As director, what excites you most about leading the Murray Center, and how does its holistic approach to student wellness reflect the BC mission of cura personalis?

I am excited to be at the forefront of a multi-spectrum holistic health and wellness center that supports cura personalis—care for the whole person. The Murray Center for Student Wellness joins together University Health Services (UHS), University Counseling Services (UCS), the Center for Student Wellness (CSW), and Sports Medicine, and also links with the social work pastoral counselings in Campus Ministry.  With our shared electronic health record, 24-hour access to care, and energetic staff, we are bringing premium health and wellness care to our students and serving as a university leader in this field amongst national colleges and universities. 

Can you walk us through the 24/7 care model? Specifically, what support is available if a student faces a health or mental health crisis in the middle of the night?

We are, to our knowledge, the only university health center that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week while the residence halls are open during the academic year. BC students can come in for an acute nursing visit at any time of the night. A provider is on call every night to support our nurses, and we also have a mental health call service (ProtoCall) and a psychiatric emergency clinician (PEC) on-call nightly to provide additional nursing and patient support. 

For a student who has never sought therapy before, what does that "first step" look like at University Counseling Services (UCS), and how do you make that process feel accessible?

Students can find an approach to counseling a few different ways:

• If a student is feeling down and is interested in potential therapy, they can schedule a same-day appointment. These same day appointments can be a one- time visit or could extend into more regular care, depending on the situation.  
• If a student wants to talk with a student peer, we have 27 trained wellness coaches through the Murray Center for Student Wellness that can meet with the student and can also reach out to UCS if further care is needed.  
• Finally, a student can check in with one of our health service providers during a UHS medical appointment, who can then assist the student in getting the care that they need.

Beyond treating illness, how does the Murray Center proactively help students build the resilience and healthy habits they need to navigate the stresses of college life?

The Murray Center for Student Wellness collaborates with campus partners to introduce students to proactive care through informative sessions and signature events.  Recently, we’ve highlighted body neutrality, the men’s mental health panel, and healthy eating habits. Students can find information about all upcoming events through the Murray Center’s monthly newsletter. In addition, the Rooted podcast and our social media pages are great resources for exploring resilience options on campus.

How can I best support my student’s transition to university life so they feel confident in managing their own well-being and advocating for themselves on campus?

The best way to help your student’s transition is to encourage them to reach out on their own, and remind them of the many internal options for healthcare literacy, proactive services, and resilience on campus. We speak to both parents and students at Orientation, but our goal is to consistently remind students of the resources available to them on campus.

If you could give parents and family members one piece of advice for their students about the Murray Center for Student Wellness, what would it be?

The Murray Center for Student Wellness advances Boston College students’ health through an integrated model that unites health services, counseling services, sports medicine, and the student wellness center. Guided by the Jesuit principle of cura personalis, we foster holistic care that helps students grow, heal, and thrive throughout their time at Boston College and beyond. Do not hesitate to reach out to any of our branches with any questions!