Being a student is about finding your way, believing in yourself and overcoming challenges, but you don’t have to go it alone.
Every setback, rough patch and wrong turn is all part of being human, making us stronger and more resilient in the long run.
But the important thing to remember is that there are people who can help you get back on the right path.
The Wellbeing team at Falmouth will listen, advise and point you in the right direction for all sorts of issues, whether that’s personal relationships, general worries, or psychological or emotional concerns and mental health difficulties. We want to make sure you feel safe, supported, happy and able to get the most from your time at Falmouth.
To reach out, book a wellbeing appointment by visiting the Student Helpdesk, emailing wellbeing@fxplus.ac.uk or calling 01326 370460. Find out more about how we can support you:
“Everyone else seems to fit in so easily. I swear I’m invisible sometimes”
Sound familiar?
Our desire to be included or feel part of something is overwhelming at times. We get hurt if others seem to be having fun when we are not. Remember, you’re not alone. You might just need to give it another go. And who knows, maybe they’re feeling the same way too.
Find tips for overcoming loneliness and building connections at university in the Wellbeing Toolkit:
“Why am I always lying awake at night when I’m so tired?”
Sound familiar?
We all know that we tend to operate better after a good night’s sleep. Yet modern life seems to keep conspiring against us and making it hard to completely switch off, especially as a student.
A healthy adult needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Not enough sleep, or poor sleep, can lower our mood and make us more irritable, impact on our ability to be creative and leave us feeling burnt out. It can also be a sign of stress.
Lots of students struggle with sleep, but there are habits we can all develop to increase our chances of getting some good shut-eye.
Find out more in the Wellbeing Toolkit:
“It’s never good enough, no matter how much I work on it”
Sound familiar?
Do you set unrealistic standards for yourself? Focus only on results? Procrastinate? These are all signs you might be a perfectionist. On one hand, the drive for excellence can push you to do your best. However, the relentless pursuit of perfection often leads to stress, burnout and a fear of failure, which can affect your overall wellbeing.
Ultimately, there are going to be things you do well and things you do less well, and that’s OK!
Find out more in the Wellbeing Toolkit:
“I just feel like something bad is going to happen”
Sound familiar?
We all feel anxiety. It’s a natural response to the threat of danger that’s stuck with us since our cave-dwelling days.
Today, moderate levels of anxiety can help us perform well in certain situations, like job interviews or exams. However, excessive or prolonged anxiety can get in the way of our day-to-day lives or manifest itself as some sense of impending doom.
The more you learn to understand the way you’re feeling, the better you’ll be at managing feelings of worry or anxiety.
Find out more in the Wellbeing Toolkit:
I’ve never had to learn like this before!
If you find yourself struggling to get a handle on study at university, you can get free, friendly, personalised advice on any aspect of study no matter how small.
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Sound familiar? “LOSING HOURS ON YOUR PHONE...”
Endless scrolling? Vanishing into TikTok? YouTube on autoplay?
Our phones keep us constantly connected, but sometimes it feels like they are more in control of our lives than we are.
There are things you can do to help break the habit: - Set screen time limits - Use features like silent mode and notification management - Find offline activities that you enjoy
Find out more in the Wellbeing Toolkit:
“Why is everything so much harder for me than everyone else?”
Sound familiar?
Neurodivergent students often interact differently with the world. This can result in negative attitudes and a lack of understanding from others. Getting diagnosed is the first step towards receiving the support and adjustments you may need.
If you think you might have autism, ADHD, dyspraxia and/or dyslexia, email inclusive@ fxplus.ac.uk. We can send you a link to our free online screening tool, the Do-IT Profiler, then talk you through your next steps.
specific support
With You – confidential drug and alcohol support.
Healthy Cornwall – provides a stop smoking service as well as diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle advice.
Ara Recovery For All –provides support for anyone affected by gambling.
Georgia’s Voice – for young women and non-binary students. Man Down – for men and non-binary students.
Let’s Talk About Loss –for students who have experienced grief.
multifaith chaplaincy
Providing pastoral care for everyone, whether you have a faith or not.
You can find the chaplaincy in Tremough Barton Cottages on Penryn Campus and the Fox building on Falmouth Campus.
If you’re worried but it’s not an emergency, there is lots of useful information on the Student Minds site - from how to start a conversation to suggestions on how to provide support.
To find out more about any of these things, visit https://falmouth.myday.cloud/pages/mentalhealth or email wellbeing@fxplus.ac.uk.
MINDFUL MOMENTS
Things you can do to bring your attention to the present moment and calm the mind.
THINK ABOUT...
things you can see
things you can touch
things you can hear 2 things you can smell 1 thing you can taste
In an unpredictable world, it’s easy to get caught up in stress and anxiety. Grounding techniques offer a practical way to pull your focus back from what’s worrying you and return to the present moment.
Practise when you are feeling OK, so the techniques work when you really need them. You could also use these to help a fellow student who is having a panic attack.
7-11 breathing can help if you are…
• Feeling stressed
• Struggling with panic attacks
• Having difficulty sleeping
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Feeling agitated or anxious
• Struggling to manage your emotions
7-11 breathing technique: Breathe in for a count of 7, then breathe out for a count of 11. 9 10 11
