As students, setting aside time for our social and mental health is central to our well-being. The Wellness Hub at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) is set to become a student-led sanctuary, offering a fresh approach to on-campus student support.
On Jan. 24, this innovative new space, located in the Student Union Building and designed with direct input from students, will open its doors. The Hub, open daily, will offer students a host of healing activities, from therapeutic dog visits to bracelet-making workshops and board game nights.
The space is designed for connecting with people and to disconnect from devices.
Isabelle Doucet-Fletcher is the coordinator of the Positive Mental Health Team at UNB. She emphasizes the Hub's unique student-centred approach.
"It's exciting to see it come alive with the students' visions," she said, highlighting the space's focus on fostering natural connections between peers rather than through traditional structured interventions.
How the Hub works
As students balancing studies and work, we can overlook our social health and the importance of face-to-face connection.
In the frosty winter months and amid a busy academic season, maintaining a sense of community and caring for our social well-being can be especially challenging. Time spent isolated and on our devices as a reprieve from study hours can increase significantly during this time.
Doucet-Fletcher sees the value the Hub will bring to campus because of her own experience as a first-year student during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It was difficult to meet people at the time, so I struggled in my first year and felt homesick." she said. "I wish I had had something like the Wellness Hub. It would have been perfect to meet folks to spend time with."
Matthew MacLean is UNB's mental health strategist. He's well-versed in the disruption the virtual world has on students' mental health and general well-being.
"While providing better connections for some, digital devices and social media have driven higher levels of social anxiety and disconnection.
"The Hub is all about creating a relaxed, welcoming space where students can drop by anytime and find real connections," MacLean said, stressing the benefit of a less structured approach and a device-free zone to help people connect with each other.
"Instead of making everyone follow a strict program, we let students explore different activities at their own pace and figure out how they want to engage."
Deeniti Saha is a third-year psychology student and one of two social health connectors at the Wellness Hub.
Every social health connector is formally trained to provide support and connection to peers who drop into the Hub.
"I started my undergrad at UNB back in the winter of 2023," Saha said. "It was a challenge getting used to the weather and the curriculum. This was the first time I lived without my family, which took some time to get used to."
For Saha, connecting with her peers formed her university experience. "Through classes and becoming involved in clubs to do with social health, I made some great friends with whom I now live."
"I really hope students make use of the Hub. It's a cozy little space to destress and have a bit of fun in the middle of all the chaos of exams and assignments. I think it is different from other resources because it is open and available to use all the time, along with having a flexible structure."
"We can all relate to the struggle of putting aside time for your mental health," said Doucet-Fletcher. "At the Hub, people can take whatever time they are able to, whether that's a half hour or longer, to focus on themselves and foster in-person connections.
"I've made so many connections through the Positive Mental Health Team. In a space like the Hub, we can catch up with everyone and chat about things that feel relevant for students," she said.
By creating an inclusive, student-centered space that prioritizes genuine connection and peer support, UNB Student Affairs and Services is continuing to address the growing need for accessible mental health resources on campus, directly modelling the power of community and face-to-face interaction.
Located in the Student Union Building, Room 106, the Hub is open every day during the building's operating hours, with board games every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
If students would like to volunteer, get involved or find out more information about events, contact the Positive Mental Health Team in Fredericton. For support, students can contact counselling services or the student intervention coordinator at sit@unb.ca. Students from both campuses also have access to Togetherall an online, 24-hour mental health support platform. For additional mental health resources, see our mental wellbeing guides.
If there is an emergency, please call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Camila Lefebvre is a fourth-year English student on the University of New Brunswick's (UNB) Fredericton campus. She is a student-intern with the Strategic Communications and Marketing Office whose stories explore student health and well-being.
