Students, studying, and self-belief: don’t be your worst critic

When it comes to education, every decision feels like the most important one. Whilst an exciting time to explore your passions, it can also be a daunting one. In this blog, Lydia-Rose shares how student life influences mental health and discusses how you are never alone in wondering about whether your choices were the ‘right’ ones. 

- Lydia

Everyone is normally their worst critic-I was mine. Being a student is all about learning, but not just in the classroom. Though tricky to navigate at times, it's a perfect opportunity to learn about yourself and life beyond the curriculum of your course. 

Think of student life as a step ladder, starting at the bottom, undoubtedly small wobbles/big fall off in between, and eventually reaching the top as a qualified person of some sort.  Without a stable base, you’re bound to fall. It might feel like you're back to square one, starting at the bottom but - remember - you're already climbing, and you aren’t alone on your climb to success, and neither am I. 

 I don’t know about you but, as soon as you say -  ‘I am doing a degree’ the almost definite response is ‘wow, you must be clever, how amazing’.  It is always something along those lines… My response in my head was, yes amazing, but getting onto any degree is hard, the interview process of elimination, dedication, sacrifice, and the rest. Degrees can change you. You gain a lot of independence, figuring things out for yourself, which for some people can be a good way forward. However, this also comes with a whole new situation mental health-wise and can become stressful for some. This is why it is important to any degree, to stay in contact with other students and lecturers, and to stay in tune with the support you have around you. Everyone is in it together, and everyone can help each other reach the top of that ladder! You also have to remember that at times when you might struggle or feel confused, your student friends and lectures/ staff will be, because you never know if something might happen which makes your journey just a little bit smoother. 

My experiences looked a bit like this…

• Year 1: WOW, fascinated, love for every aspect of midwifery, besotted in fact, I’ve made the right choice. 
• Year 2: 1st and 2nd term, excited, feeling proud, enjoyment and thrill. Last term… Why did it suddenly feel so hard and draining? Was this normal? Emotional and fatigued, like a fog had come over me, shadowing my motivation and love for midwifery. 
• Year 3: Feeling lost, anxious, down and crying daily. Telling my parents, I don’t want to do it. I get frustrated with myself, wishing I was someone who could just run through the course without needing to stop for a break. But there are always solutions. I had a conversation with my university, who have facilitated shorter, more manageable shifts for me, and I am having regular in-person contact with a practice facilitator, to check on how I am feeling. I already feel better, and my motivation is creeping back up. I feel my voice has been listened to too. I am feeling more positive about going forward to complete my final year. 

Everything I have ever accomplished: school, college, interviews and jobs, I had succeeded without feeling like I couldn’t do it. Yet I know I can do this, but I equally feel like I can’t…. It’s a weird situation.  Truth is, I feel privileged as a student to be involved with women and families, bringing life to the world. I love it when I am there, but I won’t know if the stress and burden I feel will go away once I have a professional title, or if it is something deeper. I am fortunate to work with supportive midwives, students, and maternity staff, but I will have to work this situation out for myself. 

The fabric of my mental health experiences may meet yours, or be different, just like coping strategies will differ for everyone, but no one is immune from stress.

Here are some top tips for managing the student stress you might have experienced yourself:

• Have tenacity. 
• Try not to naturally resist changing your mindset, though it’s easier said than done when you feel in a hole. 
• Be an early adopter of change, start with small steps to feel in control. 
• Think of healing as a double helix and work on your mind and physical self. Don’t leave one behind, that’s where you start to feel lost. 
• Use the support that is offered to you!

Every step you take will have a purpose somewhere. Even when I complete my midwifery degree, the routes don't stop here! One of the things about a degree like this is that there are lots of other roles you can explore beyond graduation - just because you've done a midwifery degree, that doesn't mean you can't go on to explore other avenues with it! 

This is a good way to think about it, like a stepping stone to the next stage of your future!! Encourage yourself to see it this way, because there is never a dead end.

In the last month, I have changed my mindset, starting to get back to being the driven me I was at the start. I am doing a fundraiser for a midwifery charity, being strapped to a biplane going 135mph. I appreciate this isn’t for everyone but find something you will feel good about doing. 

I am going to continue writing blogs, and articles for different organisations, whilst using my sudden enjoyment of reading and writing, to complete my once dreaded dissertation ‘Midwives mental health, and the impact on the student….’ Writing is a really good way for reflecting, and once you get into it it is really beneficial for your mind. Also, I find it influential that by publishing blogs and journals, I can support my readers. 

Another point, there is no magic money tree, unless you are a student on a paid placement degree, it can be difficult, but there are many options for student finance to support you throughout the degree. 

Anyway, friends and family are the glue that keeps you on the course, the ground roots that keep you going and the bottom of that ladder to keep you stable. Remember, the healing power of a hug, that’s a good start. I am fortunate to have amazing support, even a partner who just holds me and lets me cry on him, a proper mess! A good cry can get emotions out.  

Positivity is infectious. Be kind to yourself and everyone around you. The typical saying of ‘anything you want in life doesn’t come easy’, may as well be the definition of a student in the dictionary…but in the end, you and I have well and truly, earned it, and no one can take that achievement away. Trust my advice as a normal girl doing a degree, with a whole melting pot of experiences and feelings about it. A stepping stone to the next part of your future is worth fighting for!

Whether you are looking for support for your own mental health at university or supporting a friend, help is available.

I am Lydia, a midwifery student from the UK, Suffolk, currently in my third and final year of training. When people told me this journey would be a roller coaster, I let it blow over my head. But after enduring this degree, I believe I was naïve to the reality of student life in an under-pressured healthcare system. A journey I have thought a lot about giving up on, a lot about how different the real deal is, and a lot of thought about what am I actually doing?

Men’s Health Awareness Month with Tom Truman

November marks Men’s Health Awareness month, a campaign to support those tackling prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health issues. Tom Truman, Mental Health and Wellbeing Liaison Officer & MBA Student at Coventry University, discusses the issues surrounding men’s mental health and what it means to him.

- Tom Truman

Mental health problems can affect anyone, but discrimination and stigma can make people anxious in talking about their experiences to seek help. Outdated attitudes to gender norms reinforce the myth that men should be ‘tough’, and they are not a ‘man’ if they show any sign of weakness. A lot of men may fail to recognise the warning signs and maybe unwilling, or unable, to seek help. There is no shame in feeling helpless or down; everyone experiences these feelings. Men, it’s OK not to be OK. 

A few months ago, I started running to get fitter. I wanted to spend more time outside and lose some of my lockdown timber! Running is a cheap and accessible method of exercise. The endorphins it produces makes you feel better about yourself and taking part in a run is a positive self-achievement. Within a few months, I built up my confidence and fitness to run a Half Marathon to raise vital funds for Student Minds which was a fantastic experience. Taking part in fundraising on behalf of Student Minds was a great way to have fun and raise awareness of their important work. The fundraising helped keep me accountable for my own fitness goals. Within 4 months of starting running, I managed to run a half marathon and raise over £1200. If you are undertaking a fitness challenge, please consider fundraising for Student Minds: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/tomstudentminds 

Men getting involved with fundraising and talking about mental health are billboards for men’s health and often it sparks off conversations with other men in their lives to talk about their mental and physical health and seek help. 

I would urge anyone who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health to tell someone because you can bet that you are certainly not alone. The sooner you reach out and ask for help, the sooner you will start to feel better. You just have to take that first step and once you have, things will start to change, and you’ll wonder why you left it so long in the first place.

You can fundraise to support Student Minds and student mental health too, find out more today.

Tom is a degree educated Mental Health and Training professional currently undertaking an MBA in Leadership for personal development. Tom has previously worked in the accommodation, charity, and training sectors. Tom loves Cats and has the dream of going on a safari in Africa to see big Cats in the wild!

Peak District and Pennines challenges - Our journey in raising funds for Student Minds

Phil shares his experience participating in various challenges with his students, friends, and family to raise funds for Student Minds.

- Phil Brooks

I am a photography lecturer at Dudley College of Technology. When possible, I organise college trips to the wilds of Derbyshire, Scotland and even Iceland. The results can be eye-opening.

A number of my students really struggled with their mental health during the recent lockdowns. Of late, I’ve been limited to urging my students to switch off their phones and spend some time outdoors, even if it’s just in their garden. Time spent outside stimulates the senses and can reset our thinking. Any green space, even just looking at a green wall lowers our heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety. I always urge anyone who struggles with mental health, to talk about it, ask for help and find a mindful, creative distraction within nature.

With no feasible trips on the agenda this year, in July, myself and a friend/colleague, Jo, together with Jo’s partner, Jim, teamed up to tackle The Peak District Challenge - a 50km jog up hill and down dale. Jo and I put up lots of posters publicising our endeavour. We organised a themed ultra-week at college, with our students volunteering cake sales, selling their artwork, organising a sponsored silence, fancy dress, quizzes, highest score computer game competitions, treasure hunts, name the cuddly toy, etc. Our students were amazing with their fundraising. Remarkably, one student even raised £700 on her own!

On top of all this, we made an Indian cookbook entitled, Steel the Spice, to help raise sponsorship. We asked our catering students to prepare a number of sumptuous curry and related dishes for our students to photograph, inspired by our recent exchange trip to India. Meanwhile, students at our partner college, Mahatma Gandhi International School, cooked and photographed their favourite Gujarat family recipes and sent them to us. The cookbook project involved sweat and tears but was worth it. It is still on sale at the Black Country Living Museum. Making the cookbook was a big team effort with lots of negotiation and flexibility required.

With the cookbook a success and with some training under our belts, the big day drew closer! Both Jo and I had completed a marathon before, in a slow but sustained 5 hours, so we figured, 6 or 7 miles further shouldn’t be too difficult. We felt reassured when one poor bloke turned up at the start-line with a fridge strapped to his back! We thought, if we stick with him as a pacemaker, at least we won’t be short of chilled snacks! As it turned out, there were food stations along the way and you could eat anything you wanted for free! We ran as much as we could but had to walk a lot of it. The scenery was beautiful but the hills were relentless - over 3000ft of climbing! Then we were hit with torrential rain and thunderstorms! But there was still a great sense of camaraderie! Positive thinking on route helped – we tried not to allow a negative thought in as we battled on. Mentally breaking the challenge into smaller chunks helped too. We kept each other upbeat, telling stories and singing along the way. 

12 hours after starting, we finally reached the finish-line, somewhat the worse for wear. I had imagined that on finishing, I would relish a shower and savour a beer. Alas, after some hot food, it was all that I could do to hobble back to the tent, crawl into my sleeping bag and go to sleep. Nevertheless, there was a wonderful sense of 'we are all in this together.' Ultimately, we had a very memorable experience and found the organisation, support, friendliness and general positivity, brilliant! I recommend putting your name visibly on your top so spectators can encourage you directly. Every little helps.

We raised over £1,900, but in a bid to reach £2000, I organised one more challenge. Me and my kids pledged to complete a 60-mile Pennine walk – tackling a chunk of the Pennine Way from Calderdale to Horton in Ribblesdale. We carried all our camping kit, food and water. This time we did nearly 7000 ft of climbing. We camped on top of mountains. Again, we encountered lots of kindness and encouragement along the way! We met a Duke of Edinburgh instructor who told my 13-year-old daughter, Tia, she'd walked further than his 18-year-olds walk for their gold award! However, we only found one shop in 60 miles! My son, Archie volunteered to hitch 20 miles to find food for us! Like a lot of young people, he is anxious when meeting new people but he had a great time. Louise, a kindly local looked after him. Archie proudly returned with a bag of food, richer for the experience. During the week, we encountered extreme heat, midges and angry bulls! The kids did so well! Especially Tia, her first long distance walk, a few days after recovering from Covid! We have now raised well over £2000 collectively.

On behalf of Dudley College, we are delighted to have had the opportunity to support the increasingly important work of Student Minds, in empowering young people to develop the knowledge, confidence and skills to repair, nurture and support each other, regarding mental health, at a time when it is needed more than ever.

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing.

I was thrilled to have been awarded National FE Lecturer of the year in the Pearson Teaching Awards last year! My undergraduate degree was in Photography, Film and Television at Napier University in Edinburgh.  My MA in Education was awarded the Caparo Prize for my dissertation on Assessing Creativity. I have travelled around the world as a photographer and published a book called 60 Degrees North, exploring cultures in the Sub-arctic. Being a teacher is such a privilege. I love trying to unlock the future potential of young people. Helping our students to like who they are, believe in what they can do and have the confidence to try exciting new things, makes teaching one of the most rewarding endeavours.

You've Got Soul: Our fundraiser radio show

Natalie shares why she is hosting a radio show to raise money for Student Minds.

- Natalie Mellor

One of the most important tools to raise awareness about mental health is something we do every day but is often taken for granted: talking. Through talking, we can empower individuals to seek the help they need, help ourselves feel like we are less alone, and break the stigma surrounding mental health.

This is what my friend Sophia and I had in mind when we decided to start our own show on Leeds Student Radio in October 2020. COVID-19 has undeniably had a significant impact on students’ mental health, and Sophia and I felt that the pandemic has meant that it is more important than ever to continue the conversation on mental health at our university. This is when we came up with the concept for Mind & Soul: a radio show dedicated to talking about mental health, self-care, and current issues, alongside playing our favourite soul music. Our show is all about encouraging conversations in university about mental health, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in higher education.

In ten episodes across two semesters, we have interviewed eleven guests, discussing topics ranging from OCD, to reproductive health, to LGBTQ+ mental health. A key component of the show is bringing on guests to talk about their experiences with wellbeing and activism in order to initiate important conversations. Through talking with our guests, Sophia and I had our eyes opened to so many things we didn’t know before, and throughout the year, the show has enabled us to learn so much and draw attention to important issues.

From talking with so many incredible guests, we knew that starting conversations is the first step towards change. However, Sophia and I wanted to take our show a step further. This is why we decided to raise money for Student Minds. Through inspiring conversations and raising money for Student Minds, we want to encourage institutional change and make a substantial impact to the state of student mental health.

To raise money for Student Minds, we decided to put on a special event on Leeds Student Radio: You’ve Got Soul. The name is a lyric from one of our favourite songs (It’s Alright by Jon Batiste and Celeste) which we chose because to us it embodies the message that it gets better.

You’ve Got Soul is particularly special to Sophia and I because we have got some really incredible guests involved in the show. Our first guest is Lydia Violeta, a Business Management student at the University of Leeds, who also runs a very successful Youtube channel with over 219,000 subscribers, making content such as study videos and vlogs. With Lydia, we discuss the reality of university life, tips for exam season, and why talking about student mental health is so important.

Our second guest is Laura Norman-Phipps, a journalism graduate from the University of Bournemouth, and also a mental health and lifestyle blogger. She posts a range of content from fashion to mental health and she has over 10,000 followers on Instagram. With Laura, we discuss self-care tips, the importance of talking about mental health, and reproductive health.

The final guest is Ben West, mental health activist and campaigner. Ben is a trailblazer in raising awareness for mental health and encouraging institutional change, through lobbying the government and universities to implement changes. With Ben, we discuss his activism and campaigning, the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, and the importance of both talking about mental health and institutional change.

Sophia and I are so honoured to talk to these incredible people about issues close to our hearts, and we hope that these conversations inspire our listeners to donate to our fundraiser and initiate conversations in their lives.

The show is airing on Saturday 15^th May at 2pm on Leeds Student Radio. If you would like to donate, you can do here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/youvegotsoul

Visit Student Space for further support with your mental health or emotional wellbeing. 

Hi, I’m Natalie. I am a final year student at the University of Leeds studying BA English and History. I am also a Sub-editor of the Student Minds Blog, and through this role I hope to help students and recent graduates share their stories and encourage the conversation on student mental health. When I’m not studying or editing blogs, I host a radio show on Leeds Student Radio called Mind & Soul: a show about mental health, self-care, and current issues, alongside playing soul music.

My Channel Splasher Fundraising Challenge

Barry shares why he took on the incredible challenge of swimming across the English Channel to raise money for Student Minds

- Barry

On the 5th July, 2019 at 12:24 I climbed up a slipway at Cap Griz Nez in France and fulfilled a long-standing dream to successfully swim across the famous English Channel. It took me 11hrs 52min. After 8 months of hard training both in the pool and in open water, I knew I was ready and was relieved to start from Abbots Cliff at 00:32 where I jumped into the sea under the cover of darkness and undertook one of my greatest swimming challenges to date. I was surprisingly calm and focussed. I knew I was well prepared not only from a training perspective but I had 5 crew members with me and a great pilot whom I knew would do everything they could to help me succeed in my goal and look after me. My crew consisted of my wife Marian, my son Kevin, my brother Pat, and two good friends – Jim and Neil. My pilot was Paul Foreman.

At the start of this journey, I decided that I would like to raise funds for charity. There are so many that do such great work, it was hard to choose. After thinking about it for a while, I decided on two charities – Student Minds in the UK and Jigsaw in Ireland. I choose these as I work with a number of companies who work closely with students and I have attended a number of events where Student Minds talked about the challenges many students face with their mental health - especially students who have come to study in the UK from abroad. I also have university going children myself and my wife works in a university and is acutely aware of the challenges in this area. 

Having selected these charities was a great motivation for me to complete this huge challenge. I wanted to get there as I knew I could raise even more funds having being successful. My crew were fully briefed to remind me of why I was doing this in case I wanted to get out. Luckily it never happened and I was delighted to know that my swim and the money I had raised could make some small difference for students experiencing mental health problems today. I set myself a target to raise €10,000 which I am delighted to report was achieved.   

Many people have asked me what I thought about during the swim. A lot of the time was spent thinking about my stroke rate, how I was physically feeling, trying to conserve as much energy as possible and keeping a close eye on my support boat. I did have time to think about other things like my family, my friends and the huge support I received in preparing for this adventure, too. 

There were many challenges during the swim which I was prepared for. The cold was one. Luckily I had done a lot of open water preparation and it was bearable.  The jellyfish were a different story as I was unlucky enough to endure a lot of stings over the course of an hour. It sort of freaked me out when it started, but after an hour or so, the jelly fish disappeared and I had got through the separation zone and France was in sight… I knew then that I had a chance.

After what seemed an age, I saw that there was a lot of activity on the boat. Finally  I heard the words that every channel swimmer wants to hear – This is your last feed !! This meant that I was within 1km of shore and would hit land soon. Unfortunately, the tide turned within minutes and while I was swimming strong, I was not making progress. 

Luckily my Pilot, Paul Foreman, knew what to do and instructed to swim around the headland that I was heading for and eventually after nearly an hour I broke the tide and finally landed on a small slipway in France. What I didn’t realise was at the top of the slipway was a small restaurant who have a tradition of tracking channel swimmers as they approach land. If one of them lands on the slipway, all the diners and owner of the restaurant come out to congratulate the swimmer, get photos and drink champagne. While it was one of the most incredible experiences I have had, I can confirm that the last thing a channel swimmer needs after climbing out of the water is CHAMPAGNE !! That said I did drink it and we all had a wonderful time. I then said goodbye to my new friends and swam back to the boat and headed back to Dover.

I am proud to say that I have now swam the English Channel and have fulfilled a dream. 

Click here to find out more about fundraising for Student Minds 

I am the Founder & CEO of an Irish software company called TCAS Online ( see www.tcasonline.com ) which has developed a property management platform to help owner/operators manage their Purpose Built Student Housing buildings.

It’s Easier to Run

Michael discusses how he uses running to as a way to cope with depression and anxiety.

-Michael

For a long time I struggled with depression and social anxiety and my two ways of coping with these feelings, avoidance and distraction. Now, having learned how unhelpful these behaviours are for my mental health, I have developed a new way of coping, running, which has been massively beneficial for my wellbeing. Here, I recall the destructive impact of psychologically running away from my feelings through avoidance and distraction, and the benefit of physically running for my mental health.

Firstly, avoidance. I would run away from social contact. I was convinced that people would see me as I saw myself, and whilst I had become numb to my own pain, I found that, around others, I felt an expectation (real or imagined) that I could only disappoint, an intensified self-consciousness and humiliation, and a heightened sense of vulnerability and misplacement. I distanced and isolated myself, pushing away and shutting down anyone that tried to reach out to me.

Second, distraction. I would run through life as fast as I could to try and distract myself from how I was feeling: I was running away from myself. In my desire to distract myself, I became unhealthily occupied by my University studies. For me, study was simultaneously a manifestation, an excuse and a comfort for my isolation; a psychological space to channel my self-dissatisfaction as perfectionism, whilst at the same time being one where I didn’t have to face anyone and where I could pretend to myself and others that my isolation was a choice that I was in control of.

Clearly then, these safety behaviours were destructive. They exacerbated the very feelings and insecurities that I was running away from. I lost both confidence and practice in social situations which simply reinforced my beliefs of inadequacy and misplacement. It’s like the harder I ran away from my feelings, the bigger the shadow that I was running from became and the harder it became to face. It had become a cycle that felt impossible to break out of. Not only this, but in running away from myself and others, I ended up shutting down any opportunity to get help or support. Just as I felt I couldn’t run anymore, I reached the finish line: the line in my life were I was finished. I was finished running and I knew that I had to, with some help, make some changes.

This is why I decided to run the Edinburgh Marathon for Student Minds. I am running, but this time I am running as an enabling and empowering physical activity, not as a destructive psychological defence mechanism. In doing so, I hope both to raise funds for Student Minds and to raise awareness of student mental health issues and the support available. I am still running but now, with the direction and support provided by Student Minds, I am moving forward. Increasing my physical activity has massively benefitted my mental health: I am eating better, sleeping better and have so much more energy to cope with life’s pressures. Sometimes, it’s easier to run.

If you would like to donate, you can do here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/michaelpriestley2

Hi, I'm Michael. I'm currently a PhD student at Durham University and wanted to write for Student Minds about my own experiences of depression, anxiety and university life.

Supporting from the field: Manchester Men’s Hockey Club

Student Minds is the chosen charity for Manchester University Men’s Hockey Club. Here, John explores why they chose Student Minds, and what hockey is like beyond the sport itself.

- John

It’s easy to assume that most university sports clubs fulfil the stereotype: a big group of lads who don’t necessarily have the capacity for sincerity, sensibility, or a conversation on the subject of anything other than ‘beer and banter’. As one of the largest clubs at Manchester University, everyone in the Men’s Hockey Club is aware that this is how we are viewed by many who don’t know us. However, the reality is actually very different.

The friends that I have in the hockey club are genuinely among the most considerate and friendly people you could possibly come across. The club has always been keen to emphasise that it is inclusive to everyone, and the experience always trumps the hearsay. I’ll always remember my very own Freshers’ Welcome Day -  every current member of the club took genuine interest and the time to ask who I was, what I was studying, and have a chat. Especially considering that I hadn’t played hockey for two years, this had the potential to be an intimidating environment, being watched by established members of the club. However, I managed not to embarrass myself, and instead I met people who I am friends with today. 

It never fails to amaze me, seeing how a sport can bring people together. We have so many members from a variety of different backgrounds, but we all have hockey in common – which at the end of the day is all that matters. This unifying factor creates a tight-knit community; the hockey boys are some of the most loyal guys I know.

This is why we decided to support Student Minds, and why it is such an important cause for us. For me, hockey is an outlet from the stresses of university life. I am a third year Architecture student, and the grade I achieve will ultimately affect the direction of my career. On top of my own personal life, that’s a lot of pressure. When I’m on that pitch, though, my only worry is the scoreline, the man I have to mark, or the pass I’m looking to play. Many will tell you that Wednesdays are sacred, and we mean it. It’s one day of the week where nothing else matters. 

Supporting Student Minds reflects what our club is to us. Hockey helps us, and we want to make sure that others have the same kind of support. 1 in 4 students suffers from a mental health issue, and while hockey is a fantastic community and support system, the pressures to perform well on the pitch can affect people, myself included. Mental wellbeing interacts with physical wellbeing, and this is a cause that is genuinely close to our hearts. 

This year, we have baked, raffled, even grown moustaches to raise money for Student Minds, and we’ve also been encouraging other clubs to take up the cause too. We’ve also just booked a charity club night, are planning a bingo evening, organising a campus league tournament, and are running the Manchester 10k in aid of Student Minds. Any of my team mates will tell you that with my asthma, I rarely last 10 minutes on the field, so 10k is a real challenge!

When you think of a university sports club now, hopefully you will see us as a group of lads who care about each other and are ready to welcome anyone into their world. Don’t get me wrong, we still have our weird traditions, and sing our songs louder than the rugby lot, but we also really care that everyone has the best possible time at university. We are proud to support Student Minds, and show that it’s ok to have problems, its ok to talk, and that even ‘the hockey lads’ have some heart.

Hi, I’m John. I’m an architecture student at Manchester and the charity secretary for the Men’s Hockey Club. I personally have suffered with mental health issues, and as a club, we are motivated to change attitudes towards it and to support Student Minds in the work that they do.

Why I decided to shave my head for Mental Health Charities

Amelia shares her journey to making the decision to shave her head for mental health charities.

- Amelia Hartley

I recently created a video, posted on YouTube, sharing my story behind choosing to shave my head on the 3rd December this year to raise money for Student Minds and the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

Despite writing about my motivations on my fundraising page and in emails to friends and family, writing and filming a video to be posted online for the world to see was an incredibly daunting process. It took a lot of courage: courage I didn’t know I had. It showed me how far I have come and how much strength I have – we all have so much strength.

I’ve experienced some heightened anxiety over the past couple of months. Tackling a big fundraising goal is £2500 isn’t easy. I’ve had fears of not reaching my target, nobody attending the event, being laughed at or judged once the hair goes, friends not supporting me…the list goes on! However, I have had plenty of individuals express their support and encouragement.

Shaving my head for charity has become so much more than just trying to raise money for the causes. It’s also about showing people that it’s okay to talk about mental health and that recovery doesn’t happen overnight. It’s about reducing the stigma, as we all have mental health and we should all respect it like we do with our physical health. It’s about raising awareness of two amazing charities who are supporting thousands of individuals across the UK and will continue to support thousands more. I never thought I would one day be able to talk openly and honestly about my mental health, but here I am.

I was 14, and living in Sydney, when first diagnosed with depression. I felt like the only person of my friends, year group, even school, who wasn't 'happy' all the time. I thought I shouldn't feel like this because nothing had happened to trigger how I felt. I was looking for an excuse, and hoping that excuse would provide a solution to becoming better.

My methods for feeling better weren't healthy; I was self-harming, drinking and isolating myself. I had suicidal feelings. I started taking anti-depressants but I didn’t want anyone to know, or they'd know that something was wrong with me. I’ve realised now how helpful they are to some people, including myself. I still take them, but I’m not embarrassed or ashamed; having depression isn’t shameful.

In September 2010, my best friend died and my world completely fell apart. This was my first experience of 'suicide'. It was a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and we will never know whatever led him to that point. A life taken at 18: he had so much more to do, and we had so much love and hugs still to give him. Sometimes things are buried so deeply that nobody can help at the crucial moment. I would do anything to bring him back, but since I can’t, I want to try to help fewer men take their own lives. This is why I have chosen the Campaign Against Living Miserably, the male suicide prevention charity, as one of the charities to raise money for. In 2016, 76% of all suicides in the UK were male, and this has been the case since the early 1990s. It is the biggest killer of men under 45. However, CALM prevents over 250 suicides every year. They offer a helpline, website resources, and support, tackle stigma through massive national campaigns and increase the awareness of male suicide rates. Just a £7 donation can pay for a potentially life-saving call, so giving a little can do a lot.

I have personally seen that suicide is preventable – another close friend of mine, who had a suicide attempt, has come far and is alive and well today. I am so thankful he had the right help and support, and am pleased I could support him too.

In 2011, I moved back to England and took the opportunity to improve my academic work and my mental health. Despite lots of ups and downs, I did well in my A levels and went to study Physics at university, excited by the opportunity to continue learning.

Three months before moving to Southampton, from nowhere, I felt a massive dip in my mental health and began drinking and caring very little about myself. Starting university, I didn’t feel in control and was very vulnerable, and then my uncle suddenly passed away over the Christmas holiday. Jon was like a father to me, who I had hoped would be at my graduation and walk me down the aisle at my wedding. I felt like a part of myself had been brutally and abruptly ripped from me. 

I spiralled. I couldn’t concentrate in lectures or sit exams without crying. I didn’t feel I could talk to people; it seemed no one would understand the grief or pain I was experiencing. I couldn’t pretend to be ok and couldn’t be rude, so I isolated myself. Feeling outside of myself, I was watching ‘me’ go through each day without any control. There were times when I couldn’t picture the next 24 hours. I was scared of myself. 

I had to start recovery. University was still the route I thought I was going to be taking, so I stopped drinking and started taking care of myself. I went into second year with a positive frame of mind but my mental health still wasn’t great, even though it had improved.

I found that university was making things worse. Opportunities I’d found in university were the things that were keeping me going such as running a Student Minds peer support group for students experiencing low moods. The programme I was facilitating, and subsequent support network, kept me going through second year and allowed me to leave university knowing I’d made the right decision to drop out. Student Minds saved me – I don’t know where I’d be without them. The mental health of university students would be at a crisis point without the peer support, staff training, campaigns and sector influence that Student Minds offers. This is why I have chosen them as my second charity. Their work is hugely recognised, and it is an honour to now work for the charity.

You can’t always see depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. You don’t always know how much someone is struggling. It doesn’t always show outwardly; they might not talk about it because they’re worried about others’ reactions. If I tell someone that I have clinical depression and anxiety or have experienced suicidal thoughts, they might change how they behave around me or panic. It’s not necessarily an illness with an easy diagnosis and treatment, where people wish you to get well soon and celebrate your recovery. Mental health difficulties and suicide affect millions of individuals across the UK. For that, I will do my bit by shaving my head and raising as much money as I possibly can for the Campaign Against Living Miserably and Student Minds.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, please donate if you can, please share this as much as possible. We can all share our stories and they can have more impact than we ever imagine.

Fundraising page: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ameliagoesbald

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/h7JCdp0QkpI

Hi, I'm Amelia and I am the Training Programmes Manager at Student Minds. I previously volunteered for the charity, and love now being part of the staff team. I've had lots of ups and downs over the years, but have found Oxford a beautiful place to live and work, and the countryside certainly helps my mood! We all have mental health, let's keep fighting the stigma.

Why I chose to walk a marathon for Student Minds

Rosie writes about why she has chosen to walk a marathon for Student Minds.

- Rosie Steele

In March of this year I became a fundraising champion for Student Minds.

I am extremely passionate about student mental health and my role as a fundraising champion. My problems with my mental health have been apparent from childhood but really started being a problem for during my GCSEs and A levels. University has also been one of the toughest periods of my life through coping with separation anxiety, loneliness, isolation through not wanting to leave my room, and academic perfection linked to a fear of failure. I became aware of the work Student Minds do during my second year of university when my mental health started to become more of a ‘surviving over thriving’ period and looked through the different resources available to me, making me feel less alone, and reminding me to prioritise my own mental wellbeing.

Student mental health is an issue that really needs to be supported as 1 in 4 adults experience a mental health difficulty through any point in their lifetime. Next time you’re in a large lecture theatre or just in public look around and think of how many people may be suffering in silence without access to or the knowledge of how to gain support for the help they need. Through early intervention ‘the considerable risk’ of academic failure and dropping out linked to mental health can be lessened. Research has also shown that undergraduate students have lower levels of wellbeing than the rest of the population.

On University Mental Health Day in March of this year Student Minds brought together the link between physical and mental wellbeing through their Active Mental Health day. 

Throughout the worst periods of my mental health during my GCSEs, A Levels and university exam revision my mum made sure I got out of the house each day to walk the dog. I found and still do find these walks extremely therapeutic. Stepping away from the stress of revision for half an hour gave me time to clear my head but also talk freely to my mum about all the worry. There’s nothing quite like telling your anxious thoughts to a large field and not taking them back to the house with you. Even when at university and away from my dog, if I began to feel anxious and could feel thoughts creeping in I’d try my hardest to step away from my desk and get myself outside, even if I just walked to the Tesco at the end of the road and back.

As well as this, in April the BBC aired ‘Mind Over Marathon' in which ten mental health sufferers trained for and ran a marathon showing just how closely mental and physical health are linked. One of the runners Jake Tyler “blackdogwalks” on Instagram is now hiking his way around the UK to “promote movement as a way to manage mental health”. This really motivated me as I thought I won’t just be helping others but also myself, being active for my own mental wellbeing.

This is why myself, my mum and my little scotty dog Jack are taking on the challenge of walking a marathon across five days from the 7th -11th August. When thinking of ways I could fundraise a sponsored walk was my first idea. I toyed with the idea of a marathon in a day or a bigger amount say 50 miles across a week but then I thought no that is not realistic. I want to show other students, other young people the benefits of walking in a realistic manner that anyone can do. Motivating yourself to do any kind of exercise with a mental illness is hard, I’ve certainly never gone for a proper run (I used to run a mile with my best friend Lucy on a Friday night down some country lanes) but I’m not sure anyone’s going to sponsor me to do that. Finding something you enjoy, find bearable even is key to becoming active for your mental health. I’m seeing it as my own version of ‘Mind Over Marathon’ albeit not a traditional one.

We are taking on this walk from the 7th - 11th August and I’d love for you to support both myself and the amazing work Student Minds do. Just a pound or three pounds instead of your coffee will help towards changing the face of student mental health.

Through your support Student Minds can continue the amazing work they do, researching and advocating for students across the UK and creating campaigns who help students just like you and me to not just survive but thrive through what can be very challenging years.

Any donations and support are so gratefully received and I hope you’ll support me (and my mum and dog). Link to donate - https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rosiesteele1

I'm Rosie and I'm about to enter my third year of a media, culture and communication degree in Liverpool. I suffer from anxiety, and separation anxiety which has made university a tough time, leading me to find Student Minds. I am now a Fundraising Champion which allows me to share my mental health story whilst raising money for something I am so passionate about helping to bring awareness to. 

Do you want to go to a Summer Fete that openly supports mental health?

Angela and Andrew are holding a Student Minds Summer Fete to raise awareness of student mental health, raise money for Student Minds and most importantly for people to have fun!  

- Andrew Morbey and Angela Hulbert

Have you ever wanted to go to a summer fete that openly supports mental health? Then look no further because on the 6th of August a Student Minds Summer Fete is coming to Clapham Common, London. This will be a day packed full of fun. There will be 6 hours of touch rugby, henna, facepaints, a raffle, some traditional summer fete games and more, all in the name of Student Minds.

This is a day that is being organised by Andrew and Angela, two fundraising champions who passionately believe in raising awareness about mental health. But why exactly are we doing this?  After both being affected by mental illness there are stories behind our passion:

Angela: “4 years ago my life turned upside down as my mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour, the prospect of possibly losing her, left me suffering with depression and anxiety and as a means to cope I began to self-harm. After a while spent in a rut I eventually began recovery and whilst it was a long process 2 years later I realised that I wanted to turn my negative experience into one that could empower others. I created my blog and my journey as a mental health advocate began. Being a Fundraising Champion is allowing me to meet new people who are just as passionate as I am and together we are all helping to remove the stigma that surrounds mental illness.”

Andrew: “After waking up one morning 8 years ago and not knowing whether I could physically get out of bed, I began ignoring the other classic signs of depression. I spent 2 months hiding these feelings from my parents, until I came home from school crying. There is no real cause for my depression, maybe genes, my subconscious or perhaps chemical imbalances, but it’s something I’ve had to accept. It’s taken me a while come to grips with. But since joining the Student Minds Fundraising Champions, I’ve found new confidence in being open about my mental health and a close group of friends I can just chat to. I have also found people just like me who are passionate about making a difference removing the mental health stigma.”

We really hope you will join us for not only fun but also this educating and stigma reducing day. If you would like to keep up to date about the event then you can do so by liking our event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1877270549265403/ .

We hope to see you there.
Angela and Andrew

My First 3 Runs - 12 Runs in 12 Months

Andrew is running to improve student mental health and documents his experience completing the first 3 runs.

- Andrew Morbey

I decided that I’d sign up to one 10km or half marathon each month for a year, as this was a great way of tying my passion for fundraising and sport together. I wanted you to follow me in my journey so here is how I found my first 3 runs.

"All I ask for during these fundraisers, is for people to start talking about depression and mental health."

29^th April 2017 – Sheffield Colour Run

I knew what a Colour Run was; a few of my friends in Sydney had done them previously in the past and had seen their photos. But I had never participated in one. Once hearing that there was on in Sheffield, it meant I could meet up with a friend who lives in Sheffield, as well as take part in my first colour run. The run was 5 km starting and finishing on an open-air dance floor with DJ’s and an MC, cheering everyone on and providing the entertainment and music.

I had previously just finished my year of sobriety, so for me, it was incredible seeing people dancing, singing, socialising and throwing colourful chalk all over each other, with no alcohol in sight. I’m not against alcohol, I enjoy a drink every now and then, but being able to dance and laugh with a group of sober strangers was quite a nice feeling.

28^th May 2017 – Hercules Festival of Sport

Having decided to run 12 running events in 12 months, I found this one as I was browsing running events. It was based at Merchant Taylors’ School near Watford. There were plenty of people there lining up to participate in either a triathlon, duathlon, cycling, fun run, 5 km run or a 10 km run. I had signed myself up for the 10 km. My aim was to finish with only 3 stops for walking and finish under an hour.

I completed it in 58 minutes with 3 ‘rest walks’ and immediately called my mum back in Sydney. The feeling of accomplishment is quite special, especially beating my targets and surprising my mum with a phone call. However, I ended up going back to my friends place in London and slept on her couch for the day. One event at a time I guess.

18^th June 2017 – Hampshire Hoppit Half-Marathon

I was asked to replace my co-worker, Oli, in this run as he had been called to Portugal for a work trip. He had explained that it was a trail run, which meant nothing to me, but there were was a free half pint glass and a medal. I thought ‘a free medal and a half pint glass would be well worth it’. Little did I know that a trail run literally means off road, up and downs hills and potholes that could do some serious damage to someone’s ankles.

I got to the starting line surrounded by happy and motivated people, going for personal best times or just wanting to finish the run. We all knew it was going to be tough, it had already reached 26^oC at 11am and within the first 2 miles we reached the ‘Hill of Death’. It was a hill you would associate with rolling or sliding down, not running/walking up. It wasn’t the best of starts, but everyone powered on.

Throughout the run, I was amazed by the Hampshire countryside, the rolling green hills, the crops and the blue sky. It was quite a special run, but fitness and soreness was starting to take over. I got the chance of meeting a few people along the way, talking about other runs they had done or just general small talk on how hot it was. I was lucky enough to make friends with Natalie, a fellow runner/walker whose boyfriend had run off ahead and left her to continue by herself. I told her she had to motivate me to keep running every now and then as she was the experienced half marathon runner, considering this was my first.

When we did finally finish, I had felt a huge sense of accomplishment finishing my first half marathon. Then Oli’s brother, George who had finish well before me, and his parents greeted me and congratulated me. Then knowing that I’ll be putting myself through this 9 more times will be quite a challenge physically and mentally.

A lot of people have called me crazy, but when I tell them why I’m doing it and about my depression, I see them empathise and congratulate me for trying to make a difference. That is all I ask for during this fundraiser, is for people to start talking about depression and mental health.

12 runs in 12 months!

Andrew is running to improve student mental health and explains how he is tying his passion for fundraising and sport together.

- Andrew Morbey

When I heard fellow Champion Fundraiser Jess Mell was doing the Sheffield Colour Run, I thought it was a great chance to participate in my first fundraiser, meet Jess and catch up with another long term friend. Whilst running the 5km circuit, I enjoyed the feeling of surrounding myself with other runners and walkers who were there to have fun and shared a common connection of fundraising. This is when I decided that I’d sign up to one 10km or half marathon each month for a year, as this was a great way of tying my passion for fundraising and sport together.

Having grown up in a very active and sporty family, I was out playing rugby, cricket and athletics at any opportunity I was given at school. Once school finished, with University round the corner, I struggled to keep fit and stay on top of my depression. However, by joining Lindfield Rugby Club back in Sydney I was able to keep motivated to exercise and turn up to training so that I didn’t let my team mates down. 

Fast forward to February this year when I arrived in England, I joined Burton Rugby Club to meet new people and attend training to keep up my fitness. It wasn’t long till I found myself moving to Warwick as I was offered a job at FEC Energy and with the rugby season coming to an end, I had to come up with a new way of staying fit. My initial thought was to go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, but with depression, I found that finding the motivation to go by myself after a long day at work was hard.

Deciding to complete this year long fundraiser has given me motivation to train more seriously, running 5-10km once or twice a week as well as going to the gym. So far, I have completed the Sheffield Colour Run (April) and the Hercules Sporting Festival (May) in Watford, as well as signing up for the Hampshire Hoppit Half Marathon (June) and the Wimbledon Half Marathon (July).

It also helps when work is celebrating its 50^th anniversary by organising walks, cycling and running events for the year for another mental health charity, Mind. In September, FEC Energy has allowed me to compete in the Warwickshire Wolf Run in a joint fundraiser for Mind and Student Minds.

Running gives me the freedom to explore the beautiful England countryside and discover the hidden places of Warwickshire, as well as staying fit and distracting my brain from over-thinking. Participating in running events around the UK has also encouraged me to do some weekends away, instead of sitting at home and sleeping all weekend.  

I am a twenty-five-year-old Aussie bloke chasing my dream of living in the UK. After buying my one-way ticket and making the big move, I came into contact with Student Minds through a mental health charity in Australia called Batyr. I applied for their Fundraising Champions initiative earlier this year, and when I was elected, my head filled up with ideas on how I can help break down this mental health stigma. I wanted to start by sharing my story with Student Minds and the extended mental health community.

Find out more about what the amazing fundraising champions are up to and donate here.

Meet our Fundraising Champions: Jessica

Fundraising Champion Jess writes about her experience as a fundraiser and why she decided to get involved with Student Minds. 

- Jessica Mell

My name is Jessica Mell and I am currently studying Nutrition and Public Health at Sheffield Hallam University. Like most people, my life has not exactly been the smooth ride that I hoped for, but I have not let that get in the way of pursuing the activities that I love such as travelling and spending treasured moments with friends and family. When I say that my life has not exactly been the smooth ride I hoped for, at that difficult time, I never anticipated that it would shape the career goals and personal ambitions that I find myself striving for today.

Why did you choose to become a fundraiser for Student Minds?

When I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa in January 2015, I did not think that the suffering I was going through would lead to such positive outcomes that I am benefitting from today. Some people like to forget about difficult moments in their life, which I can completely understand, but for me it has led to activities such as blogging about my eating disorder, founding Sheffield Hallam SU Student Minds, volunteering for Healthwatch and now being a Fundraising Champion for Student Minds!

What do you enjoy the most about fundraising?

Fundraising has always been an activity I have enjoyed throughout my childhood. The idea of organising an event, bringing together communities and raising money for worthy charities in order for them to continue supporting those in need is something I find incredibly rewarding and worthwhile. Therefore, when I saw the opportunity to become a Fundraising Champion for Student Minds, I could not type out the application quick enough. I have used the charities online resources since starting university and have been overwhelmed by the support they have available- and I wanted to help them continue that fantastic work. 

How did you feel after your first fundraiser?

My first fundraiser as a Champion was taking part in Student Colour Run Sheffield 2017. It was so much fun! Although, I am still scrubbing my shower tray in my accommodation to remove the engrained purple tint! Receiving donations from my amazing friends and family to take part in the event and watching the funds creep up was so pleasing. It has given me the encouragement I need to organise another event that will encourage involvement from the public to ensure that everyone benefits from my fundraising activities and has a bit of fun! 

"Jess post Colour Run"

What are you planning on doing for your next fundraiser?

I am planning on hosting a Quiz Night at my local pub and possibly a coffee morning over the summer. Hopefully I will be sharing some successes in the near future!

What would your top tip be for someone who is thinking of fundraising for Student Minds?

My top tip for fundraising for Student Minds would be to share your passion for the organisation. If people know how much this charity means to you, they will support your events! But most of all enjoy it! Fundraising is such a great thing to do and develops so many skills- push your boundaries and get stuck in! 

Our Fundraising Champions are volunteers who actively fundraise for Student Minds, champion the importance of fundraising for student mental health and raise awareness. Find out more about our Fundraising Champions here.

Want to get involved with fundraising for Student Minds? Check out our page here.