  • Receive University of Manitoba Co-Curricular Record (CCR) recognition.
  • Participate in additional training such as Bringing in the Bystander and Responding to Disclosures.

Contact us

Health and Wellness
Room 469 UMSU University Centre 
65 Chancellor’s Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)  
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m.