According to Student Minds and UMHAN:
There are over 2.3 million students studying in UK universities, with many experiencing academic, social and financial pressures. We know that being at university can raise a number of unique challenges to mental health and wellbeing. With an increasing number of students accessing support services; the severity of distress and mental illness in young people; students leaving university due to mental health difficulties; and tragically the number of student deaths by suicide. However, we believe it does not need to be this way.
In conclusion to this they argue that ‘we need to work together to improve the university experience, allowing students to succeed and thrive.’
We couldn't agree more. At Space to Breathe, supporting others to thrive is at the heart of what we do which is why we’re keen to raise the profile of University Mental Health Day and provide some useful resources that you can use or signpost others to use that will help you if you aren’t thriving just now.
In the run up to University Mental Health Day on Thursday, we are sharing a series of self scans. Each day we will be sharing a one minute video focused on our body, heart, mind and soul, that allows us to examine ourselves and reflect on whether we’re flourishing. If you watch one of our videos and realise that you need additional support, get in touch with us; our staff our Mental Health First Aid trained and available to provide support.
Otherwise, you might find the following places helpful to receive some support:
Your university’s student support or counselling services : you can access support at your university through one of these services. It may be under a different name, but they’re usually services that you can drop in and access to receive face-to-face support
Student Minds : Student Minds have a fantastic webpage which links to different support services, whether you are looking for support yourself or for someone else
Well Beings : This a practical guide to good mental health for students, created in collaboration with SCM.
Are you a student, or were a student, who has experience of challenges to your mental health and wellbeing. Were you able to access support that helped you through this? What advice would you give to someone in the midst of this right now?
If you have a minute now, watch our heart scan video as Andy guides us through listening to our emotions and what our response might be: