Supporting Your Student's Health and Wellness

The Student Wellness Centre is the home of medical, emotional, and mental health services and supports for students on campus.  Our team includes doctors, nurses, counsellor/psychotherapists, and, on the Waterloo campus, a registered dietitian, registered massage therapists, chiropractors, and physiotherapists.

All registered students have access to our services, and we have offices on the Brantford, Waterloo, and Milton campuses.  Whether it's for routine medical care, including immunizations, when your student is sick, or if they are upset, in distress, or looking for short-term therapy, the Student Wellness Centre is the place for students to come when they need support for their health and wellness.

As parents and supporters, there are things you can do when your student is still at home and once they are here to help them take care of their health and wellness, so they can thrive at Laurier.

While Your Student Is Still At Home

Health Cards

Before you student leaves home, make sure their health card is not expired.  Your student needs a valid health card in order to see a doctor in Ontario.  For Ontario residents, this means that your student should make sure their green OHIP card is not expired and make sure they bring it with them to school.

If your student is coming to Laurier from out of province, they still need to bring their provincial health card with them.  It will be accepted in the SWC and by community clinics, specialists, and at the hospital (there are some exceptions for students from Quebec).

Finally, most international students will be enrolled in the UHIP insurance plan or GuardMe, and they will need to provide proof of coverage to receive medical services in our clinics.

Immunizations

The months ahead of coming to school are a great time to make sure your student is up-to-date on Ontario Public Health's vaccination recommendations.  Visit this page for more information about Laurier's immunization guidelines for incoming students.

Please note, there is currently an outbreak of measles in Ontario, and all residents are strongly advised to be up-to-date with two doses of the MMR vaccine to prevent illness and potential interruptions to work and school due isolation requirements from Public Health. Read more about the measles virus here.

Extended Insurance

You can help your student understand that the Undergrad Health and Dental Plan is an extended insurance plan that helps pay for prescription drugs, vision and dental care, chiro, physio, and massage services (including in the SWC), and more.

Don't forget that even if your student opts out of their student health plan, they can still use the Student Wellness Centre because our services are for all registered students.

Specialist Medical Care

If your student is receiving complex medical care from a specialist or their family doctor, don't discontinue that care when they come to Laurier.  Your student should talk to their doctor before they leave home to make a plan for prescriptions and the continuation of care while they are away.  Once your student arrives at Laurier, they can give us a call to discuss how we can support that plan.

Once Your Student is at School

The team in the Student Wellness Centre is committed to providing excellent support and services to all students.  We are here when they need us.  As a parent or supporter, we won't be able to discuss your student with you, but you can still remind them about us and encourage them to come and see us when they need support.

Privacy and Confidentiality

The Student Wellness Centre is governed by provincial privacy legislation (the Personal Health Information Protection Act), and we will not discuss your student with you without prior written consent from them; this includes confirming if they have registered with us or attended an appointment.  We will also never book an appointment with a third party, and this includes the parents of students who are under 18.  Visit this page for our full Privacy and Confidentiality statement.

If you are worried about your student because they are ill or because they are having a hard time emotionally, you can support them by reminding them about our services and telling them to contact us.

If you are concerned that your student is in immediate danger or a risk to their own or someone else's safety, call 911.

Sudden or Acute Illness

Our doctors and nurses are here to care for students when they are sick.  Some examples of issues we consider urgent are urinary tract infections, symptomatic STIs, fevers, severe sore throats and severe respiratory illnesses.  Students can drop by or call us to book an appointment with a doctor.  If your student needs medical care when we are closed, visit our Urgent and After-Hours Care page.

Because there is increased measles activity in Ontario, in the 2025/26 academic year we ask that students call us or check our website for instructions before coming in if they have a fever, cough, red or watery eyes, or a rash that spread from the face.

Urgent Emotional or Mental Health Concerns

We hold space in our counselling schedule every day for sudden or urgent concerns.  If your student feels upset, distressed, or unable to cope, they can call us or drop by to ask for a same-day counselling appointment. 

There are also many off-campus counselling options that offer same-day support in person and over the phone.