Wellness Lounge
Information Box Group
PGCLL 201
The lounge space is open for all students and is a place to relax, enjoy tea, read, pick up wellness resources, study, and chat with friends. Come by to ask staff and volunteers about our wellness resources, programs, and services.
In this space, you’ll find free tea, a Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) lightbox, an origami station, a colouring corner, and lots of campus and community informational pamphlets.
Workshops & Trainings
Information Box Group
Book a Workshop / Training with the Health Promotion Team
Popular offerings on campus include;
- Mental health 101
- safeTALK (suicide alertness)
- Self-care and community care
- Healthy relationships
- Responsible drinking and cannabis use
- Other related wellness topics
If you are interested in setting up a workshop for your club, event, or group, please contact us at wellness@mcmaster.ca.
Wellness Programs
Check out the awesome programs run by our Health Promotion team below!
Looking for a full list of counselling and wellness programs? Visit our Programs page.
Peer Educator Volunteer Program
With support from the Health Promoters at the SWC, volunteer as a Peer Educator to engage students with their wellness and contribute to a healthier campus community.
The Peer Educator program is a student-run health promotion initiative for undergraduate and graduate students overseen by the Student Wellness Centre’s Education team. Each year, Peer Educators develop and implement wellness programs to enhance campus well-being focusing on the topics of; Active Living, Food Literacy, Mental Health, Sexual Health, Substance Use, and Graduate Wellness.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Peer Educators are responsible for delivering workshops, providing evidence-based health information, and promoting wellness-related resources available on and off campus. Accordingly, students on our Wellness Outreach Team are ambitious, proactive, and driven toward making a difference on campus.
Learn More: Peer Educator job description
Applications for the 2024-2025 Academic Year are now closed.
Learn More About Our Initiatives
Active Living projects promote movement and activity in an accessible manner amongst all McMaster students, given the incredible scientific support a more active lifestyle has on one’s mental health.
Topics and activities include:
- Physical literacy
- Incorporating activity into student life
- Creating fun and social activities for students to get active
- Exam ‘brain breaks’ with #MacMoves
- Walks through Cootes Paradise through our Walk in Nature Days program
Food Literacy projects aim to increase students’ knowledge of food and nutrition and equip them with the skills needed to prepare food while considering taste, health, culture, and affordability.
Topics and activities include:
- Food skills
- Food security
- Farmer’s Market tours
- Gardening activities
- Cooking sessions through our Food for Thought program
Mental Health projects work to increase students’ knowledge of the many factors that contribute to their own state of mental wellness.
Topics and activities include:
- Resilience
- Self-care
- Building caring and supportive communities
- Stigma reduction
Sexual Health projects focus on educating the McMaster community about the different aspects of sexual health, and what it means to promote a sex-positive environment.
Topics and activities include:
- Healthy relationships
- HIV and STI prevention and testing
- Consent
- Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Gender and sexuality
- Reproductive rights
Substance Use projects use a harm reduction lens to reduce the social, psychological, and biological harms associated with substances like alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco.
Topics and activities include:
- Alcohol, cannabis, and vaping education
- Party kit-making
- Smoke-free campus cigarette butt litter audits
- Normalizing the choice to not use substances
Graduate Wellness
Campaigns
Check out past campaigns & events run by the Health Promotion team below.
Information Box Group
Free Flow x Period Equity Project
On October 10th, join us at PGCLL Level 1 from 1:30 to 3:30pm to learn more about the Period Equity Project on McMaster’s campus and help raise awareness for menstrual health.
Plus, if you signed up for a free Diva Cup this semester, be sure to pick it up at the event!
I'm Ready: HIV Self-Testing
The SWC became a proud to be a pickup location partner for the I’m Ready research program. Learn More Here.
Sunset & Hot Cocoa Walk
The SWC Peer Educator team hosted a sunset and hot cocoa walk on to help students learn about our active living programming while enjoying hot cocoa and the sunset.
Naloxone Training
Hamilton Public Health and and the Student Wellness Centre offered free training on the signs of overdose, overdose response myths, safe use and how to give the Naloxone. Free Naloxone kits were provided.
Meal Prep Series
Social Media campaign outlining 3 components of meal prepping.
- Cheap Eats – How to Buy Food in Hamilton like a local
- Food Storage
- Recipe Inspiration
A Healthy Living Wellness Outreach Team initiative.
Safe & Sexy
Students answered skill-testing questions to win sexy prizes like: condoms, lube, and more! This was a one day drop in program with over 300 Safe & Sexy bags handed out. Each bag included comprehensive print materials educating students on topics such as contraception, STIs, consent and more.
A Sexual Wellness Outreach Team initiative.
Sex Talk Tuesday Check it out!
A weekly series that aims to answer all of your sexual health questions! Students submit questions for future #SexTalkTuesdays. Answers to questions will be posted on a weekly basis in our stories and in our posts. *All submissions of questions will be kept anonymous*
Indigenous Art & Connection to Land
The Student Wellness Centre and the McMaster Museum of Art co-hosted the ‘Indigenous Art & Connection to Land’ Program in honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, residential school survivors, and those who did not make it home.
Through guided looking and reflective exercises, participants engaged with notions of land as represented in work by Indigenous artists from several nations. Participants were connected with art, histories, and issues directly related to the land in which they live and examined their shared responsibility as outlined in the Dish With One Spoon wampum agreement.
Meet the Health Promotion Team
Health Promotion Team
Cathy Jager
Manager, Nursing and Education
Taryn Aarssen (She/Her)
Health Promoter
To me, wellness, is a state of practicing the things that will contribute to a personal state of health and inner peace. It is dependent on other aspects of our life such as access to resources, relationships, identity and the environment we live in.
Interests: I enjoy biking around Hamilton to explore the many trails and parks.
Madison Behr (She/Her)
Health Promoter
For me, wellness speaks to the mental, physical, social, and spiritual needs of a person. In order to be well, we need to meet our needs within these categories- and this will differ from person-to-person!
Interests: Artwork, playing soccer and basketball, and going on family walks.
Jin Byun (He/Him)
Health Promoter
In my opinion, wellness means balancing the various aspects of health (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional) to live in a state where we are feeling and functioning the best we can. It involves listening to your given needs and engaging in actions that allow you to flourish, such as finding a form of sustainable and enjoyable exercise, deliberately scheduling “free time” to decompress, or strengthening your support network by socializing with friends and family.
Interests: Playing sports, exploring new restaurants, travelling, and spending time with friends.
Madeline Parr (She/Her)
Communications Coordinator
For me, wellness is a daily commitment to nurturing physical, mental, and emotional well-being through simple yet impactful practices. It’s about embracing self-awareness and self-love, recognizing our needs and treating ourselves with kindness and compassion.
Interests: I enjoy cycling, golfing, skiing, reading, watching sports, and doing my nails.
Student Staff
Fayth Frank (She/Her)
Program Support Assistant
Honours Life Science
For me, wellness is a holistic concept that involves caring for my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. These interconnected pillars contribute to a fulfilling life through understanding my needs, setting boundaries, and aligning choices with my values.
Interests: I enjoy running, playing sports, working out, reading, and drinking iced coffee.
Darren Sajeevan (He/Him)
Program Support Assistant
Honours Life Science
To me, wellness involves being mindful of everything that affects how you feel, including your environment, sleep, exercise, and diet. Prioritizing these aspects helps us be the best versions of ourselves every day.
Interests: I like to stay active playing soccer, working out, drumming, and I appreciate a good taco.
Michael Sampaio (He/Him)
Communications Assistant
Honours Kinesiology
To me, wellness means integrating habits into my daily routine that support both my physical and mental health. It also means allowing time for enjoyable but less healthy activities like watching TV or playing video games, and understanding that being too hard on yourself for missing these habits is counterproductive.
Interests: I enjoy walking my dog, reading, biking, and thrifting. My top hobby is exercising, which has taught me discipline and commitment.
Rachel Steirman (She/Her)
Program Support Assistant
Honours Political Science, in Judicial Studies and Public Law
I believe wellness involves various elements that enhance life and bring genuine enjoyment. For some, it may be exercise and strong relationships, while for others, it could be solitude or meditation. Each person’s path to wellness is unique, reflecting the tools and practices that help them fully engage in life.
Interests: I enjoy camping, fishing, paddle boarding, skiing, reading, and doing crafts.