The Aspire Guide - Flipbook - Page 26
Wellbeing Support at University
University is a huge change for many students, whether they move away from home, perhaps to
a new city, or just the change in responsibilities and no longer being in school. Most of the time
students have a fantastic time at university, and these changes can be really exciting. However,
sometimes these changes can cause stress and anxiety. If you do find yourself struggling with mental
health concerns while at university, you can be assured that there are many different places to turn.
All universities will have some form of wellbeing support. This will likely include wellbeing classes such
as yoga and mindfulness, networks of trained mental-health peer supporters, and co-ordinated support
from NHS counselling services. These services can come in the form of one-to-one support sessions,
or group workshops with other students. There are lots of student-led services and charities such
as Student Minds or Nightline, which are hotlines that students can call anonymously to speak with
advisors and receive practical information. Some universities also have wellbeing advisers that operate
24 hours a day on campus, in accommodation halls or in university departments.
Below, Seye shares his experiences of seeking support while at university.
Name: Seye
Winner of the Best Mentor Award at the 2019
Student Social Mobility Awards
Subject: Economics
University: University of Bristol
I doubted my ability a lot in my first year, given I felt out of place and I missed home.
However, I sought counselling provided by the university and began to open up to my peers about the
difficult times. Gradually, as we started sharing our experiences, we began to realise we weren’t the only
ones going through a lot of these problems. The support network provided by my peers was key in getting
me through university.
Counselling helped because it gave me a platform to speak about my issues without feeling judged. Also,
I learnt a lot about how to handle my response to difficult situations which was key when managing
challenging circumstances.
Seye’s Top Tips:
1
Talk to your peers - they are likely to
understand what you’re feeling and you
can relate to them
2
Ask for advice from people who have been
in similar situations - older siblings, people
in the year above, etc.
3
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Access the support your university has to
offer (check your university’s website to
find out what options are available)
Your university is there to support you
and will have more information on their
website or your student portal. For more
information
about
wellbeing
outside
of your university contacts, please visit
the following websites:
www.youngminds.org.uk
www.mind.org.uk
www.studentminds.org.uk
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
