MIND

You may not feel it now but going to university is a life-changing event – whether you’re commuting from home or living on campus. Students have never faced pressure quite as much as they do today. Concerns about workload, finances, housing, relationships, social media and uncertainty about the future can cause a detrimental effect on the mental health of students. Just remember that it’s perfectly fine to say, “I am not OK.”

Mental health is just as important as our physical health. Thankfully, society is becoming more accepting of people who are honest about their mental health, and the more people who speak up, the more accepted it will become to seek help.

Mental health is critical to our wellbeing, but there are times in life when we all struggle. The key to mental resilience is learning when and how to ask for help…

STRESS & YOUR BRAIN

External pressures – such as falling behind at uni, a toxic friendship or being bullied – can have a huge impact on your brain. When stressed like this, the brain releases excess cortisol (a stress hormone), which has been linked to memory loss and premature brain ageing. Stress can manifest itself in many different ways –you might feel a sense of panic (think: jittery limbs, sweating, shortness of breath, a faster heart rate, etc) and you might even get a headache or stomach ache. While it’s impossible to eliminate all stress in your life, there are ways to reduce it.