Wake Forest Launches Wellness Concierge Tool for Mental Health Support

The Wellness Concierge assists users in navigating on-campus wellbeing resources based on personal interests. Nicodemus was present on campus during the formal launch coinciding with World Mental Health Day, where she discussed the tool’s capabilities.

Warrenetta Mann, the assistant vice president for Health and Wellbeing, stated, "The tool provides responses related to wellbeing resources, opportunities for social connection, and can make quick connections. We have already had students using it and have received great feedback so far."

It is important to note that the Wellness Concierge is not intended to replace the University Counseling Center, the Office of Wellbeing, or Care Case Management in the Office of the Dean of Students. Instead, it serves as an additional pathway to mental health services under the We Are Wake initiative.

Mann emphasized the need for multiple support options, saying, "There is no one-size-fits-all way to provide support. The more options we provide, the more likely we are to reach a broad cross-section of our community. The Wellness Concierge brings all of the resources we have at WFU right to your fingertips."

Inspired by her own mental health struggles during college, Nicodemus aims for the tool to assist students at all times—whether in-person, on the phone, or via the app—allowing them to create actionable plans for support. She expressed hope that the Wake Forest community will utilize the tool early to connect with available resources before experiencing a crisis.

Numerous individuals contributed to the development of the Wellness Concierge, including:

- Shelley Sizemore, director of the Women’s Center

- Warrenetta Mann, assistant vice president for Health and Wellbeing

- Ashley Hawkins Parham, director of Wellbeing

- Marian Trattner, associate director of Wellbeing

Nicodemus noted, "Their perspectives on what students actually need, and where they get stuck, have directly informed how the tool’s conversations are designed."

Student groups, including members of Student Government and Campus Life Fellows, also offered significant feedback, helping to refine the tool's usability. One notable piece of feedback highlighted students’ feelings of isolation during their first year, prompting the inclusion of event recommendations tailored to individual interests.

According to Nicodemus, the tool reflects the inclusive ecosystem of Wake Forest’s campus, allowing not just students but also faculty and staff to direct students to appropriate resources. To learn more about the Wellness Concierge tool, users can visit go.wayhaven.com using their wfu.edu email address.