On-campus facility offers resources for physical and mental health.
Assisting students to achieve and maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle is the top priority for staff members at The Wellness Center.
Housed in SLC 2200, the Wellness Center aims to empower the USFSP community by promoting a proactive approach to holistic wellness.
“It’s a great way to receive quality and professional service on campus,” sophomore Richie Marini said. “They deal with issues of health and mental well-being. It is convenient and you are sure to benefit from going.”
The center offers health education, psychological services and self-help resources.
Some procedures available include immunizations, physical exams, mammograms, contraception counseling, evaluation and treatment of minor illness, and management of chronic conditions.
“We can do anything a primary care provider can do,” said Dr. Anita Sahgal, Wellness Center director and psychologist.
There is no direct charge as most routine services are covered by the health fee students pay with tuition. There is a small fee for blood work for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, cultures, blood draws and other lab work because it is sent out of the facility for examination.
HIV testing is free every third Wednesday each month by appointment. Test results routinely come back within 20 minutes.
Students may be sent to an off-campus provider for services not offered at the center, such as skin care and physical therapy.
Counseling and psychological services are available those struggling with personal issues and need additional support, according to Dr. Sahgal.
Students can meet with a licensed psychologist or in groups with others experiencing similar circumstances. With the health fee, students can be granted up to 12 sessions, depending on the individual. If the student and psychologist still feel like more counseling is needed, the student will be referred out to another facility off campus.
Psychiatric services are also available through a counselor referral and includes a medical evaluation and treatment plan.
Wellness Week is a traditional semester event focused on various topics such as the fall targets stress management and the spring is focused on how to have a safe spring break.
Health Educator Victoria Beltran said the purpose of Wellness Week is showing students the options they have on campus.
The Wellness Center also offers training and workshops for students such as QPR Suicide Prevention (Question, Persuade, Refer) which teaches the early warning signs of suicide and how to refer people for help, and how to refer people for help.
In collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the center offers “Safe Zone Ally Training” to recognize the issues relevant to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/transsexual community.
The center now offers Biofeedback, a self-guided relaxation system that helps individuals understand the physiological functions of the body. It’s used to control, lower and prevent high stress levels and anxiety.
USFSP junior Savannah Gibbs said the center’s staff is helpful and willing to answer questions without judgment.
“The overall atmosphere is very calming and quiet,” she said.
Information:
The Wellness Center is open Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in SLC 2200. For the after hours hotline call (727) 873-4422.
