Student Wellness

Residence Life Don – First-Year Communities

 
Dons are upper years that live with you in residence, and they have first-hand experience of the highs and lows of university life. Dons are trained in Emergency First Aid and mental health crisis response. Talk to your Don when you need: 

• Support transitioning to campus and university life 
• Emergency assistance, including for a mental health crisis, for yourself or a friend 
• Help meeting others in the community 

Talk to your Don by knocking on their door or contacting them by email. If you are not sure who your Don is, email reslife@uwaterloo.ca. 

Residence Life Don – Upper-Year Communities 

Dons are upper-year student leaders who live in residence and support upper years. Dons are trained in Emergency First Aid and mental health crisis response. Talk with your Don if you are: 

• Struggling to find balance or managing the challenges of university life 

• Managing stressful responsibilities, like job-hunting, personal finances, or grad school apps 

• Looking to make connections and meet people in residence 

Talk to your Don today by knocking on their door or contacting them by email! If you don’t know your Don, email reslife@uwaterloo.ca. 

Residence Life Don-Graduate and Family Communities 

Dons are grad student leaders who live in Columbia Lake Village (CLV) and support the CLV Graduate & Student Family Community. 

Dons are trained to get you the help you need.   

Talk with a Don if you are: 

• Managing stressful responsibilities, like research, job-hunting, or personal finances 

• Struggling to find balance or managing the challenges of grad school 

Connect with a Don today by attending a virtual community event. If you don’t know your Don, visit or call the CLV front desk. 

Duty Staff 

Duty staff are available overnight from 8PM-8AM, 7 days a week. Duty staff receive extensive training in crisis response, including supporting students through mental health emergencies. Call a duty staff at any time overnight if: 

• You or a friend in residence needs any type of emotional or medical support 

• You need to talk to someone about anything at all, including feeling lonely, homesick, or unsafe 

Call the Duty Staff numbers posted in your community, or you can call from your Front Desk. 

The CLV Don on-call is available from 8 p.m. – 8 a.m. every day and can be reached at 519-500-3037. 

Residence Life Coordinators 

RLCs are full-time professional staff on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some of them live on campus and are available to respond quickly. 

Your RLC is trained to support you with any level of emergency, including mental health support. You can meet with your RLC for any reason at all including: 

• If you need support gaining access to resources on campus 
• If you are finding yourself struggling to maintain balance and self-care 
• If you feel unsafe for any reason  

Your RLC is happy to listen. Send them an email. If you’re not sure who your RLC is, email reslife@uwaterloo.ca. 

Front Desk Assistants 

FDAs are upper years that work at the Front Desk of every residence building. They are trained to be your one-stop-shop for getting access to any support you need. Talk to an FDA when you need: 

• Information on accessing a campus resource 
• Help with personal or academic stress 
• Support with any level of emergency 

FDAs are great listeners, and they love when students pop by the Front Desk with questions. Visit your Front Desk or view their contact information here. 

Counsellor in Residence 

Counselling support is available to help you monitor, manage, and maintain a balanced life. Our Counsellors in Residence meet with students from all over campus in both of their office locations: MKV Residence and Needles Hall. Consider accessing Counselling Services at Needles Hall if you are looking for: 

• Individual counselling appointments (one-on-one) 

• Drop-in counselling (no appointment required on Wednesdays and Thursdays) 

• Urgent crisis counselling (no appointment required any time) 

• Personal success workshops on coping with anxiety, depression, or stress 

To access any counsellor, you must first register on main campus at Needles Hall. Talk to your Don or visit Counselling Services today if you have questions. 

As a university student, you may spend a lot of time on academics, co-op, or research. However, making time for some positive wellness habits is just as important and can actually improve your performance. We know this can be difficult due to COVID-19 and social distancing.  

Here are some resources to keep yourself well: 

• Register for an e-sports tournament 
• Watch this "What is self-care and how do I practice? (video)" 
• Stay active and engaged with Warriors Athletics and Recreation; there's something for everyone, such as intramurals, online fitness classes, and health webinars 
• Take a mental health training (such as QPR, More Feet on the Ground) 
• Book an individual Counselling Appointment with Counselling Services 
• Attend an online group or workshop (offered through Counselling Services) 
• Take the Health Services Self-Assessment 
• Find out about the next Thrive Week events 
• Check out our Virtual Activities Library 

Other Resources and Information: 

• Apps 
• Videos 
• Podcasts 
• Other Campus Resources 
• Search for help by topic (e.g. anxiety, depression)