The Student Health and Wellness Center approaches wellness from a holistic approach that emphasizes the importance of nurturing both the mind and the body. In this section, you will find a range of community and national resources and information pertaining to both your physical and mental health.
Academic Success
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Anxiety and Stress
Depression
Eating Disorders
English Language Services
Grief and Loss
Insurance
Nurse Advice Line
Nutrition
Sexual Health
Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Sleep Hygiene
Social Support
Suicide Prevention
Title IX
Academic Success
The Illinois Institute of Technology is an academically rigorous institution and one of the missions of the SHWC is to assist Illinois Tech students in achieving academic success while empowering them to also take care of their physical, emotional, and mental health.
Below you will find information about on-campus resources available to assist you in your academic pursuits, as well as information pertaining to effective study habits, efficient time management strategies, and other ways of effectively coping with academic demands.
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Are you concerned that you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol or other drugs? If you answered yes, please answer the 4 questions below for a quick assessment:
- "Have you felt that you ought to cut down on your drinking or drug use?"
- "Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking or drug use?"
- "Have you felt bad or guilty about your drinking or drug use?"
- "Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the morning to steady your nerves, to get rid of a hangover or to get the day started?"
A positive answer to two or more of these questions suggests the need for additional assessment of drug or alcohol use. You can come to the SHWC to complete this assessment by making an appointment for an intake with one of our counselors. If you prefer to speak to someone, please give us a call at 312-567-7550. Below is a list of available resources to you in the Chicagoland area including the suburbs.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Resources page
Anxiety and Stress
Stress is a normal part of coping with the demands of everyday life and unfortunately, it is a common component of the university experience. At an academically rigorous institution like Illinois Tech, students are often required to navigate the demands of multiple difficult courses, completing assignments on time, preparing for exams, being involved in student organizations, maintaining a healthy social life, and making time for fundamental needs like adequate sleep, good nutrition, and regular exercise.
Anxiety can be generally characterized as intense feelings of worry that are difficult to control. While these feelings can also be a normal part of daily life, they can also become overwhelming to the point that they impact your ability to function socially, academically, or occupationally.
If you feel that you are experiencing stress or anxiety to such a degree that these feelings have detrimental impact on your daily life, it is likely you could benefit from counseling services at SHWC.
If you are not interested in counseling at this time, here are additional resources that may help with coping with anxiety and stress, including information about mindfulness and meditation:
- What is Mindfulness?
- How to Meditate
- Guided Mindfulness Meditation Exercises
- A Guide to Stress Management
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Depression
Depression is different than feeling depressed. People can feel depressed for a brief time after they experience a loss or negative event in their lives, while depression is a mood disorder that impacts a person’s brain, body, and behavior lasting for at least two weeks. Genetics, stress, and your environment all play a role in depression
Depression typically impacts your mood, sleep, appetite, ability to concentrate, physical health, interest in activities, and desire to spend time with others. Thoughts of suicide or death are also common in depression.
If you feel that you are experiencing symptoms of depression to such a degree that these feelings are having a detrimental impact on your daily life, it is likely you could benefit from counseling services at SHWC. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or death, it is recommended you make a counseling appointment to discuss these concerns with a counselor.
If you are not interested in counseling at this time, here are additional resources where you can learn more about depression:
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Eating Disorders
One’s relationship with food is often a very important relationship in his/her life. Some individuals may develop an eating disorder or disordered eating behaviors that are detrimental to both their mental and physical health. People sometimes utilize food as more than a means to receiving the nutrition needed to survive. This can include utilizing food to manipulate one’s weight and shape to an unhealthy level, binging and purging to control one’s weight, or utilizing food as a way to cope with one’s emotions or stress. Eating disorders can include either significant dietary restriction or periods of binge eating and purging and an over-evaluation of one’s body shape and weight in relation to one’s self-esteem. Eating disorders can be serious conditions but they are treatable. They affect people of every age, gender, sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic group. Eating disorders usually require professional help and support to recover. There are several physical health consequences associated with eating disorders especially when left untreated. It is important to be proactive in their treatment.
If you feel that your relationship with food is unhealthy or you are struggling with your body image to the point where it is interfering with your daily life, consider scheduling an appointment with SHWC for an initial intake appointment. If you are engaging in binging and purging or are engaging in dietary restriction in such a way that you have lost a significant amount of weight in a short period of time, it is recommended you make a counseling appointment at SHWC.
- National Eating Disorders Association
- National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
English Language Services
Focusing on your English communication skills can help you in your studies and with getting more involved on campus, leading to greater academic and personal success. English Language Services offers communication classes along with weekly conversation groups specifically for international students who want to further their communication and cross-cultural skills. Email els@iit.edu for more information or visit english.iit.edu.
Grief and Loss
Grief and loss are experienced by many individuals and may, at times, be difficult to manage. While grief may be a result of the death of a loved one, it may also include many other losses that are not a result of death. Grief, for example, may be experienced when parents divorce, a friendship ends, or you relocate from a place you loved. Some of the feelings one may have after a loss may include: intense sorrow, longing for what one lost, preoccupation with the loss or circumstances surrounding the loss, and difficulty managing day to day tasks. While it is typical for one to experience difficulties related to loss, it may sometimes impact your ability to function day to day.
Additionally, while there is no specific way each person grieves, there are times when an individual may question whether or not their grieving process is typical. If you are concerned about how you are managing your grief, you may benefit from contacting the SHWC to schedule an appointment with one of our counselors. In order to schedule an appointment, you may stop by the SHWC, call and speak with someone, or schedule an appointment for an intake through the student portal.
If you are enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan, you have access to On - Call Travel Assistance. On - Call has a Repatriation benefit at no extra cost to you
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Insurance
The Illinois Tech Student Health Insurance Plan is provided by Aetna Student Health
Here you can access information about your insurance plan, use the DocFind directory to access community providers, print your student insurance card, among other things:
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Nurse Advice Line
Aetna Student Health gives Illinois Tech students access to the Informed Health Line (1-800-556-1555)
Sometimes your health question can’t wait until your doctor’s visit. Or even the next morning! With the Informed Health Line, you can speak to a registered nurse about any health issue on your mind — whenever you need to.
- It’s toll-free You can call as many times as you need — at no extra cost.
- Your covered family members can use it, too.
- You could save time, money and a trip to the ER.
You can turn to the Informed Health Line for helpful health information — instead of an unneeded trip to the ER. That can help you budget your money for when you really need to use it. Plus, you’ll be able to make smarter health decisions because you have good information — always only a phone call away.
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Nutrition
“You are what you eat” is a saying we all know and its importance is often overlooked. Nutrition has been proven to impact areas of well-being like attentiveness, mood, and academic performance, as well as major diseases such as diabetes, certain types of cancers, depression, and heart disease. Understanding how what you eat impacts how you feel, allows you to make choices everyday that can help or hinder your health.
Here you can find resources that provide information about how your diet impacts your health:
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Sexual Health
If one chooses to engage in sexual activity, it can be a healthy and important part of one’s life. The SHWC takes a “sex positive” approach to talking about sex and sexuality, and it is part of our mission to empower Illinois Tech students to make smart and safe choices about their sex lives. Here you can find general resources about sex and sexuality, including options for contraception, opportunities for STI testing, and other information about healthy dating and relationship practices:
Some sexual behaviors and practices, no matter what gender one identifies with, can put both men and women at increased risk for certain conditions all of which can contribute to long-term health problems. The SHWC aims to reduce unhealthy sexual behaviors in all individuals. We are sensitive to the needs of each and every student by taking into account biology and behavior and their respective effects on health. Regardless of sex, gender identification or expression, the SHWC strives to provide health services for the prevention, management, and treatment of many common diseases. We offer a variety of screening tests that can identify preventable & treatable health conditions including STIs and malignancies by pap, breast, rectal, and testicular clinical exams. In addition, we promote numerous family planning methods including contraceptive services.
We provide numerous educational events throughout the school year to give students a chance to learn more about how they can play an active role in staying healthy. If you would like further information on these services please make an appointment to speak with a medical provider at the SHWC. Below are some helpful links to current evidence-based recommendations designed to help keep students well:
SHWC is a sex-affirming, sex positive organization. As such, we want to ensure that all Illinois Tech students are appropriately informed and empowered to make safe, smart decisions about their sexual activity. This is why SHWC offers FREE CONDOMS to Illinois Tech students. In addition to using protection, one of the most important things you can do to ensure smarter, safer sex is to understand the importance of getting CONSENT. Click the link below to learn more:
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Assault
Unfortunately, the grim reality of life on college campuses is that unwanted sexual contact does occur. Illinois Tech and the SHWC make every effort to provide support and assistance to students who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct. Here you can find information about these resources, including a link to Illinois Tech’s Title IX policy:
Sexual Misconduct Resources, Reporting, and Confidentiality
Sleep Hygiene
When you think of hygiene, you most likely think of things like showering, brushing your teeth, using deodorant, and wearing clean clothes. It is also important to start to consider the importance of “sleep hygiene.”
If you experience difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up in the morning, it could benefit you to consider the following questions:
- Are you looking at screens (cell phone, laptop, television) right before going to bed?
- How much caffeine are you consuming throughout the day?
- How much light and sound is in your environment when trying to sleep?
- How much time do you spend in your bed during the day, studying, gaming, or engaging in other activities besides sleep?
- Do you go to bed and wake up around the same time everyday, or do you “catch up” on sleep during the weekends?
- How often do you hit the “snooze” button in the morning?
Please see below for more information about the importance of sleep and ways to improve your sleep hygiene:
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Social Support
As important as academics are to the Illinois Tech experience, college is also an opportunity to meet new people and try new things. Having people around us who understand our perspectives, challenge us to become better, or just make us laugh are all essential to our well-being. Below you’ll find a variety of ways to interact with other Illinois Tech students, new people in the city of Chicago, or find support online.
- IIT Student Organizations and Events
- Free Fitness Classes at Keating
- Find Volunteer Opportunities
- Meet new people and find new interests in Chicago
- Online Support Groups
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Suicide Prevention
It is not uncommon for a person in distress to experience thoughts of hurting themself or to have thoughts of taking their own life. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible, or to come to SHWC for a walk-in appointment during our operating hours.
We may not always be available to provide support and assistance, as our services are not available 24/7. Here are some phone numbers for services that are available at all times:
Academic Student Assistance Program (ASAP) 1.866.349.5575
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988
IIT Public Safety 1.312.808.6363
Insight Hospital 1.312.567.2000
Of course, in the event of an immediate medical or psychological emergency, you can always dial 911.
Here are additional links regarding suicide prevention as well as accessing support in the community:
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.
Title IX
There are also community resources that can be sources of support after instances of sexual assault. Rape Victim Advocates is available 24-hours, 7 days per week to provide immediate assistance and advocacy to survivors of sexual assault, as well as providing confidential advisors for those who are unsure how to proceed.
- Life-Span is an organization providing free legal advocacy to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
To schedule an appointment at SHWC, call 312.567.7550.