Health Update: How Northeastern Supports Student Health and Well-Being – What Experts Say

Balance, routine, sleep and nutrition are the pillars of student well-being, according to a Northeastern University mental health specialist.

“These are the basics,” said Danette Mucaria, associate director of mental health at University Health and Counseling Services. “We want to start there to make sure that they’re getting those basics.”

Northeastern offers a wide range of support and resources to help students meet those needs, many of which were recently highlighted at the Spring Health and Wellness Resource Fair on the Boston campus. Information about health, wellness and student support on other campuses is available online.

University Health and Counseling Services

University Health and Counseling Services provides medical and mental health care for students on Northeastern’s Boston campus, including same-day routine and acute visits, mental health support for drop-ins, testing, care coordination, referral to clinical providers and support for medical leave of absence.

The center encourages students to secure a primary care physician in Boston, Mucaria said, noting that UHCS staff can help connect them to providers.

Most visits to UHCS, located at 70 Forsyth St., Suite 135, are urgent but nonemergency appointments for single acute issues such as sore throats, coughs and fevers, said David Nasser, a nurse practitioner. 

All UHCS services are free for undergraduate and School of Law students, except for lab work or referrals to outside specialists. Graduate students may access care through a Student Health Plan or petition to pay a flat rate.

For mental health care, UHCS offers various access pathways, including phone consultations, drop-in visits, and 24/7 virtual, unlimited, free counseling through Uwill. Licensed clinicians provide brief assessments and help students determine next steps.

Additional mental health resources, including an anonymous peer-to-peer mental health community Togetherall, memberships for Headspace, a digital mental health platform, and self-paced modules, are available through Find@Northeastern and are free for all Northeastern students. 

Nutrition and dining

Two campus registered dietitians, Gabrielle Cabacab and Johannah Gaitings-Harrod, assist students in navigating food and dining options on campus.They support balanced dining by monitoring dining hall offerings and ensuring menus include vegan, vegetarian and faith-based options. 

“We do general nutrition, building balanced meals for any medical condition students have that needs nutrition management,” Gaitings-Harrod said.

The dietitians provide one-on-one nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy for students with chronic conditions such as prediabetes, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and polycystic ovary syndrome. They also address eating disorders and disordered eating and provide referrals to external dietitians when needed. 

They support student-athletes through a dedicated dining hall station with an athlete-specific menu and assist students with food allergies, including celiac disease, in identifying safe options on campus. Services are free for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, including those without a meal plan.

University recreation

“We’re all about having fun and building an amazing fitness community, whether it be in our all-skill levels, intramural sports leagues or group fitness classes,” said Bradley Cook, assistant director of university recreation. 

Students can participate in team and individual sports such as flag football, softball, soccer, broomball, badminton, floor hockey and volleyball. There are no tryouts, practices or coaches.

“You just sign up on our website, join the team, and you come and play,” Cook said.

Intramural leagues include all-gender, women’s and open divisions, with winners receiving champion T-shirts. Students can also register for more than 70 group fitness classes for a one-time fee of $50 per semester. 

Nationally certified student trainers offer personal training, though waitlists may apply. Students can also earn certification through a 10-week personal trainer course offered each fall and spring. 

Office of prevention and education

The Office of Prevention and Education (OPEN) located at 307 Ell Hall, focuses on student wellness through education and prevention initiatives related to alcohol and other drugs, sexual violence and sexual health. 

“All of our services in general are non-judgmental and confidential, so students can have a trusted conversation with a staff member — for alcohol and other drugs in particular — get personalized feedback on things that are coming up for them,” said Kimberly Bement, assistant director for health education. “They don’t need to be looking to make a change, but if they’re curious about that, staff can help navigate that and come up with the plan.”

Students who have experienced sexual violence, dating violence or stalking at any point of their lives can seek support through OPEN’S Sexual Violence Resource Center, Bement said. The office also provides resources for parents to support prevention and response efforts.

OPEN encourages informed decision-making around sexual health by offering educational programming and connecting students to STI testing and free sexual health supplies near Northeastern’s global campuses. Students on the Boston and Oakland campuses can access low-cost emergency contraception and free supplies through the Wellness Vending Machines.