Health and wellness

Nothing is more important to us than your health and wellness. Being a graduate student is exciting and can be challenging at times. If you are not feeling well, we are here to help.

Health and Wellness Services at Memorial University

Please visit the Student Wellness and Counselling Centre (SWCC) website for more information about the services offered by SWCC, including Ask a Registered Nurse online service, physician/nursing services, counselling services, vaccinations/immunizations, wellness and wellbeing, and academic supports. SWCC also provides a comprehensive list of answers to frequently asked questions about the supports and services they offer, as well as a list of online wellness resources.

Counselling Services for Graduate Students

Registered graduate students at Memorial University living in Canada can access short-term counselling offered through the Student Wellness and Counselling Centre (SWCC). Concerns may include but are not limited to:

  • Transition to graduate studies
  • Work life balance, time management and motivation, goal setting
  • Coping with stress, anxiety, mood, relationship difficulties, loneliness and isolation
  • Options for mental health and wellness services in the university or community

During these sessions, counsellors work collaboratively with students to help them find solutions for their presenting issues. While a 50-minute single session is typical in short-term counselling, follow-up sessions may be considered. If needed, options in receiving ongoing psychological support can also be explored.

To book a counselling appointment, please complete the SWCC request counselling form. You will be asked to login in to MyMun account and the form will be located at the bottom of the page. Please check off “Solution Focused Session” option to ensure timely support. Appointments are normally scheduled within 2 business days and are offered either in person (at the SWCC UC-5000 or SGS IIC-2012), or via Webex between Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

In addition, all MUN students in Canada or abroad can access 24/7 counselling in 60 languages through the keep.meSAFE program.

Mental Health Emergency

If you have an urgent mental health concern, please contact mental health crisis support in your local area. Individuals in Newfoundland and Labrador should contact the following community-based services:

  • 24-hour mental health crisis line: Call 811 to speak with a registered nurse trained in crisis intervention
  • Mobile Crisis Response Team: Call 811
  • 24-hour Walk-in Psychiatric Assessment Unit at the Waterford Hospital Site (Waterford Bridge Road, St. John’s): 1-709-777-3021 or 1-709-777-3022
  • Health Sciences Emergency Department (Columbus Drive, St. John’s): (709) 777-6335, or go to your nearest emergency room
  • 24 hour text with a Crisis Responder: For adults, please test "WELLNESS" to 741741; for youth, please test "CONNECT" to 686868

You may also find helpful some of these resources in the public domain:

Medical Insurance (updated November 15, 2021)

Graduate students and families are strongly encouraged to obtain proper medical insurance coverage on an ongoing basis. At a time of uncertainty, you want to ensure that you and your family are covered in case of a medical situation or emergency. For information regarding eligibility for coverage under the provincial Medical Care Plan (MCP) for NL residents and to apply, please visit the MCP website. Graduate students covered under the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan may contact the Internationalization Office for more information. Graduate students covered under Green Shield Canada Health and/or Dental Insurance plan may contact the Graduate Students’ Union for more information.

Canadian students: Graduate students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada who are enrolled at Memorial University as full-time students are automatically enrolled in Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan. Coverage under the Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan requires that you have a valid provincial medical coverage (e.g., MCP, OHIP, etc.) as your primary health care coverage. Green Shield Canada Insurance acts as supplementary health insurance, providing additional benefits included in the plan. To opt out of the Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan, visit the Graduate Students’ Union website during the opt-out period each semester. Please note that Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan and the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan do not provide coverage for students outside of Canada. Click here for more information about benefits under the Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan.

International students residing in Canada: Graduate students who are international students enrolled at Memorial University as full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan and the Green Shield Dental Insurance plan. To be enrolled in the Green Shield Canada Health Insurance plan, you will be required to have a valid provincial medical coverage (i.e., MCP) as your primary health care coverage. To opt out of the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan and opt into the Green Shield Canada Health Insurance plan, visit the Internationalization Office website and follow the opt out process during the opt-out period each semester. You must be a full-time graduate student and upload a copy of your valid MCP. If your request is approved, you will automatically be enrolled into the Green Shield Canada Health Insurance plan. Click here for more information about benefits under the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan. Click here for more information about benefits under the Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan.

International students abroad: Graduate students who are international students enrolled at Memorial University as full-time students are automatically enrolled in the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan and the Green Shield Dental Insurance plan. Full-time international graduate students studying remotely outside of Canada must opt out of the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan and the Green Shield Dental Insurance plan: 1) To opt out of the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan, visit the Internationalization Office website and follow the opt out process during the opt-out period each semester and select “Opt Out” and then “Outside of Canada Waiver,” 2) To opt out of the Green Shield Dental Insurance plan, visit the Graduate Students’ Union website during the opt-out period each semester. Please note that Green Shield Canada Health and Dental Insurance plan and the Foreign Health Insurance (Guard Me) plan do not provide coverage for students outside of Canada.

To view the specific health insurance components of MCP, Green Shield Canada Health Insurance, and Foreign Health Insurance, please review the Internationalization Office’s health insurance FAQ.

Sexual Harassment Office

All members of the university community have a shared responsibility for prevention and intervention of sexual harassment and sexual assault. The Sexual Harassment Office serves all members of the university community on all campuses and institutes of Memorial.

The Sexual Harassment Office works to:

  • Prevent sexual harassment and sexual assault through education;
  • Mitigate the effects of sexual harassment and sexual assault; and
  • Identify methods for timely resolutions of complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault which may arise at Memorial University.

To learn more, and to view resources, visit the Sexual Harassment Office's website.