University Health Services Resources for the Black Community at Berkeley
University Health Services understands that historical mistreatment of Black people has led to the potential for great mistrust of the medical community.
Tragically and unforgivably, the medical profession has in the past had a hand in a number of inhumane practices including savage treatment during slavery, the infamous Tuskegee experiments on Black men, and the inhumane experiences of Black women being sterilized against their will and often without their knowledge.
To truly serve a diverse population, medical, mental health, and public health practitioners must at a minimum operate with cultural competency, the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures to help ensure that all community members’ needs are addressed. We strive to go beyond that and practice cultural humility, maintaining a willingness to suspend what we think we know about a person based on generalizations about their culture and instead being open to what they themselves have determined is their personal expression of their heritage and culture. We make a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation and self-critique; to redressing historical power imbalances in the patient-practitioner relationship; and to developing mutually beneficial relationships with communities.
We strive for continuous improvement through our equity and inclusion strategic plan, our ongoing cultural competency training specifically tailored to clinicians, multicultural training for all career staff, and by engaging directly with UC Berkeley’s Black community. Our doors are always open: please tell us what we can do better:telltang@berkeley.edu.
Resources
Be Well at Cal
Tips, resources to support students in taking care of themselves in all aspects of their lives, specifically around stress and resilience, gratitude, self-compassion, social connection, sleep, healthy eating, exercise, time management, and career planning. Follow us on social media to get wellness and important UHS updates in your feed.
Coping with Traumatic Events
Tips and resources for coping with trauma and traumatic events
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Highly skilled and culturally competent team with a wide range of programs to support academic success and self-development. CAPS offers short-term counseling for academic, career, and personal issues. There is no charge to get started, and all registered students can access services regardless of their insurance plan. No problem is too big or too small.
Health Coaching
Professional health educators provide free lifestyle and behavior guidance to increase your academic and personal success on topics like time management, procrastination, resilience and stress management, exercise, and sexuality.
Medical Services
Full spectrum of culturally competent medical services available.
Preventive Health
Healthy habits and practices, and specific advice and testing customized based on personal and familial health risks.
Sexual Health Services
As part of overall wellness, sexual health is more than just sex, condoms, and STD testing; it also involves feeling informed and empowered. Find resources for getting informed, protected, and tested. Tip: Did you know you can order STI testing without needing an appointment?
Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)
SHAC is an advisory board to University Health Services, Tang Center, and campus administration that represents the entire student population. Black/African-American students have representation each year. Recruiting begins each August, and members selection and meetings begin in September.
Social Services specialty counseling
Our confidential counseling services are topic-specific and aim to help students strengthen coping skills, problem solve, and identify resources. Open to all registered UC Berkeley students regardless of insurance, Social Services offers services such as chronic illness management, medical withdrawals, nutrition, body image, and disordered eating, pregnancy, relationship violence, and sexual assault, and gender identity counseling.