MBU Wellness
MBU Wellness runs the health education, programming, and campaigns that serve students, faculty, and staff — workshops, trainings, campus events, and the resources behind them.
On this Page:
Updated Monthly
This Month @ MBU Wellness
On-Campus Events
SafeTalk training for students Grafton 201 | 9/22/26 | 1-5 p.m.
LivingWorks safeTALK is a half-day, FREE in-person workshop for students that empowers you to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide, talk with them directly, and connect them to life-saving support. Through hands-on practice and guided learning, you’ll build the confidence to have open, honest conversations that can make all the difference.
MBU Wellness is partnering with the Valley Community Services Board for this event.
Questions? Contact Erin from the Valley Community Services Board:ebotkin@vcsb.org
Monthly Observances
Suicide Prevention Month
- From the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), learn about the risk factors of suicide
- From the Health Advocate blog, find out how to address the issue of suicide in a caring, nonjudgmental way
National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15
- From the Health Advocate blog, learn about ways to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month
Fruits & Veggies More Matters Month
- From the Health Advocate blog, learn why you should really eat fruits and vegetables, ways you can enjoy produce this fall, tips to include more fruits and veggies in your diet, and the benefits of eating the rainbow of fruits and veggies.
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
- From the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), get tips to support your children and teens with healthy routines and find out how much physical activity your kids need to stay healthy
- From the Health Advocate blog, learn how to help your kids get fit with these family-centric physical activity ideas
National Recovery Month
- From the Health Advocate blog, here’s how to reduce stigma during National Recovery Month and how to take back control if you’re addicted to alcohol
National Cholesterol Education Month
- From the CDC, learn more about cholesterol here
- From the Health Advocate blog, find out if you’re due for a cholesterol screening
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- From the CDC, click here to learn more about prostate cancer and get a tip sheet that includes questions for you to ask your doctor.
- From the Health Advocate blog, find out if a prostate cancer screening is right for you
Healthy Aging Month
- From Health.gov, check out these Move Your Way physical activity tips for older adults
- From the Health Advocate blog, use these tips to help your senior loved ones stay engaged, find out how to help your parents navigate aging, and read about ways to help maximize your aging loved ones’ independence
Upcoming Health Advocate Webinars
For MBU Faculty and Staff
Sept 17 | Suicide Prevention: What to Know and How to Help | 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.
Oct 15 | Strategies for Coping with Grief, Trauma, and Beyond | 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.
Find Support
These services are available year-round. You do not need a referral, and you do not need to be in crisis to use them.
TimelyCare Mental Health Services
for students
Free, 24/7 virtual mental health and counseling support. Register with your MBU email address.
In-Person Health Services
for students
Care for routine and acute illness is available locally through MBU’s partnership with Augusta Health Urgent Care.
Wellness Coaching
For Students, Faculty, and Staff
Work with Wellness Director Christine Flory to schedule a meeting in person, remote or phone call.
Employee Health & Wellness Programs
for faculty and staff
MBU faculty and staff can access numerous resources and opportunities designed to support your health and well-being,
Wellness Ambassador
Become a Wellness Ambassador!
Wellness Ambassadors are a dynamic group of students who are passionate about an inclusive, comprehensive and holistic approach to well being for the MBU community. This includes undergraduate, graduate, commuter residential and online students.
Wellness Ambassadors develop a multitude of skills, such as, leadership, public speaking, time management, goal setting, working within a team, program planning and evaluation. These skills prove useful in life and future careers.
Apply to empower the MBU community to take action around their well being so they can live their best lives.
Questions? Reach out to Christine Flory: cmflory@marybaldwin.edu
Ongoing Wellness Initiatives
Menopause Matters: Empowering Wellness at Work and Beyond
Members from the MBU Wellness Program and faculty from Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Nursing, and Physical Therapy have partnered to create an engaging, evidence-informed program designed to educate, support, and empower women through every stage of the menopause transition.
Whether you are just beginning to learn about menopause, currently experiencing symptoms, supporting someone you care about, or simply planning for the future, this program is for you. We welcome MBU employees and alumni of all ages, recognizing that knowledge gained today can help build confidence, healthy habits, and informed decision-making for years to come.
VA ABC Substance Abuse Grant
The Safer Squirrels Initiative: Alcohol Risk Reduction & Community Wellness project is a comprehensive, evidence-based alcohol education and prevention initiative designed to reduce high-risk drinking behaviors among first-year college students, with a special focus on student-athletes and PEG students.
This program integrates screening, early intervention, skills-based education, and peer-led prevention strategies to foster safer decision-making, increase alcohol-related knowledge, and promote a healthier campus culture.
Unplug and Unwind: Digital WellBeing
A campus wellness program designed to help students, faculty and staff take a break from constant screen time and build a healthier relationship with technology. Through interactive activities and practical strategies, students will explore how digital habits can affect sleep, stress, focus, mood, and social connection. Participants will learn realistic ways to set boundaries with technology, reduce mindless scrolling, and create more space for rest, movement, connection, and other activities that support their well-being.
The goal isn’t to eliminate technology—it’s to help students and the MBU community use it more intentionally instead of letting it use them.
Breathe Deep. Breathe Free.
Breathe Deep. Breathe Free. is a campus wellness initiative designed to raise awareness about the health impacts of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine while connecting students, faculty and staff with practical tools and resources to make informed choices.
Through interactive education, prevention activities, and judgment-free cessation support, students, faculty and staff can learn more about nicotine use, explore strategies for quitting or cutting back, and discover healthier ways to manage stress.
Breathe deeper. Feel stronger. Live free.
Archive
Watch Past Virtual Sessions
Employee Assistance Program Recordings, 2026
Employee Assistance Program Recordings, 2025
Standing Resources and Links
Standing Resource Links
For Students
TimelyCare
Free 24/7 virtual counseling and medical visits
Student Health Services
Provided in partnership with Augusta Health
For Faculty and Staff
Employee Assistance Program
Confidential counseling through Anthem, plus TalkSpace
Health Advocate Portal
Log activity and track quarterly incentive points
For Everyone
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, any time
VapeFreeVA.org
Vaping cessation for young adults and the people supporting them
Quit Now Virginia
Free coaching to quit tobacco ·
1-800-784-8669 · text READY to 34191
Valley Community Services Board
Community behavioral health services in the Staunton area
Connect
Connect with MBU Wellness
Get info on events, and glean insights and strategies on a variety of health-related topics:
- Follow MBU health and wellness on Instagram
- Watch MBU announcements for upcoming events
- Faculty and staff: Look out for updates each month in the MBU newsletter
Our Director — Christine Flory
Christine Flory is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and personal trainer with over 20 years of experience.
Christine has served as the Director of Wellness Initiatives at MBU since 2022, leading campus-wide strategies that foster student, faculty, and staff well-being through innovative, evidence-based programs.
Her goal is to foster culture of wellness that integrates physical, mental, emotional, and social health into the university experience.
Don’t hesitate to contact her with your health and wellness needs at cmflory@marybaldwin.edu.