Health promotion is a public health strategy that seeks to empower and guide choices that improve health and wellbeing rather than focusing solely on prescribing changes to an individual's behavior (like telling someone to eat better). Instead, it recognizes that a person's health is influenced by a complex network of factors—a system—at many different levels. 

BWell Health Promotion at Brown aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and tools to support their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of their communities so they can thrive in all facets of life. To address these diverse facets, we employ a variety of interventions simultaneously. A few examples include:

• Policy Development and Support: Brown's Anti-Hazing Policy, Medical Amnesty
• Community Programming: Culture of Consent and Community Care, workshops
• Individual Support and Education: Appointments, Sexual Assault Response Line

By addressing health and wellbeing at multiple levels, our approach aims for sustainable and impactful change rather than focusing on any single level alone. Our focus areas include fulfilling relationships, consent, supporting survivors of interpersonal harm, stress management, sleep, substance use, sexual health, and more. 

Yes! All of our services are available to all Brown students - graduate, medical and undergraduate. This includes but is not limited to appointments, workshops, health empowerment tools and peer education programs.

All appointments and services at BWell are covered by the required Student Health and Wellness Fee. There are no copays or insurance bills that you will receive for BWell services. We also offer health empowerment tools at no cost. 

Additionally, BWell and the Student Health Services pharmacy provide emergency contraceptives at no cost to students. You can find them at our BWell on the Go stations located throughout campus, or you can visit the pharmacy directly. Be sure to show your Brown ID to receive them for free.

BWell offers one-on-one confidential appointments for students seeking professional support related to sexual harm, sexual health, and substance use. Appointments are available to Brown students at no cost. You can request an appointment on our appointment request form or by emailing bwell@health.brown.edu.

Yes, BWell appointments are confidential. Licensed providers in BWell Health Promotion have confidential privilege. Confidential privilege further protects your privacy in legal proceedings.This means information can not be shared with others without the student's consent, except under specific circumstances required or permitted by law. (e.g., if there was an imminent risk of harm to you or others).

You can request an appointment by filling out the appointment request form or by emailing bwell@health.brown.edu. You can expect a response within two business days (BWell is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). For urgent support after an incident of sexual, relationship, or gender-based harm, call the 24-hour Sexual Assault Response Line (SARL) at 401-863-6000.

A BWell collaboration can take many forms. You might consider:

• Booking a workshop led by a BWell team member– or requesting one you can facilitate yourself through our workshop in a bag offerings
• Co-sponsoring a BWell event through your campus organization
• Requesting wellness materials, including safer sex supplies, for your student group or residents through the materials request form
• You can also email us any time for a consultation about collaborating at bwell@brown.edu

Our professional staff team consists of licensed clinical social workers and public health professionals. We also have student staff in the roles of graduate research assistants, office coordinators, facilitators and leaders in our peer education groups.

BWell defines health empowerment tools as resources and materials that support social and mental wellbeing and physical and sexual health. Some of the tools we offer through our BWell on the Go stations and BWell by Mail service include fidget toys, selfcare items, cold and flu prevention supplies, affirmation cards, informational booklets on topics such as relationship maintenance, wellness worksheets and safer sex supplies. 

Harm reduction is a public health strategy grounded in justice and human rights that was originally conceived to minimize the adverse effects of drug and alcohol use. It encourages positive change by providing non-coercive and non-judgemental services and resources without minimizing or ignoring the dangers of certain behaviors. Harm reduction frameworks can be applied to public health issues ranging from STI prevention to smoking cessation to road safety (The National Harm Reduction Coalition).

BWell utilizes harm reduction approaches in much of our prevention and response work. To read more about harm reduction for alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs, check out our overview of harm reduction and our harm reduction for alcohol use page. The Donovan Program for Recovery and Substance Free Initiatives offers a weekly Skills for Harm Reduction (SHR) Group for those looking to apply these principles to their own substance use.

BWell Health Promotion and Student Health Services are not the same thing, but we work together closely. Both are departments within Brown’s Student Health and Wellness unit. Health Services is where you can find all the stuff you typically find at a doctor’s office. BWell utilizes educational materials, confidential support, and community outreach to supplement and complement Student Health Health Services’ clinical care.

BWell has five Peer Education Programs, each of which has their own unique mission and purpose. 

• If you’re interested in exploring the intersection of gender, society, and wellbeing, check out B-TEAM (Brown Transforming, Exploring, and Affirming Masculinities).
• If you’re interested in helping students manage stress through hands-on relaxation techniques like upper back and neck massage, check out BURP (Brown University Relaxation Project).
• If you’re interested in facilitating workshops that help on-campus communities discuss consent, build deeper trust, improve communication, and explore individual and group identity, check out SAPE (Sexual Assault Prevention Education).
• If you’re interested in promoting sexual health and destigmatizing conversations about pleasure through a variety of unique workshop modalities (e.g., discussion, painting, dance, etc.), check out SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness Group).
• If you’re interested in collaborating with peers to design and implement student-focused health and wellbeing initiatives for the Brown community, check out WPE (Wellness Peer Education).

For both our volunteer and paid positions, we actively recruit students who are interested in promoting health and wellness. Positions do not require prior experience or participation unless specifically noted. BWell employs 50-70 students in any given semester. Follow BWell on Instagram to see when we are recruiting.