How To Deal With Mental Health at Uni

University is often made out to be one of the best life experiences a person can have, however unfortunately for some people, mental health issues can arise for various reasons. The most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone and there is support out there! Therefore, I’ve compiled a list to help you deal with them slightly more manageable.

• Get free counselling via your uni! If you study in the UK, then the vast majority of uni’s will offer a free, confidential counselling service. This is such an excellent service to use to your advantage, as private counselling can be very expensive – especially if you’re on a student budget. The only downside of counselling via university is that there is often a waiting list, so please consider this when applying if you need it urgently. Many universities also offer counselling access on an app called ”health assured” which allows you to speak to a qualified counsellor 24/7 on the phone, by email or by video call.

• Find an outlet that suits you. By finding an outlet that suits you, it lets you focus on something else for a while, and the results of your chosen outlet can be gratifying. For instance, you could try painting (paint by numbers are amazing too!), working out, gardening – and so much more!

• Join a club or society. If you have the time, joining a club or society at uni can help you socialise and meet new people and develop your skills and physical health – depending on the activity. There will be lots of things available for you to join, so you will be sure to find something that interests you. Try not to be too nervous if you don’t have anyone to join with you – everyone in a club or society is there to meet other people with similar interests, or why else would they go?

• Voluenteer. There are so many different volunteering opportunities out there you will never know what you will find! It is a great way to boost your CV, meet others, and it can help you feel good about yourself. By devoting a certain amount of time per month to volunteering, knowing that you are making a difference in others lives can help you deal with your mental health as it makes you feel good and proves that you are a good person.

• Reading books is a great way to deal with your mental health as you can learn a lot as well as use it as a small form of escapism. There are plenty of books to help deal with mental health. I especially recommend The Comfort Book by Matt Haig, as it is a very easy read and is very thought-provoking. Books can be expensive to buy firsthand, but libraries usually have a great range to choose from, and there are plenty of second-hand book websites and shops – which is very good for the environment also!

• Keep your living space tidy. Keeping your living space clean and tidy can motivate you and help provide a safer sanctuary to relax and unwind from a long day in. It can be hard to get started to tidy up, so try putting on some music that uplifts you or making a challenge out of it.

• Set achievable goals. This can help motivate you and help you manage everything in bite sized peices. If you set yourself a few ‘mini’ goals, it can help you manage them better. The goals you choose to set don’t need to be big; they can be as simple as aiming to drink five glasses of water in a day. A goal is still a goal, no matter how big or small.

• Go somewhere new. By choosing to go somewhere new, you can help re-inspire yourself, focus on yourself more and learn more about yourself. Being at uni often allows for a lot of time off, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to get away for a while. Even if you have lots of assignments or readings to do, you could book a mini getaway for the weekend and complete them in a new environment. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive either, as you can take the National Express (or a similar bus company if you’re outside of the UK), take the train, car share or get a cheap flight.

If you are seriously struggling with coping with your mental health, please reach out to someone you trust. These tips are only suggestions and may not work for you, but they have helped me in the past! What are some tips you use to help deal with mental health at uni?

If you liked this post, you might also like: Uni – What It’s Like Living at Home or Stewarding at MCM Comic Con 2021.