Students have felt the full force of the national lockdowns. We have had studies disrupted, exams cancelled and social events ruined. Not surprisingly then, there have been record numbers of people who have admitted to having suicidal thoughts and feelings so it's important for people to look after themselves and look out for others. Here at college, we want to help you to understand how to help yourself and support each other.
What are the most common issues people of our age deal with?
One misconception of mental health is that not many people have to deal with it and often people feel they are the only person who is struggling. According to Mind 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. With anxiety, depression, eating disorders and addiction being the most common issues students of our age have to deal with.
How to help safeguard your wellbeing?
The health and well-being team at South Downs, have come up with a 5 step plan to guide you on how to help yourself
1. Take opportunities to connect with others; friends, family, neighbours, networking through work placements and work experience.
As a student I know how difficult this can be right now, some of us are in isolation and here we are in a second lockdown. Some ideas of how to stay connected in these times are ***
2. Find a physical activity or sport you can enjoy and make it part of your daily or weekly routine. Staying active supports your mental health.
Many of us used to do team sports that we can no longer do. So perhaps now is time to try something new - weight training at home, running, walking. Something outside could work well, that you can perhaps do alongside friends with social distance.
3. Learning new skills and knowledge can boost your self-esteem and build your confidence. You can do this through studying but its important to find fun ways of learning, like reading a good book or taking an online course.
We all have a head start here because we are studying and developing all the time.
4. Become aware of the present moment, how you feel and the world around you. It can help you become aware of what you need and how to change. This can positively change how you feel about life.
It’s hard to get your head around but there are lots of good books and websites to introduce you to simple mindfulness practices.
5. The smallest acts of kindness can go a long way. It helps to make people around you feel good and in turn, will help you enjoy being around others.
Remember, whether you are struggling or not, given the statistics, the chances are that someone close to you is also struggling. Not only is thinking of others good for your mental health but you could help someone else too.
How to spot if someone is struggling with their mental health?
On that note, even If you are not personally struggling with mental health issues or your well being it is important to look out for others who are struggling who may feel embarrassed to get help or talk to someone. According to the health and wellbeing team at Southdowns, you can tell if someone is struggling
“You may notice that your mate has become more withdrawn, stopped answering messages, that they're more irritable or tearful. Perhaps they're more reckless, letting their studies slip by staying up all night or turning to drink or other substances to get them through. These are only a few of the signs that they are not coping and it will be different for everyone.”
Who to go to for, or direct someone else to, for more help?
If you are interested in getting help there is a small but friendly Wellbeing team at Southdown's were Student advisers in Wellbeing who can offer advice on a range of concerns, safeguarding officers who can offer support and advice, a nurse for medical worries and a college counsellor. You can contact them through the well-being@hsdc.ac.uk email or if you have a safeguarding issue safeguarding@hsdc.ac.uk and they will get back to you. If you don’t feel comfortable getting help at college there are other routes for you to take. There are websites to visit such as Mind infoline, Rethink advice and information service, Anxiety UK and many more places for you to receive help.
One thing that is for sure, don’t ignore your own needs or the signs that others mind need support. If our college community is one where we all look out for each other and talk openly about mental health we can provide a more supportive environment for everyone where no one needs to hide what they are experiencing.
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