TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AT UNI

“Don’t ever feel guilty about making use of a service - the support is designed with you in mind.”

cross the board, there has been an increase in the number of university students disclosing issues around their mental health to their universities. The Institute for Public Policy Research disclosed in 2017 that the number of student suicides increased by 79 percent between 2007 and 2015. This statistic, revealed in the ‘Not By Degrees – Improving Student Mental Health In The UK’s Universities’ report, is distressing to discover, but doesn’t reflect a student-only issue. A

Further Universities UK research shows that between 2013 and 2016, ‘higher education students in England and Wales had a significantly lower suicide rate compared with the general population of similar ages.’

While it’s troubling to see any increase, it could be argued that this is as a result of increased awareness about mental health and the increased resources available to those struggling.

On the face of it, it’s understandable why coming to university is a challenging time for any new student. University students are often living away from their families for the first time, and with this jarring experience comes a whole new set of responsibilities. Students have to balance their studies with budgeting and maintenance for the first time. Even for myself – somebody who lived at home – coming to university came with some challenges. The workload seems immense and daunting, especially when you get wind of those word counts. Student finance was exhausting – it wasn’t fun to receive an email telling me my tuition hadn’t been paid, in my second week.

What advice would I impart? First of all, making sure you have a tutor you can speak to in confidence is crucial. I remember with fondness how my tutor was a source of reassurance when I was “having a wobble”. Admittedly, it is intimidating to open up to somebody, but as my tutor frequently said: “I’ve heard it all before, I guarantee what’s happening to you is happening to somebody else.” These words helped me feel less embarrassed and access support services that helped.

Secondly, remember that the university is built to cater to your needs. I remember feeling like a pest, going into the Student Finance Office to enquire about my loan. But then my tutor reminded me that’s what they are there for. What is a university without its students? Don’t ever feel guilty about making use of a service – the support is designed with you in mind.

illustration Jordan Allan-Alberts

Thirdly, be kind to yourself. This might be a point you won’t want to hear but making an early start on your assignments can really make all the difference. A lot of people live by the mantra of “I can do it all in one night”, but I couldn’t imagine anything worse. Even if that early start just means deciding on what topic you’re going to focus your essay on, or checking out some of the literature surrounding your topic, it can make a huge difference to your stress levels. Students experience enough anxiety about their grades, without exacerbating this by leaving everything to the last minute. Finding a balance is crucial to university life. As tempting as it can be to go on a night out every week, the reality can often be negative – especially if you weren’t a big drinker before coming to university. Too much alcohol can be bad for your mental health (and bank balance!) Self-care is important, so build this into your routine.

Whether or not my advice is of any use to you, I hope you’ll at least remember one thing about university – you’re never alone. Whether you’re living at home or in halls, you’ll find that the university experience is remarkably similar for most students. That includes the lows, and among your fellow students, you’ll find valued confidants. Persevere, but don’t be afraid of acknowledging when you need help.

Useful numbers

Manchester Met Counselling, Mental Health & Wellbeing Service 0161 247 3493

Samaritans 116 123, its free to call (24 hours, 365 days a year)

The Sanctuary, 0300 003 7029, support for young people and adults living with mental health difficulties.

Mind: Lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday – Friday (except bank holidays), call 0300 123 3393

If you need urgent medical advice you can book an emergency GP appointment with your GP surgery. If you haven’t already, register with a local doctor. To find one near you visit www.nhs.uk/service-search

If you or someone else needs immediate medical help or attention call 999 or go to your Accident and Emergency Department at your local hospital.