Thursday 14 March 2024

University Mental Health Day 2024

The Editorial Team have come together for University Mental Health Day to share their top tips for students.


- Student Minds Blog Editorial Team


⭐ Creating time for yourself ⭐
by Taylor

In the hustle and bustle of university life (and just life in general) it's so easy to get lost or caught up in the stresses. Going back to the things you love doing and taking some time to be alone and value the simple things is so important. Sometimes, we just need to shut off the world and take a moment to figure out what we need and where we want to go next. It's all part of self-care!


⭐ Supporting a friend ⭐
by Madeleine 

Knowing how to support a friend with their mental health can be difficult - you want to say and do all the right things but you might not know where to start. Reassuring your friend that you will support them through bad times as well as good and being a listening ear can go a long way. Listen to them without judgement and encourage them to seek professional support if they need it. Remember to look after your own mental health when supporting a friend with theirs - you can't fill from an empty cup!


⭐ Finding your people ⭐
by Emily A

It can be tricky, when you're still trying to figure out who you are in this big wide world, to find people like you. Get involved and embrace new challenges in as many ways as you can to explore those around you and where you fit in, too. It doesn't always go right the first time so resilience is key! Everyone is learning and it's important to remember that finding your people isn't a fixed thing. I'm not friends with anyone I would have called my 'best friend' when I was at school - people change, and that's the way it should be. Finding your people might take time, but it's worth the wait.


⭐ Volunteering ⭐
by Emily T

Get involved! Join us! Faced with so many different options for extracurricular activities, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of opportunities when I first joined university. However, after spending almost three years at university, I believe that volunteering is definitely something every student should try to get involved in. There have been so many benefits to my mental health by volunteering. Supporting meaningful causes has allowed me to feel a sense of purpose and direction during my studies. Joining groups of like-minded volunteers has also reduced feelings of loneliness. I also feel more confident in different social situations! Just make sure not to take on too many responsibilities; it's important to prioritise time for yourself too.


How are you getting involved on University Mental Health Day? Share with the team - we'd love to hear from you!


Find out more about University Mental Health Day and how you can get involved.





Tuesday 5 March 2024

Inside the cave - opening Up

Ali shares his experience of opening up to people about his feelings while at university.


- Ali


Despite being on a counselling training course, the idea of me “opening up” didn’t really come to mind when I applied, enrolled, and attended my degree. Perhaps naively it didn’t occur to me that I would have to “open up” as part of the mandatory hours of personal therapy I have to attend as part of the course…

“you’re such an emotionally mature person” 
“you’re so connected with your feelings”  
“I feel like I could tell you anything”

But, opening up can be scary. Being heard can be terrifying. And being seen, properly seen, by another person can be horrifying. 

The first time I felt seen was when a lecturer picked up on a twinge of anger in my voice as I talked about my first academic year not ending how I wanted it to. That small recognition of my feelings, my experience, and of me drained the blood from my face. I felt incredibly cold. 

As if the usual words of everyday life we use to fill the day had vanished and I had been spotted. It was cold…but also a relief. I hadn’t said what I was feeling but someone had heard/seen it. I suppose being heard or seen was my precursor or first step to opening up. Knowing someone had received a small part of me and what I had feeling at the time gave a little nudge to open up a little more.  

When my mental health needed attending to, beyond the requirements of my course, it took a while to open up in therapy. I remember my therapist nodding along to what I was saying and then slowly but suddenly leaned forward and said  “why are you here today? You’ve spoken, very eloquently, about “stuff” but what do you want?”  I was taken aback. A deer in the headlights! My clever disguise of words and conversation had been seen, accepted, and they wanted to know more- more about what I wanted, more about what I felt, and more about who & how I was. 

The “old cold” came back as I told them, just a little bit, about how I felt about my reasons for coming for counselling. I suppose the “old sensation” of being perceived and received doesn’t go away and may be part and parcel of opening up. Opening up can involve a treading lightly of who we are and how we feel to another person. All the good, all the bad, and all the everything even just a little. 

Every time I have “opened up” it has felt like opening up a protective stone layer, like a cave door, over my chest and letting a little bit of the warmth out. It has gotten easy to open the cave door to others and let them see what is inside. It still feels somewhat cold but a different cold, more refreshing or brisk than scary. 

Anyone reading this who feels anything resembling the cold sensation and fear of opening up I have described I would say … I get it. Opening up, about mental health, about life, about yourself, and how you feel takes a certain amount of bravery and risk. I would also say, when you feel ready, give it a try with someone you know and who you trust. Ask them to listen to you without judgement (or as little as they can muster) and without intention to fix (again as much as they may want to). Ask them to let you be seen and be heard. Ask them to be there as you are being brave. 


Whether you are looking for support for your own mental health at university or supporting a friend, help is available.




Hi, I'm Ali. I'm a student who wants to write more about the ups, downs, and side-to-sides of navigating mental health and University life.