Campus Resources
Campus Resources for Counselling and Sexual Health
1. Campus Counselling Resources UBC offers a variety of counselling services to help students figure out a way to have the best university experience they can. Making an appointment with a counsellor is a healthy way of dealing with any type of problems you have. UBC offers individual counselling, group counselling, sexual assault counselling and counselling for aboriginal students. Reach out to these professionals to ask any questions about difficulties in personal relationships, general well-being and mental health. Counselling services are available for same day appointments for urgent concerns — do not hesitate to call and schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you need immediate assistance. If you are a person concerned for someone else, you can talk to someone at the counselling services about how you can help. Location on Campus: Brock Hall Contact: 604-822-3811
2. Student Health Service Student Health Service is available to all registered UBC students and other students visiting or on exchange at UBC. There is help offered after hours as well with a doctor on-call who is available for urgent concerns only. Location on campus: UBC Hospital Contact: 604-822-7011
3. Wellness Centre This is a great place to get a few tips about safer sex. The centre is staffed with students who are passionate volunteers and promote a healthy lifestyle. The Wellness Centre offers personalized support through their Peer Wellness Coach program, a number of workshops on a variety of topics and a wide selection of safe-sex products for students to purchase on a budget. Location on campus: Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Room 183 Contact: 604-822.8450 4. SASC The Sexual Assault Support Centre is available for people identifying with all genders and sexualities to get support after they’ve experienced sexualized violence, intimate partner violence and/or harassment. SASC provides a variety of services, which include crisis and short-term emotional support, support groups, advocacy, education and outreach, a community lending library and a resource area. Location on campus: AMS Student Nest, Room 3127 Contact: 604-827-5180
5. UBC Women's Centre This is an AMS resource for everyone who identifies as a woman. They provide support, menstruation supplies and even a collection of feminist literature. Location: AMS Student Nest Room 2113
Campus Groups 1. Pride UBC Pride UBC offers social services related to sexual and gender diversity. Support is provided to anyone who identifies as gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, asexual, questioning, queer, intersex and people who do not identify. Pride UBC holds social events, provides a platform for dialogue and offers to assist people who are coming out. Location on campus: Resource Groups Centre in AMS Student Nest, Room 2103 Contact: 604-822-4638
2. CampOut CampOut is a summer camp providing a welcoming space for queer, trans, and allied youth between ages of 14 and 21. Location on campus: Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, 027-2080 West Mall Contact: 604-822-7014
Access and Diversity Resources
1. Re: changes to name or gender designation If you have any questions or need help with changing your name or gender designation, you can meet up with an Access and Diversity Advisor who will put a formal request to Enrolment Services. UBC provides gender inclusive washroom around campus — to find where they are located, check out the map on the UBC website under “Know my campus — Explore Diversity.” Location on campus: Brock Hall Room 1203 Contact: 604.822.5844
2. Assistance for discrimination and harassment There are a few on-campus services that can provide assistance when faced with discrimination or/and harassment. Access and Diversity student service can give advice on handling the situation in personal matters, while Equity and Inclusion Office has procedures for handling formal complaints. AMS Advocacy Office provides legal representation for undergrad students who are in conflict with the university. Location on campus: Access and Diversity: Brock Hall, Room 1203 (604.822.5844) Equity and Inclusion Office: 2306 – 1874 East Mall (Brock Hall) (604.822.6353) AMS Advocacy Office: AMS Nest 3118 (604.822.9855)
- By Lisa Fevral
Off Campus Sexual Health Resources
Vancouver Youth Clinics
Vancouver Coastal Health runs free and confidential clinics for youth aged 19-24. They provide emergency contraception, free or low-cost contraception options as well as counselling services and STI, Pap and pregnancy tests. As these clinics are free, no Care Card is required. While there are six different clinics across Vancouver, the Primary Care Youth Clinic is open every day of the week and is easily accessible from the 99 B-line. To ask about appointments, you can call (604) 709-6400.
Options for Sexual Health
Options for Sexual Health is a non-profit provider of sexual health services in BC. Opt clinics have no age limitations and are open to people of all ages, genders and orientations. Unlike the Youth Clinics, these services are not free so you will need a Care Card. There are three locations in Vancouver and the closest one to UBC is the Women’s Health Centre at the BC Women’s Hospital. To book an appointment, you can call (604) 731-4252 or email optclinic@cw.bc.ca. Opt also operates a free sexual referral and information service, which can be reached at 1-800-739-7367 or at (604) 731-7803 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Sexual Assault Service at Vancouver General Hospital
The Sexual Assault Service is available 24 hours a day to anyone 13 or older who has been sexually assaulted within the past seven days. It is open to survivors of all genders and does not require any medical coverage. The service focuses on respecting the decisions of survivors and offers choices about what care is received and whether to report to the police at that time. The services they offer include assessment and treatment of injuries, STIs and pregnancy prevention, as well as forensic evidence collection. Evidence of sexual assault can be collected and stored if the survivor chooses not to involve the police immediately. The service can also provide referrals to health, legal and community based services. People who identify as a woman and have experienced sexual assault can arrange for a counsellor from Women Against Violence Against Women to meet them at the hospital by calling (604) 255-6344. All survivors are welcome to bring a support person with them to the hospital.
- By Sophie Sutcliffe