Supporting Your Mental Health at University | University Mental Health Day

University can be a fun and exciting experience and is often a great opportunity for students to experience living on their own, making new friends, joining clubs and learning about a topic that really interests them. It can however also come with challenges around finances, maybe living far away from family and support networks and there can be a lot of stress from course deadlines. The aim of University Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of the mental health issues university students are facing. It is an opportunity to start a conversation around student mental health and ensure that student wellbeing is a top priority.

If you are a student and are finding things challenging, you are not alone. It is really common for students to experience difficulties with their mental health, with one recent survey finding 57% of students self-reported having a mental health issue and one in four having a diagnosis of a mental health condition. The day-to-day challenges of university life are made more difficult by the current cost of living crisis and the concerns around managing money were a source of stress for the majority of students in the survey.

Another particular challenge for students experiencing difficulties is feeling unable to talk about these issues, or even knowing who to talk to. Each university has a different process and the way that mental health is supported will vary between universities. However, a common approach is to have three levels of support;

• wellbeing services to deliver low-intensity support and signpost to non-medical services.
• counselling services for students with moderate mental distress.
• disability services for students who receive disabled students’ allowances and have a diagnosed mental illness.

Your university website should be able to help guide you to their wellbeing pages.

There are also specialist advisers to help support students with their mental health difficulties. This should be tailored to support your specific needs and the student support team should be able to help provide information on this. The most important thing is knowing that you can ask for support and that there are services available to help you.

Additionally, there are a range of practical support strategies you can implement yourself to help you manage if you are finding things challenging;

Self-Care:

• If things feel overwhelming, it is okay to take time for yourself and for your needs. This is different for everyone but find something that you enjoy and take time for yourself to do this. This may be listening to music, reading, cooking or going for a walk in nature.
• Take some time to reflect on what you are grateful for in life. You could make a note of this and can return to this when you feel you need a reminder.
• Routines can be really helpful. Going out and doing things (even if you don’t feel like it) can help, such as going out and seeing friends, doing exercise/sports clubs or attending lectures.
• If you are on any medication it is important to continue taking it and speak with your GP before making any changes.
• Sometimes if you are struggling, it can be helpful to think about what advice you might give a friend if they were in the same situation.

Relationships:

• Speaking with family and friends can help maintain a feeling of connection. If you have moved away from them for university then arranging a video/phone call may help.
• If you are struggling with relationships then finding ways to talk about how are really feeling can be a useful way to address these difficulties. This might include speaking to someone you trust about how you are feeling and letting them know you are struggling.

Finances:

• If finances are a difficult (and this is a very common challenge) then talking about it with your university and with your bank can help stop the issues spiralling out of control.
• Developing a budget or plan can be helpful. If things are difficult, universities often have grants and schemes to support students. Speaking with your student union is often the best place to start.

Community:

• Universities are often full of lots of different communities and have a range of opportunities to take part in. It is never too late to take part or join a group or club that interests you.
• Universities also offer a range of volunteering groups, as well as spiritual and religious groups who can provide support and community.

Supporting others:

If you are worried about someone else (either a friend or family member) then there are steps you can take to support them.

• Check in with them and let them know you are thinking of them. Small gestures can mean a lot.
• Be a listening ear, with patience and non-judgement. Acknowledging their difficulties can help normalise their experience and reassure them that they are not alone.
• Remember to look after yourself as well.

Further support

Helplines:

• Samaritans – Call 116 123. Open 24 hours, 365 days a year. https://www.samaritans.org/
• Student Space – https://studentspace.org.uk/
• Talk to Frank – Call 0300 123 6600. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. https://www.talktofrank.com/contact-frank
• Childline – 0800 1111. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/
• Shout – Text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. https://giveusashout.org/get-help/
• Students Against Depression – https://www.studentsagainstdepression.org/
• The Wellbeing Thesis – An online resource for postgraduate research students https://thewellbeingthesis.org.uk/
• In an emergency call 999 or go to A&E.