Wellness Resources

There are many health and wellness resources available to you at Stanford, and we encourage you to take full advantage of them. This page contains resources that are specific to Stanford University and the Biosciences, and are intended to support you throughout your graduate education.

You can also always connect with our Office of Graduate Education team with any questions or concerns by reaching out to oge-helpme@stanford.edu.

Need Urgent Help?

If you need help immediately for yourself or someone else, please contact one of the following 24/7 resources:

650-723-3785	Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
650-723-8222	Graduate Life Office (GLO) Pager. Dial the number, then enter ID # 25085
988	Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
911	For medical or mental health emergencies; call 9-911 if calling from a campus phone

Direct Support & Consultation

Need consultation and support? Below are resources available to you, whether you just need someone to talk to or would like to file a report.

Consult

Office of Graduate Education (OGE) – The Office of Graduate Education is a private resource that provides students with guidance and helps them explore resources. Contact oge-helpme@stanford.edu for more information.

SoM Ombudsperson – This is a confidential, informal resource that can function as a listener, mediator, or facilitator. The Ombudsperson offers resources and possible next steps to students and staff. Contact Jim Laflin at jlaflin@stanford.edu. Individuals affiliated with programs outside of the School of Medicine, such as Biology and Bioengineering, are welcome to consult the University Ombuds.

Graduate Life Office (GLO) – The Graduate Life Office is a private resources that answers questions and provides advice and resources to graduate students. For 24/7 crisis assistance, text 25805@pageme.stanford.edu. For non-urgent assistance, contact graduatelifeoffice@stanford.edu.

Mental Health Support

Mental Health Team & Counseling and Psychological Services – The School of Medicine Mental Health Team (MHT) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provide mental health support through therapy and psychiatry by way of short-term care and resource connection. The MHT resource is free for all Biosciences MS and PhD students, and CAPS requires a copay. All appointments are made through CAPS – 650-723-3785. If you are wishing to book with the MHT, please let the CAPS scheduling team know when you call so that they can direct you appropriately.

Office of Religious & Spiritual Life – The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is a resource that provides non-judgmental attention and support for everyone. Talk with a Chaplain by scheduling an appointment here.

Confidential Support Team – The Confidential Support Team strives to foster connection, healing, and thriving for those impacted by sexual, relationship, and gender-based violence through consultation, counseling, and outreach. For urgent, 24/7 assistance, contact 650-725-99 55. For non-urgent assistance during hours of operation, contact 650-736-6933.

Reporting Options

SHARE/Title IX – The SHARE/Title IX Office specializes in investigations, supportive measures, informal resolutions, and compliance for those impacted by sexual harassment and violence.

Ethics & Compliance – The Office of Ethics and Compliance deals with issues related to Stanford’s code of conduct.

Protected Identity Harm – This resource deals with protected identity harm, through one of two reporting routes: the data route or the connection route.

Threat Assessment – This resources handles any concerns related to student safety and well-being.

Learning & Academic Support

Need academic support? Below are resources available to help you thrive academically at Stanford.

Grant Writing Academy – The Grant Writing Academy provides resources such as workshops, grant coaches, and a proposal library. There is a $250 incentive for proposal submissions.

Hume Writing Center – The Hume Writing Center provides tutoring for writing and speaking, as well as Dissertation Bootcamp and other resources.

Center for Teaching and Learning – The Center for Teaching and Learning provides resources such as student learning programs, academic coaching, and peer learning consultants.

Schwab Learning Center at Children’s Health Council (SLC @ CHC) – SLC @ CHC provides 1:1 academic coaching for school and work, psychoeducational evaluations for learning disabilities and ADHD, post-evaluation counseling sessions, and referrals for psychiatry and psychological services. The services provided by SLC @ CHC are free for all Stanford Students. Learn more about eligibility for evaluations and other ADHD resources here. Connect with SLC @ CHC by calling CAPS 650-723-3785 and requesting a consultation visit to discuss a referral to Schwab, then register for SLC @ CHC.

Connection & Community

Looking for a sense of community? Below are resources available to help support you socially at Stanford.

BioPeers – BioPeers provides informal peer mentorship through non-judgmental guidance and support.

BioSci Events – Throughout the year, Stanford Biosciences puts on weekly events, including Bagel Wednesdays and various workshops.

LKSC 4th Floor Student Lounge – The LKSC 4th Floor Student Lounge contains a fitness center where you can attend classes and get personal training and a quiet room.

Student Organizations – Stanford has a plethora of student organizations for graduate students, including:

Stanford Biosciences Student Association (SBSA) – SBSA represents graduate students from biology-related fields in the School of Medicine, the School of Humanities and Sciences, and the School of Engineering.
Biomedical Association for the Interest of Minority Students (BioAIMS) – BioAIMS is an inclusive organization that provides a welcoming home for all Biosciences students at Stanford to celebrate their identities, especially those that have traditionally been marginalized in academia.
Stanford Black Biosciences Organization (SBBO) – SBBO seeks to build a community among Black bioscientists in the School of Medicine in conjunction with the greater Black community at Stanford.
Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST) – FAST is a program in which Stanford University graduate students mentor Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST) toward achieving their goals of answering open questions in science and engineering clever solutions to problems in their society.

Work & Life

Need financial help or living accommodations? Below are resources available to help support your success in work and life as a whole at Stanford.

Financial Support

Emergency Grant-in-Aid – This is a university-wide resource for financial hardships/unexpected expenses. Grants are limited to $5,000 per academic year, and are accepted on a rolling basis.

Graduate Cash Advance – The Graduate Cash Advance is a resource available to graduate students to help with expenses before graduate financial support is posted and/or TA/RA salaries are paid. Cash advances can be requested in increments of $1,000 to $3,000 every quarter. This is not additional aid but rather functions as a no-interest loan that must be repaid once graduate funding is distributed.

Biosciences Hardship Fund – This is a Biosciences PhD-specific resource for expenses that are creating financial hardships. Students are limited to $5,000 per academic year and can apply twice per year.

Mental Health Support Program – Students can receive up to $1,000 per academic year to support mental health copays, medication costs, etc. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Navigating Life

Resources for Parents

Graduate Life Office – The Graduate Life Office is here to support graduate students with children by connecting them to campus resources, offering support services, and organizing events and programming for all members of the family.
Graduate Family Grant – The Graduate Family Grant provides up to $20,000 per year per family to eligible graduate students with dependent children.
Parents in Academia Group

Leaves of Absence

Graduate Life Office
Office of Graduate Education
Your Department

Accommodations

Office of Accessible Education (OAE) – Through both academic and housing accommodations, OAE works to mitigate physical and attitudinal barriers that students might face.

Physical Health

Stanford Recreation and Wellness – athletic facilities, group fitness and recreation classes, intramural sports.

Have another resource to suggest? Contact srasnick@stanford.edu