Health Center

Want to learn how to improve your eating habits, get tested, talk to a counselor, or just get something to ease that brutal headache? The health center has a variety of resources, varying in quality. A lot of people complain that the health center doesn't have the most effective service.

Resources Avaiable to Students

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) /Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Testing

The health center provides HIV testing and counseling free of charge by appointment. People who get tested generally recieve counseling whether the result of the test is positive or negative and at the Health Center it includes:

• Reliability of testing
• Reasons for seeking testing
• Risks and benefits
• How one is notified of the results
• Risky behaviors and prevention practices

Females (at least -- perhaps males also) can get STD tests for free, without parental notification. This free test is for the three most common STDs, including HIV.

Testing for other diseases and infections is availiable but lab work must be sent to North Adams Regional Hospital and lab fees will apply. However, don't let this deter you, because your insurance may cover it if deemed "medically necessary". It's worth it to pay.

Health Education

The college employs a certified nutritionist to assist all students and (presumably staff) with eating disorders, general health questions, or planning an appropriate diet. One need not have any eating disorders to use the nutritionist, it is an excellent place to go if you want to start eating better or getting in shape. It's free to get advice and guidance on this now and once you're out on your own it will be good to know what your body needs. For appointments or information contact Ruth G. Harrison, Director of Health Services, x3166.

Psychological Counseling

The health center employs a therapist and several clinicians "with a wide range of experience especially dealing with those issues that are familiar to the college-age population." The Counseling Center provides comprehensive psychological counseling to all students currently enrolled at Williams. The services include: psychiatric evaluations, short-term individual or group therapy, crisis interventions, and medication evaluation, treatment, and follow-up.

• Appointments are availiable Monday through Friday.

Pharmacy

The Health center has a non-prescription basic pharmacy for ailments like colds, headaches, sore throats, congestion, etc. These drugs are free; medication over the long term is not.

Birth Control: Condoms are availiable. The oral contraceptives availiable are Triphasial, Lo-Ovral and Orthocept. The cost is $7 per cycle, which must be paid when the pills are received from the Health Center.

Morning After Pill: If you get the morning after pill the nursing staff will want to talk to you about birth control methods. WARNING: One of the nurses at the Health Center holds some more conservative views and has chosen before not to distribute Morning After pills, THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE MORNING AFTER PILL, you'll just have to get them from another staff member and it might be a little more inconvenient. If anyone gives you shit--don't let it stop you.