Write It Out

For this project a series of blogs have been created that share the personal stories and experiences of people who have faced challenges with their mental health or felt it has been a barrier to accessing H.E. The blog writers share how they have overcome the barrier or have been supported through their H.E. journey. Within this project, pastoral contacts within HEIs were developed including wellbeing managers and student support services and the necessary complex landscape of ethics, safeguarding and mental health within H.E. negotiated. Intervention Aims

To collate, display and share blogs written by individuals who have pursued H.E. and experienced mental health issues themselves. To collate, display and share blogs written by individuals who have expertise within the field of mental health and wellbeing. To make mental health support more accessible to young people in Cumbria and to reduce assumptions around Further/Higher Education and mental health and wellbeing.

The positive project logo captures the therapeutic qualities of writing about personal experiences’.

Identified Intervention Gap Research Conducted Project Ideation

Practitioner Voice

“Read stories from people who have had or are living with mental health issues. Hearing from someone going through a similar experience can be supportive whilst you are going through the demands of education and facing the difficulties of life. These blogs have been written to help demonstrate that going through education at any level is possible whilst struggling with mental health issues whatever they may be” .

Pastoral Contacts Developed Cumbrians Approached to Write Blogs Blogs Go Live on our Website

Alex – My story with mental health Dave – 5 Ways to Wellbeing George – Dealing with an eating disorder Hannah – Being a young carer at university Rachel – Growing up with anxiety