University of Toronto

Health and Wellness

Being in good physical and mental health is critical to maintaining good academic standing as well as quality of life. The University of Toronto is committed to helping students achieve optimal health and offers numerous confidential health and counseling services. Each campus provides students with a variety of health education and outreach programs and information materials, as well as clinicians and health care professionals.

Clinics and Centres

St. George Health Service

Health Service on St. George campus offers a range of services for University of Toronto students. The health team includes family physicians, registered nurses, a Community Health Coordinator, a Health Promotion Nurse, support staff and peer health educators.

Physician services include comprehensive medical care, counselling and referrals. Nurses provide information and a range of services including dressing care, immunizations and travel health education. Diagnostic tests and procedures, ordered in the clinic, are performed by a lab technician in the on-site laboratory.

Comprehensive sexual health assessment, care and counselling are also available for men and women, including contraception counselling, education and prescriptions. Contraceptive products are available at a reduced cost when prescribed by a Health Service physician. Male condoms are available free in the clinic waiting room, and female condoms are available free with counselling. The Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP), also know as the “Morning After Pill”, pregnancy testing, pregnancy support, as well as sexually transmitted infection testing, treatment and education are also available.

St. George Health Service is a designated Health Canada Travel Medicine Clinic and offers a complete travel immunization and education program for students.

In order to provide quality health care, Health Service staff recommends that students schedule appointments with the same physician, who can become familiar with their health history and needs. A “drop-in” option is available for a one-problem-only visit.

UTM Health & Counselling Centre

The UTM Health & Counselling Centre supports student health and wellness by providing high-quality medical, psychiatric and personal counselling care to the student body.  The Health & Counselling Centre is staffed by a team of dedicated health professionals capable of providing comprehensive care and includes family physicians, registered nurses, personal counsellors, a psychiatrist and a health educator.  The Centre also has a team of peer health educators that deliver health education and outreach programs to the UTM community. 

The Health & Counselling Centre’s full range of medical services include first aid of injuries, immunizations, physical exams, specialist referrals, birth control, sexually transmitted infection testing, pregnancy testing, as well as care for colds and flu.  In addition to medical care, individual and group counselling is available to assist students experiencing a wide range of challenges including body image, disordered eating, self-esteem, depression, apathy, anxiety, family conflict, coming out, transitioning, relationships, as well as emotional and social concerns. 

UTSC Health and Wellness Centre

The Health and Wellness Centre is a convenient and confidential medical clinic at UTSC offering health care, personal counselling and health promotion. Registered nurses are on site Monday to Friday, with the physicians’ schedule posted on the web site. Professionals are also able to provide personal counselling.

Physicians and nurses provide treatment of minor illnesses, first-aid, pregnancy tests, annual check-ups, birth control prescriptions and sales, STI tests including HIV/AIDS, immunizations and over-the-counter cold and headache medications. Appointments are recommended and walk-ins are accommodated. UTSC International students may pick up their UHIP card here.

Professionals including physician-counsellors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and psychotherapists can help with family problems, eating disorders, relationships, depression, anxiety, stress, drug and alcohol abuse and more.

Counselling and Mental Health Services

St. George: Counselling And Psychological Services (CAPS) offers University of Toronto students short-term individual counselling/ psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, group therapy, workshops, and psychiatric medication services. The interprofessional team provides students with assessment, treatment and referrals for a wide range of issues, including difficulties adjusting to university life, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, disturbances resulting from abuse and assault, prolonged stress, disordered eating, attention and concentration difficulties, phobias, and problems with sleep.

The focus of counselling or psychotherapy is on assisting individuals who are experiencing emotional or psychological problems or difficulties. The goal is to help students to clarify issues, to better understand emotions, relationships and responses, and to deal effectively with problems/challenges, so that they are able to achieve their personal and academic best.

To make an appointment to see a counsellor/clinician at CAPS, students do not need a referral, they can simply call 416.978.8070 to set up an initial assessment. Services are covered by OHIP, other provincial health insurance plans or UHIP.

CAPS is located in the Koffler Student Services Centre at 214 College Street, Main Floor.
For more information, visit the Counselling And Psychological Services (CAPS) website at www.caps.utoronto.ca

UTM: The UTM Health & Counselling Centre has an in-house psychiatrist that students may see by referral from one of the centre's doctors. The UTM Health & Counselling Centre also offers apointments with personal counsellors free of charge to students.

David L. Macintosh Sport Medicine Clinic

The David L. Macintosh Sport Clinic is located in the lower level of the Athletic Centre. The Clinic specializes in all health issues related to physical activity in a comprehensive sport medicine care facility. You don't have to be a high performance athlete to come to the facility. U of T students, faculty, staff and community are welcome at the MacIntosh Clinic.

Non Students and Students at other institutions require a doctor's referral to visit the clinic. Call 416-978-4678 for information.

UTM Sports Medicine Clinic

A sports medicine clinic  is available within the UTM Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre.  

Dentistry Patient Clinic

The Faculty of Dentistry offers a full service dental facility and will do fillings, dentures, braces, bridges, implants, children's dentistry, root canals, crowns, gum disease treatments, extractions of wisdom teeth and more. Under the supervision of trained dentists, our students successfully treat thousands of patients every year in our many dental clinics at reduced cost. Some programs have a long waiting list, particularly for braces and implants. For more information, visit the clinic web site.

Student Crisis Response Programs

St. George: The University of Toronto Student Crisis Response Programs are a series of initiatives designed to enhance support and access to resources for students in difficulty or distress. Through a series of programs and initiatives, we focus on connecting students in need with the resources that can assist them in resolving the difficult or critical situations they may encounter while engaged in their studies here. More broadly, we work to build capacities and develop networks across the university that facilitate connection, communication, and support for all students at the University of Toronto.  For further information please call 416-978-5536.

UTM: Student Crisis Response Programs at University of Toronto Mississauga may be reached by contacting the Office of Student Affairs & Services at 905-828-3872.

Health & Dental Insurance

International students: University Health Insurance Program (UHIP)

International students are covered by mandatory health insurance called UHIP.  For more information, please visit the International Students Centre (ISC) web site. 

Supplementary Insurance

Please note: Students who opt out of the supplemental coverage offered by their student union are still able to access the usual OHIP-covered services offered at the various campus clinics.

Full-time undergraduate students (St. George and UTM) and Toronto School of Theology students:

The University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU) - formerly known as The Student Administrative Council (SAC)  - health and dental plan was designed by students for students to provide you with many important services, and to cover expenses not covered by your basic provincial health plan, such as prescription drugs, health practitioners, medical equipment and more. Visit the UTSU Web site for more information and claim forms.

Full-time undergraduate students at UTSC:

The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) offers a health and dental plan for full-time UTSC students. The Plan was to provide many important services not covered currently by provincial health care such as prescription drugs, health-care practitioners, eye exams, and dental care.

Part-time undergraduate students (all campuses):

The Association of Part Time Undergraduate Students (APUS) offers a health and dental plan for part-time undergraduate students. More information and forms are available at the APUS Web site.

Graduate students:

The Graduate Students Union (GSU) runs supplementary health and dental insurance plans, that pays for some medical expenses not covered by OHIP or UHIP. Full and part-time registered students are automatically covered by the Dental Plan, but only full-time registered students are automatically covered by the Health Plan. Visit the GSU site for more information and the claim form.