Caring About Your Wellbeing
Medical school is a period of remarkable learning and personal growth. Students face considerable challenges both academically and personally during these four years. The Office of Student Support is dedicated to providing support for the mental and physical stress that students naturally experience.
Students have access to virtual counseling sessions offered through our School of Medicine counselors. Each student is eligible for eight counseling sessions per year. If more intensive therapy or medication management is desired, referrals can be given. Personal counseling is confidential and treated as patient information.
The UCI Student Counseling Center on main campus offers free individual counseling and has several group therapy opportunities available to students. You may access the Counseling Center through their website or by calling 949-824-6457.
The peer mentor program trains second, third and fourth-year students to be a source of support for other students and promote a culture of camaraderie and trust. The mentors help connect students to resources on campus and are available for one-on-one meetings and phone calls. In addition, they plan wellness-centered events for students. The peer mentors are offered ongoing guidance by the Office of Student Support.
Students have access to a number of academic support resources through our director for academic support services and learning skills specialist. Numerous workshops and one-on-one sessions with School of Medicine personnel and peers are offered to all students to ensure that they feel supported academically throughout their medical school journeys.
Students are grouped into houses with a faculty career advisor and student leaders. Ongoing ZotUnity wellness activities promote interconnectedness between pre-clinical and clinical students.
A process group, led by the School of Medicine counselors, is held quarterly for each class. During these sessions, students share their challenges with each other and help one another with coping strategies. Openness to mental health and support is encouraged. Topics discussed include: Everyone is Smarter than Me, How do I Feel about Dissecting a Human Body?, Step I Stress, Difficult Patient Encounters, Balancing Family Life and Medicine, How Have I Grown and Changed These Last Four Years.