May 19: Health & Wellbeing: Deacon Health, Appointments, and Essential Conversations
Dear parents and families,
This week, we focus on health and wellbeing — from how your student will manage their physical care to the important conversations you need to have before they arrive. But first — your weekly reminder of important action items:
Action Item Tracker
Housing 101 for Incoming Students and Families – tomorrow (May 20)
‘30s and P’30s are invited to join us on May 20 at 12 p.m. EST to learn more about the housing assignment process and what to expect when you receive your assignment in early June. Registration is required for this webinar. Note that this will be recorded for families who cannot attend live and will be posted on the Incoming Students Page of the Residence Life and Housing website after the fact.
Log in to Wake Network to Verify Your Contact Information
Due June 1
If you have not already done so, please verify and update your family record in Wake Network to ensure your correct email and phone number are on file.
Health and Immunization Forms
Due July 1
Reminder that it is critical for all students to upload documentation to their Deacon Health Portal by the July 1 deadline. In addition, students need to check their secure messages in the Deacon Health Portal regularly to ensure they are not missing any emails about their uploaded documentation.
Featured Topic: Helping your Students Prepare for their Healthcare on Campus
Deacon Health has created this comprehensive guide to ensuring your student is ready to navigate healthcare on their own. Below is the Cliff Notes version for you if needed:
- Connect with Deacon Health (for students managing chronic conditions): Deacon Health serves as your student’s primary care provider while at college. If your student has ongoing chronic conditions, please have them schedule an appointment now to get established while they are well.
- Prepare Your Student for Independent Appointments: Students over 18 manage their own appointments. Encourage your Deac to be fully aware of their medical history, including medication allergies and specialist visits, to enable effective communication with care providers.
- Prepare a Basic Medicine Kit: A small kit of over-the-counter essentials is a lifesaver when your student gets their first cold. Include fever reducers, bandages, basic pain meds, hydration drinks (like Gatorade), and non-perishable food (crackers, soup).
Essential Wellbeing Conversations
Before college begins, it is vital to discuss your family’s values and expectations for your student’s wellbeing. Those should include:
- Mental Health conversation: Discuss any family history of mental health concerns. If your student is being treated for stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health condition, encourage them to connect with the University Counseling Center (UCC) now to discuss continuing support. UCC offers free individual and group counseling and after-hours support.
- 24/7 Support: Save the We Are Wake number: 336.758.CARE (2273). This is the non-emergency service to call if you have concerns about your student’s mental health.
- Alcohol and Drugs conversation: These conversations are crucial protective factors. Discuss your family’s expectations regarding alcohol and drugs, as well as family history of addiction (if applicable).
- Birth Control, Sexual Health and Consent conversation: sexual health is part of adult lives, and every family will have to find its comfort level in talking about sexuality with their student. Wake Forest has also developed a Consent Conversation Guide to help you with that important topic.
There are other conversations you should have throughout the summer; we just want to focus on the health and wellbeing conversations first.
We will skip next Tuesday’s message because so many people have Memorial Day vacations. You’ll hear from me again on Tuesday, June 2!
Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)
Executive Director of Family Communications