Supporting your mental health and wellbeing in the transition to University

Beginning University can be a really exciting experience for many, but it also brings its own unique challenges and changes that can have an impact on our mental health.

For many students, University is the first time they have lived independently away from home and having to manage your own chores can be a big adjustment. It can be really helpful to practice key skills whilst still living at home, such as by doing a mock weekly shop, learning to use a washing machine or making a few easy meals with a parent. If you will be living in halls or with flatmates, it is always more fun to incorporate these tasks together. This can help with combatting homesickness too by establishing connections and meeting new people.

Building familiarity with the local area can also be a great idea, such as by going on walks to explore the new area to see what it has to offer. You can combine this with socialising with friends and/or seeking spaces in nature to boost the wellbeing benefits as well as helping you to feel more settled. These walks may also provide opportunities to discover student-friendly events that have been arranged by non-University organisations.

It is a common worry that you may struggle to make friends but it is key to remember that all students will be in a similar position. Attending the University’s Fresher’s Events can provide an amazing opportunity to meet other students – whether it’s for coffee and cake mornings with other members from your course or a night outs with flatmates. Another great place to try is the society fair as most societies will have an introductory ‘give it a go’ sessions where you can meet others with the same hobbies as you. The more people you meet, the more likely you are to find people that you share interests with. It is important to remember that it is unlikely that you will be friends with the first person you met or be close with your whole group of flatmates.

Although it can be tempting to go home in the first couple of weeks due to homesickness, if you can stick it out for at least the first month this can be really helpful as this is often busy with events and socials you would otherwise miss out on that can be brilliant opportunities to connect with others. It can help to have a clear idea of when you are next going home and making plans to meet up with friends from home when you are back.

It can also be a bit of an adjustment adapting to the academic expectations in university level courses, as these can be much higher than those in school. It can sometimes take time to become comfortable with this however you can view it as a challenge to learn from in order to fine tune your skills and study practices in order to improve. Ensure to keep things in perspective, be kind to yourself and be proactive in considering how to plan for a better outcome next time.

You may find it helpful to take the time to consider financial planning too to ensure you feel comfortable and confident in your position. This can be as simple as trying to track your spending for a week or month to get an idea of how much you’re spending to then figure out what your costs may likely be compared to what sources of money you have coming in. Learning to budget and doing your best to stick to this budget will help you stay more on top of things.

This period of transition and change in your life may result in a higher risk of developing mental health struggles. Sometimes, you can support yourself by understanding and managing your stress response, establishing healthy coping mechanisms and learning how you best tackle challenging situations. However, at times you may require additional support from a qualified professional and if so, it is really important to seek help early.

University can be a very exciting time in your life but it is natural to feel nervous and apprehensive as you navigate this transition from one part of your life to another.