Thousands of Queen’s students will have the opportunity to help inform the university’s health and wellness services and programs, starting on Jan. 28.

A random selection of 6,000 undergraduate students and 1,000 graduate students at Queen’s will receive email invitations from Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney and Rector Alex Da Silva, to participate in the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey of student health and wellness.

The online survey, which takes approximately 20 minutes, will remain open until Feb. 15. Participation is confidential and voluntary. Students who complete the survey will receive $6 in flex dollars which can be used at any hospitality services outlet on campus.

“The NCHA survey gives us a snapshot of student health and wellness across a wide range of areas, including physical, mental and sexual health, substance use, nutrition, eating, sleep, stress, body image, and sense of belonging and well-being,” Ms. Tierney says. “We also receive valuable information on health-related issues most commonly affecting academic success, and the responses help inform our health promotion activities, and the services and programs we offer.”

Queen’s has previously participated in the survey in 2013 and 2016. Results prompted the development of several initiatives, including Athletics and Recreation’s ‘Get Your 150’ campaign, which encourages Queen’s community members to complete 150 minutes of activity each week, as well as peer-led health promotion workshops on the importance of sleep, managing back pain and how to ‘practice safe tech’. Results from recent surveys will also help to inform the Campus Wellness Project which is working to develop a framework to encourage and support a culture of well-being for all who learn and work at Queen’s.

“This NCHA survey is an opportunity for students to participate in the ongoing conversation about health and well-being and it will help the university best respond to student needs and preferences,” says Ms. Da Silva. “The goal is to support the academic and personal success of all students.”

More than 30 post-secondary institutions across Canada are participating in the survey, which will also provide national and provincial statistics.

Staff and faculty members who receive questions from students or want more information about the survey can contact Beth Blackett, Health Promotion Coordinator, Student Wellness Services.