Health & Wellbeing

University of Galway recognises that the health of the campus community is the University’s most valuable resource, and we are focused on creating a healthier, happier and safer campus for students, staff and the wider community. Each of the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) is related to health and wellbeing in one way or another, and we understand that we can't be a sustainable campus without being a healthy campus.

Our University of Galway Sustainability Strategy 2021-2025, using a whole-of-university approach, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of students and staff who live, learn, work and play in our community by helping them to attain full physical, social, sexual and mental health and wellbeing. We collaborate with health institutions at the local, national and global levels and we deliver outreach programmes in communities.

Physical health and wellbeing

The Sports and Recreation Unit promotes participation in sport and physical activities by all students and staff. Our facilities include a 25-metre swimming pool, basketball arena and sports hall, 100-piece cardiovascular gym, sports pavilion, boat club, international-standard 400m running track, two GAA pitches, two soccer pitches, rugby pitch, training pitch, hockey pitch, and 5 kilometres of running trails. There are more than 40 Sports Clubs along with many Societies that promote physical activity and positive lifestyle choices.

We share our sports facilities with the local community, schools and the general public free of charge. For example:

The University of Galway Parkrun is a free, fun, weekly, 5km community event that is organised by volunteers and open to all. The Parkrun follows along the scenic route of the river Corrib through the grounds of the University of Galway campus.
The Biodiversity Trail and SDG Trail are not only educational resources, but recreational resources too! We encourage students, staff and the public to explore the trail and exercise while taking in the beauty of the natural environment.
You will often see community clubs using our sports pitches in Dangan or school students using our running trails all year round.
Two new outdoor gyms, located at College Green and across from the Arts Millennium Building. The gyms offer access to a range of exercise equipment including exercise bikes, leg press, chest press and shoulder press, pull down rowing machine, cross trainers, walkers, stepper, hand bikes and shoulder wheel station, and seating areas and water fountains. The outdoor gyms form part of the wider Sports for All initiative and one quarter of the equipment has also been designed to accommodate the needs of individuals with a physical disability.
University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome is is the worlds largest sports air dome, a versatile indoor facility, accessible to clubs and visitors throughout the region and beyond free of charge. As well as a year-round sports facility that contributes to the health and wellbeing by offering a venue for exercise and recreation to the community, It is used as a hub to host social and cultural activities in Connacht.
We have developed a Sensory Campus Map identifying the wide variety of Sensory Spaces available to our communities. Sensory design refers to the practice of creating spaces with the intention of engaging all of the human senses. This includes sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Incorporating elements such as light, colour, water and texture can greatly enhance the sensory experience. University of Galway's campus is already a campus of sensory experiences; particularly in relation to woodland and water, and formal internal and external spaces. The abundance of green and blue spaces means that birds and insects can be embraced and frequently seen and heard. The sensory campus map is an iniaitive to promote mental and social health and wellbeing and support members of our local and wider community that may have sensory processing issues.
The University of Galway Student Health Unit provide on-campus medical care to students in a confidential, professional and courteous manner. Visits to the Student Health Doctor and Nurse are free but there are charges for some services see "Services & Fees" section for more detail
University of Galway is partially a smoke free campus - it prohibited smoking in any building in the University and has introduced two smoke-free zones on campus. The new smoke-free zones re centred around two designated smoking shelters in the north and south campus, and cover some of the most popular buildings on campus, including the James Hardiman Library, the Arts Millennium Building, the Engineering Building, Áras Moyola and the Cairnes Building.

Mental health and wellbeing

University of Galway recognises the importance of strengthening mental health and resilience among our students and staff and provides access to mental health supports for students and staff.

Student Counselling provides a free hybrid service of in-person and online one-to-one counselling. We also provide group counselling and workshops. Seeking counselling is normal here and is not a sign that you are unable to cope, but of strength and resourcefulness. We support about 10% of the student population each year. Any problem, large or small, if unresolved, is welcomed here.

For our staff, we have free service by appointment. The Employee Assistance Service provides free professional counselling and information services available to all employees and members of their families/households. The Employee Assistance Service is managed by Spectrum.Life, Ireland’s largest provider of allied health services who deliver evidence-based health innovation to clients across Ireland and the UK.

University of Galway actively promotes good mental health through:

Weekly mindfulness sessions are offered to students and staff through Mindful Way at University of Galway. The online practice of mindfulness takes place every Wednesday and runs from 8am to 8.30am.
The month of October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we support Mental Health Ireland to promote free Connect to Five Ways to Wellbeing webinars, running every day in October.
University of Galway Students’ Union holds a Mental Health Week in October. In 2023, this included a Feel Good Fair, Speed Friending, CEAPAIM Student Success Workshop, Jigsaw 5 A Day for Mental Health Online Workshop, Financial Resilience Online Workshop, Share the Load Exhibit, and safeTALK Training.
University of Galway Students’ Union runs the Seize the Awkward campaign, with the aim of sparking conversations between men on campus around mental health, citing a Samaritans report that stated less than 20% of men reach out to others about their mental health and wellbeing. The campaign aimed to encourage young men to stand up and have that uncomfortable conversation with a friend about mental health.
Seas Suas is a student-to-student awareness and encouragement programme encouraging students to be aware of each other’s health and wellbeing through events and training.
SafeZone is our mobile app designed to help keep you safe and give you extra peace of mind across our campuses.
University of Galway is committed to regularly communicating wellbeing and mental health initiaitves via its weekly student e-zine. The digital newsletter serves as a key platform for sharing infomration about available support services, mental health awareness campaigns and stress relief activities. For example, see ezine March 2023 promoting wellbeing week; November 2023 promoting exam supports and sexual health awareness week ; and the November 24 mentai health and wellbeing edition. By keeping students informed in a timely manner, the university fosters a supportive environment where stduents can engage with their mental health.

Sensory and wellbeing

University of Galway's campus landscape is already one of sensory experiences; particularly in relation to woodland and water, and formal spaces. The abundance of green spaces means that birds and insects can be frequently seen and heard. Tracing a route through the campus with a focus on sensory experiences reveals the existing variety of qualities.

Sensory design refers to the practice of creating outdoor spaces with the intention of engaging all of the human senses. This includes sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Incorporating elements such as colour, water and texture can greatly enhance the sensory experience of a landscape. Check out our Sensory and Wellbeing Campus Map, including the multitude of sensory spaces on campus, both outdoors and indoors.

Sexual health and wellbeing

University of Galway provides students with access to sexual and reproductive health-care services including information and education services. The Student Health Unit offers Sexual Health Clinics with advice and guidance for people with concerns or queries regarding their sexual health. If you are experiencing symptoms or have had contact with a positive STI or would like a routine STI check and do not have symptoms, you can request an appointment. The University also provides sexual health guidance through a Student FAQ.

University of Galway’s Active* Consent programme supports young people and those that are important to them (teachers, parents, college staff and policy makers) in building their knowledge of consent as a key component of positive sexual health and well-being.

Social health and wellbeing

There are over 100 Student Societies and more than 40 Clubs at University of Galway. Students are encouraged to get involved in clubs and societies of interest to them, in order to make like-minded friends and develop new skills.

The CARA Connect programme aims to support the power of conversation and connection. This programme is a peer buddy system, where students are matched together to meet up for conversation, games, and a bit of fun! The system helps participants to increase social interactions and form new friendships with other students and their peers.

The Safe Campus programme is an initiative designed to raise awareness about maintaining a safe campus and raising awareness of personal safety wherever we are. The #SafeCampus campaign aims to communiate a number of support areas including Smart Consent (University of Galway's Sexual Health and Support Initiative: Research, Workshops and Campaigns), home and personal safety, Smoke-Free Zones and Green Campus.

Collaborations and outreach

Age-related conditions, cancer, chronic diseases, infection, and mental health are some of the major health challenges facing our society and economy. University of Galway collaborates with local, national and global health institutions to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. Some of our current research collaborations are listed here. Some examples:

Local: University of Galway collaborates with Croí, the heart and stroke foundation for the West of Ireland, through the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health.
National: University of Galway is collaborating with national health institutions through the Children's Research Network for Ireland and Northern Ireland. University of Galway has launched a new Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation. The new research institute brings together more than 200 researchers and academics to pioneer the understanding of disease, and solutions for healthcare.
Cross-national: The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey is a WHO collaborative cross-national study that monitors the health behaviours, health outcomes and social environments of school-aged children every four years. HBSC Ireland surveys school-going children aged 9-18 years. The study is conducted by the HBSC Ireland team, based at the Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway.
Global: University of Galway is leading a research project for Breast Cancer with EPHE-PSL; Danish Cancer Institute; ISOF-CNR; Saolta University Health Care Group; Galway Clinic; Houston Methodist Hospital; and other international partners.

University of Galway delivers delivers outreach programmes in the local community to promote health and wellbeing, including:

Local communities: Brain Awareness Week to increase public interest and engagement in how the brain works and communicate research findings to the public and inspire the next generation of brain researchers. In 2023, the Galway Neuroscience Centre organised two outreach events: the national heat of the International Brain Bee competition and the My Amazing Brain Exhibition.
Refugee communities: Occupational therapy students work with asylum seekers and refugees living in Direct Provision to improve their health and wellbeing. The students also work with the University of Sanctuary initiative.
Disadvantaged people: In 2023, University of Galway, in collaboration with the HSE network of Mental Health Service Coordinators for Travellers, launched a research study Traveller Mental Wellness Continuum: A qualitative peer research study of Travellers’ views.
Children: University of Galway hosts a "Teddy Bear Hospital" each year open to the public which aims to "treat" the teddy bear and for children to learn how to take care of the Bear's "Health" though three main themes: General Health, Lifestyle and emotional wellbeing.
University of Galway Students’ Union (SU) is a partner of the Galway Hygiene Hub. The Galway Hygiene Hub is a local initiative designed to collect and distribute hygiene products to charities and individuals in need in the Galway community. The SU monthly donation drives take place throughout the year. The hygiene hubs donation partners in Galway include COPE Galway, Galway Simon Community, Galway Traveller Movement and Saint Vincent De Paul amongst others. By addressing hygiene poverty through the donation drives, University of Galway is contributing to the overall wellbeing and dignity of individuals facing challenging circumstances.
University of Galway is a pilot site for the Age Friendly Campis initiative. University of Galway is a member of the Galway Age Friendly Alliance, a voluntary partnership of representatives from public sector agencies, Older People’s Councils and other organisations that promote a positive approach to ageing and develops programmes promoting health aging and community connection. See their latest published workplan and newsletter (pdf p8) demonstrating our input.
Family Planning: University of Galway has developed a Fertility & Contraception Toolkit as part of the Re(al) Productive Justice research project. The key goal of this project is to make visible the experiences of disabled people in Ireland seeking reproductive justice. The toolkit is aimed at professionals working in the medical, social work and legal sectors who provide services connected to fertility, assisted human reproduction, contraception and sterilisation. This toolkit provides information and practical tips for practitioners who support disabled people in making decisions and accessing services related to fertility and contraception.