Bubbles

Annabel reflects on how volunteering in the local community helps her manage her mental health whilst being a student.

- Annabel Rose

Bubbles are great, they're simple, fun, pretty - what's not to love? University is often described as a “bubble”. You’re surrounded by like-minded people, sharing a similar universal experience. As soon as you've accepted your offer on UCAS, you're welcomed into this huge community. No matter your preferences, interests or demographics, there is a network ready to welcome you. You all live by the same calendar of exams, lectures and celebrations. Things that wouldn’t usually pass are suddenly the norm: piles of dirty dishes, 3am library sessions, bottomless brunch at 10am on a Thursday. Everybody gets it. You can chat about your least favourite lecturers and the world's most expensive Sainsbury’s to your heart's content. You're a student, it's your identity now. So often, you hear news days after it occurred and you manage to forget Father's Day altogether. There's this whole new world where parties go hand in hand with academics. 

The problem with bubbles is that they can be isolating. The outside world can feel like a distant memory. Whenever people head home for the holidays and campus feels deserted; you can be left wondering, how can I fill my time? With students working the tills at Lidl and living in your house, it's easy to forget that children and the elderly even exist. Bubbles can only hold so much air, they quickly become suffocating. Exam season comes around and it's all anybody can talk about (when they’re not hidden away studying, that is). Friends check in, ask how exams are going, and you get all the well-being emails and the “de-stress” kits. People mean well, and it's great that the community is supportive, however, it would be nice to take your mind off of the matter every so often. Within the bubble, it feels impossible. 

I find it essential to take a break from the “bubble” to care for my well-being. Every Tuesday, I give my time to run Rainbows meetings for 4–7 year olds with Girlguiding. We play games, do crafts and have adventures. These kids don’t care how my Organic Chemistry exam went, or if I produced a high enough yield in the lab; they are just obsessed with how many badges I have on my blanket. They have no interest in Mendelian genetics, but they do want to know about my dog or if I like their drawings. They want to talk about their wobbly teeth (admittedly one of my least favourite topics) and recent escapades. Their refreshing outlook makes my problems feel almost irrelevant. I can greet them with a brave face after a rough day, and regardless be met with hugs and gestures from these sweet, empathetic little people. Despite being overwhelmed, I often feel guilty about taking breaks. This is when I appreciate even the administrative side of volunteering; I can take my mind off university and still feel productive. Some may say it's procrastination at its finest! You'd be amazed at some of the spreadsheets I've produced to simply track girls’ badge progress or the effort I've put into planning the most basic of activities. They aren't necessarily essential but they keep me busy without any sort of wordy journal or bibliography in sight. 

After a recent trip to watch The Little Mermaid, I received an email from a parent: “I just wanted to thank you all for organising the cinema trip at the weekend and giving up your time. We really appreciate how precious your time is and we are grateful for you giving [A] a great ‘first trip’ experience.” What I do is not only appreciated but also regularly acknowledged - something you just don't get in academia. I know that my self-worth shouldn't be based on external validation, but it certainly helps. Community is a huge and wonderful part of university life and it's important not to deny yourself of that. There are certainly perks to being surrounded by students. Every 6 months, life as a student feels completely different to the last. There are new friendships, completed modules, moving to and from home; it's a truly exciting (and terrifying) experience. 

It can be comforting to remember the structure that exists outside of the “bubble”, where there are more constants to rely on. I know that my Rainbows will be here, waiting for me after the summer break, in eager anticipation to show me what they've been up to - not forgetting the badges they've earned. 

Society tells us that bursting bubbles is inherently bad. Luckily I'm not suggesting that. Instead, try testing the rigidity of the bubble, take a step outside where possible. Whether it's singing in your church choir, tutoring in a local school, or volunteering in the wider community; escaping the bubble can be freeing. I love my university bubble and the people within it, I wouldn't give it up for anything. There is, however, such a thing as too much of a great thing. 

PS. When was the last time you played with some bubbles? You know you want to! 

Explore tips and resources to help you navigate university life in Student Minds’ Transitions guide.

My name is Annabel, an undergraduate student at the University of Nottingham. Having struggled with my mental health since before starting university; I've been trying to navigate the distinct challenges that come along with being a student with varying success.

Volunteering at Citizens Advice

Rhiannon is a student volunteer at Citizens Advice Ceredigion, one of over 250 local Citizens Advice making up the network of charities throughout England and Wales. They provide free, confidential and impartial advice to anyone who needs it, including students! From issues with your landlord, to your rights in halls, to managing bills with your housemates, they can give you the advice you need to find a way forward.

- Rhiannon

I started volunteering with Citizens Advice Ceredigion during the last year of my law degree in Aberystwyth. I began volunteering on Adviceline, where we give advice over the phone to people who need our help. 

Training started in March 2021. Even though it was remote I always felt supported and part of the team. My training included a mix of both independent training and group training on zoom which was a great opportunity to meet some of the other volunteers. 

I volunteer 1 day a week, which balances well with my university timetable and workload. I answer calls to people who need our help with any problems they might be facing. These range from simple queries to more complicated issues where an appointment is made for them with an advisor. No two calls are the same. I help clients with different problems including employment and housing issues. After each call I write up detailed client notes that are informative yet concise and strictly confidential. 

My whole experience with Citizens Advice was remote until the Spring and Summer of 2022. I was invited to the National Citizens Advice meet in Cardigan where I met Clare Moriarty, the Chief Executive of Citizens Advice. I’m very grateful for this opportunity! This was also the first time I met some of the people I had been working with for the past few months, like my supervisor. 

Volunteering gives me the opportunity to help those in my community including some of the most vulnerable people and gives me an insight into the main issues people are facing in my area. Volunteering here is the perfect way to learn essential skills that are relevant to my degree, as well as a level of professionalism that would be appealing to future employers.

It’s further developed my understanding in areas of the law such as contract and employment. I’m able to find the information relevant to the client and pass it on to them in a clear and concise manner.

It also gave me something to focus on during the pandemic, which I believe helped with my mental health. I have found volunteering extremely beneficial; it has been invaluable professional experience and improved my confidence as well. Not only has it added value to me, but I‘ve been able to help those in my local community. Citizens Advice gives the local community the support and help they need, and it can make a huge difference in someone’s life. I find helping those around me extremely rewarding.

Volunteering with Citizens Advice has got me to where I am today! I’ve now gone on to study a Master of Laws at the University of Manchester. I spoke about volunteering in my personal statement, and it’s added a lot of value to my CV. The ability to volunteer remotely has allowed me to stay part of this while I’m in Manchester.

I’ve loved being a part of the service and look forward to staying part of it while I continue studying. If you’re looking for a way to improve your skills and help those around you, become a volunteer at Citizens Advice! 

If you’re interested in volunteering with Citizens Advice, you can find all opportunities on their website. If you need advice, we can help - visit our website or find ways to contact us.

Rhiannon is a student volunteer at Citizens Advice Ceredigion, one of over 250 local Citizens Advice making up the network of charities throughout England and Wales.

Another successful chapter!

Tayyibah reflects on her achievements over the past few years.

- Tayyibah Hussain 

Reflecting on the past couple of years, I have achieved more than I thought I would have been able to.  I finished my L3 Extended Diploma in Children's Play, Learning and Development in 2020 with a DDM proving my Sixth-Form Head wrong. Furthermore, I proved that I am capable by achieving 5 unconditional offers from all my chosen universities.   

However,  lockdown and COVID-19 struck soon after.  Throughout the pandemic, whilst being in college, I launched ‘Asafeplacex’. Through Instagram, I spread awareness for anyone, especially students, who are struggling with mental health. During COVID-19, simultaneously, I could observe the struggles of reduced human interaction around me. I believed that it was difficult to be online, and have fewer people to confide in.  Hence, I thought this would be a great way to promote positive mental health.

I posted daily reminders and useful information, advice and resources.  I became a Student Representative for the Early Childhood Studies degree. Through this role, I was able to help support others, gather feedback and ensure that voices are heard. I was especially active in posting messages for students during mental health awareness week. This was a role I was very unsure about to begin with, especially since I was struggling with my mental health and lacking communication skills. I did not think that I would be able to go ahead and take on a role like this. However, I managed it and will be the senior student representative in my final year.  

I worked with Hannah within One/Third Project for University Mental Health Day to ensure that students know that they are not alone. Whilst being in University I have seen so many students struggle with mental health and wanted to spur some change and really make a difference. I have completed online courses within the domain of mental health, including Psychological First Aid, Special Educational Needs, and Mental Health Awareness by FutureLearn. Moreover, I completed a course about suicide prevention by Zero Suicide Alliance. This was also a great opportunity for me to build on my current knowledge about mental health and expand on my own experiences with mental health. Later on, I went on to write a quote book. Unexpectedly, I was nominated for awards as well I also launched my own podcast which will be fully running soon. I have been supporting YoungMinds since 2019 when I first started struggling with my mental health and was unsure what was going on at the time. Since then I have raised money over the past 2 years for them.  YoungMinds has also been excellent in supporting so many young people like myself with quotes, tips and awareness. Through university, I have also been supporting Student Minds by writing blogs for them based on my own experiences of mental health and words of advice for other people. I have even moved on to gaining a role with Beyond Charity as their ‘Youth Board Member’.  I also collaborated with Championing Youth Minds as a Volunteer to help launch something exciting around mental health within the education space. I have been recognised and thanked by many students, staff and young people for the support and work I do in general and since launching ‘Asafeplacex’. 

Achieving all of this has had a positive impact on my mental health during university. The journey has not been easy. During my first year of University, I lacked confidence, communication skills and self-belief. However, I made an active effort to improve on this by taking on the role of a student representative. This helped me develop both courage and skills. Presenting to peers was a difficult thing to do but knowing I had peers cheering me on I managed to achieve it and even come out with a first something I would have never thought about. Even now I’m able to liaise with staff and students and speak confidently - something which would have really scared me earlier! There are times when it is difficult, but remembering that I got through that, and accomplished the small achievements motivates me. 

I am proud of myself for reaching this far. This is a sign that even if you are struggling, everything will start to improve. You are not alone and you are cared for… you matter! I believe that we all go through something that hurts us but also changes us to make us stronger. Life knows we can fight it so lets us make this our reason to live, to keep going, to recover, grow and heal. Why? Because I promise you, it's worth it in the end. 

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

Tayyibah Hussain is currently a student at the University of Derby studying Early Childhood Studies. She is interested in Mental Health, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and supporting others and hoping to inspire them to have self-belief and faith in themselves.

Mental Health Volunteering: An Student’s Review

Rosie talks about her own personal experience as a volunteer with a crisis line. She further discusses some of the pros and cons of mental health volunteering.

- Rosie

Volunteers Week is celebrated from 1-7 June 2022, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to reflect on my experience volunteering in the mental health sector.  For over 18 months I have been volunteering for a crisis text line service called SHOUT 85258.  

SHOUT is a free, confidential text support service that runs 24/7. My role involves listening to texters, signposting them to relevant resources or support and helping them reach a calmer place. After 140 hours of volunteering to date, you get to know the important factors of crisis volunteering- the good, the bad and the ugly.

I’ve made a list of some of the pros and cons of mental health volunteering. If anyone is considering getting involved in mental health volunteering, it may be worth taking a look. Please keep in mind that volunteering can look different for everyone, so this is merely a snapshot of my experience.  

Pros of Mental Health Volunteering: 

• Provides a sense of purpose. Volunteering focuses on something bigger than yourself. Supporting people who are struggling and going through adversity can help bring some valuable perspective to your own life.  
• Helping to make a difference. If you have an empathetic, caring character this may really suit you. I find it empowering and rewarding to know I am helping others who are struggling, one person at a time.
• Learn a lot of new skills: During my time volunteering, I have developed valuable knowledge and skills. This includes training in risk assessment, safeguarding, communication and more. These skills are highly transferable across a wide range of career pathways but particularly in the mental health sector.  
• Work Remotely:  I am lucky enough to volunteer on an online platform, so it is super easy for me to access. This means I can do it any time of the day, from anywhere (even in the comfort of my own bed). Particularly when I have a busy schedule at university, the flexibility of shifts is always appreciated.  

Cons of Mental Health Volunteering: 

• It is unpaid: I guess that’s why they call it volunteering. In some ways, that’s one of the joys because you are doing something so valuable without any kind of financial gain. Understandably, as a student trying to prioritise finances or finding paid work this can be a challenge, so it is worth keeping in mind. 
• It can be emotionally exhausting: Working in mental health is tough. Some conversations are more emotionally draining than others. Therefore, it is so vital that you look after yourself and take time for self-care. 

Volunteering has been such a rewarding experience for me. Even at times when I have found it more challenging, I know I have learnt important and valuable lessons. Knowing that I have helped others to feel listened to, supported and validated is one of the best feelings. Volunteering has had a huge impact on the way I listen to and support others in my personal life too. In my view, it has made me stronger and more compassionate in all areas of my life. I take great pride in my volunteering and would absolutely recommend it to other students.

Find out more ways to get involved with Student Minds and volunteer today.

Hi there! I'm Rosie and I am studying psychology at the University of Bath. I love my subject and I have always been interested in mental health. Helping people makes me happy and I am excited to share my experiences with my peers.

Volunteers’ Week 2022

Volunteers' Week is taking place from Wednesday 1st June to Tuesday 7th June. The Editorial Team have taken the opportunity to share their thoughts on what volunteering means to them.

- Student Minds Blog Editorial Team

Volunteers' Week is a celebration of the contribution millions of people make through volunteering. Volunteering has been a great way for us to give back to the community and support others. Join us to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make and say thank you.

What are the Editorial Team's thoughts on volunteering?

I have volunteered for the Student Minds blog for two years and I also volunteer for the charity Coppafeel. I find volunteering a great way to gain experience whilst also doing something that makes me feel fulfilled. Volunteering for the Student Minds Blog also helped me when I was struggling with my mental health as I was able to recognise my own story in the blogs that I helped to edit, and this helped me to share my own story with my friends and family and reach out for help.

- Natalie (Student)

Volunteering is extremely rewarding and details your passion for a cause as you are willing to give up your time for free. I volunteered for Student Minds as their message means a lot to me and I wanted to provide in any way I could. Volunteering aided in my personal development, as I gained experience working as part of a fantastic organisation doing something that I care about deeply, helping people. 

- Luke (Student)

Volunteering can be really rewarding as it gives you an opportunity to meet others who are passionate about the same thing as you. I decided to volunteer with Student Minds as I believe sharing mental health experiences is incredibly powerful, and in doing so have met others who have the same beliefs. Another thing I love about volunteering is that it supports my personal development - I can gain experience and increase my confidence levels while supporting a cause I believe in.

- Sarah (Student)

I chose to volunteer because I wanted to contribute my time and skills to be a part of a bigger cause. It’s allowed me to develop my interpersonal skills as well as helped me to connect with people I would have never met.

- Shamira (Graduate)

Volunteering, supporting the community and helping other people are one of the most rewarding things I've been a part of. There's a real sense of pride and joy in watching other people find support, feel accepted and learn they're not alone through the Student Minds Blog.

- Taylor (Student)

When I’ve volunteered in the past, it is typically because I have spare time on my hands or I want to add value to my life. Volunteering with Student Minds and with other charities and events has always been a resoundingly positive experience. It allows you to contribute something to society, meet new people and have different experiences. Volunteering has also opened doors for me in my life and my career. I recommend volunteering as a way of exploring areas of interest or to be part of a cause which matters to you. No matter how much time you have to spare, it is always appreciated. 

- Rosanna (Graduate)

I volunteer because it gives me a sense of purpose and because I am passionate about helping people. The benefits of volunteering, for me, personally, have been numerous from meeting and networking with so many fascinating people to increased self-confidence. I would absolutely recommend volunteering to everyone!

- Emily (Graduate)

Share how you're getting involved with Volunteers' Week on our Facebook group.

Find out more ways to get involved with Student Minds and volunteer today.

Written by the Student Minds Editorial Team. Find out more about them here.

Why We Started Men’s Mental Health Podcast, Changing MENtality

Caleb shares his experience of developing and launching a podcast with a group of fellow university students through Student Minds’ men’s mental health programme 'Well Lads'. 

- Caleb

As part of Changing MENtality my fellow podcasters and I aim to eliminate stigma and raise awareness through conversation. During our episodes we have shared our own experiences with mental health as well as hosting multiple episodes with guest interviewees.

Personally, I think now more than ever is a great time to start a podcast, especially one relating to mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has locked many of us indoors, with another voice in the house being something many of us can definitely benefit from.

The discussion of mental health is something which I’ve seen become far more prominent since the pandemic started with many finding a new interest in the subject, possibly as a reaction to their own experiences during lockdown.

In total there’s 16 of us on the podcast team, we all have different experiences of university studying across the country on various different courses.

Euan McDonnell, a Biology PhD student at the University of Leeds, got involved with the podcast hoping to use his own experiences with mental health to help our listeners.

Euan said: “I hoped that I would be able to provide insight and support that I gained through exploration of my own mental health experience so that others could be better prepared if they faced similar things.”

The project wasn’t always a podcast and was part of Well Lads, a Student Minds initiative towards men’s mental health. Sam, a Drama & Screen Studies student at the University of Manchester, was involved in the project during these early stages.

Sam said: “I’ve been involved with this project for nearly two years, longer than the idea of the podcast has been around.

“I signed up because I thought I would learn a lot. The idea of talking about mental health was new to me when I started at university, but I was interested and I thought I could help out by being a part of it.”

Getting involved in the podcast is something I was pretty nervous about at first, as I can imagine many of my fellow volunteers were. The prospect of editing mass amounts of audio and listening to your own voice are enough to make anyone a little bit apprehensive. Thankfully we had training from Adam Ashton, co-host of What You Will Learn to show us the ropes when it comes to podcast production and promotion. It’s safe to say though we’re still in our early days we’ve started to hone our skills and have created a podcast that at we are proud to be part of.

Ben Brown, a Psychology student at Nottingham Trent University, got involved with the project to learn some new skills.

Ben said: “I was looking for volunteering work, mostly just to build up my CV. I was already interested in men's issues and talking about guys' experiences so I signed up.

“I'd never done a podcast before and didn't really know what I'd be doing in the group.”

In December, Ben was part of his first episode, ‘Talking or Taking Meds?’ where Ben, Aidan & Euan discussed the different mental healthcare approaches you can take.

Unlike Ben, being part of a podcast isn’t an entirely new experience for me. While at the University of Salford I was part of the student radio station and later studied podcasting as part of my journalism degree. However, despite prior experience I’ve still learnt a lot, thanks not only to the Student Minds team but also to my fellow podcasters.

Much of the learning doesn’t take place during training but instead happens during episodes when speaking to guests. I hope those who listen learn something new in every episode just like my fellow podcasters and I have when recording.

Mental health has always been something that I’ve been hesitant to talk about, especially when I was younger, but over the years I’ve learnt through talking with friends and family that these issues are far more common than you’d think. Through the podcast I hope to raise awareness of how normal mental health issues are, especially those which we don’t see as ‘typical’.

Below each episode we link to a variety of services that our listeners can use in times of crisis or when they’re needing help. These services include Student Space amongst a variety of others.

Since launching we know that a number of listeners have gone on to seek support from services we have signposted. It’s really rewarding to know that the podcast was able to help people find the help that they need. The very objective we aimed for when first launching the podcast.

To learn more about the podcast and the men behind it, click here.

I'm a third year Multimedia Journalist student at the University of Salford. I joined 'Well Lads' after hearing about it through my work with Make Our Rights Reality and hope to eliminate stigmas surrounding male mental health along with educating people about mental healthcare through my involvement in the podcast. In my spare time I'm a writer and poet sharing much of my work online as well as being an avid fan of professional wrestling and true crime.

Introducing creative writing to the blog

Student Minds introduces creative writing to the blog.

- Hannah Vile

Here, at Student Minds, we believe that no one should be alone in their mental health struggles and encourage everyone to talk, or write, about what they are experiencing. We are a safe space for people to share their stories and are so thankful for the countless posts that have been written for us by people sharing their advice, tips, and experiences with mental health. It has been a true indicator of the strength in people, as well as the power of writing. 

Now we would like to open the Student Minds Blog up to creative writing. 

From my own experience, I have found creative writing to be an incredibly helpful tool in working through hard times. When I finished university, I found myself in a difficult place. Feelings of self-doubt and worry about life that had been building for a few months seemed to amalgamate when I moved back home. It was the combination of finishing university, moving back home, a recent breakup and difficulty finding a job that seemed to solidify the negative thoughts in my mind. When you’re surrounded by so many endings, and then move into a stagnant period in your life such as living at home during a pandemic, it’s hard to move forward and not downwards. 

After a period of consistently feeling down, I wanted a project to distract myself and so I turned to creative writing and wrote a fictional story for my sister. Creative writing was a great way of losing myself in a whole different world. It was nice to write something adventurous, funny, and irrelevant to my life. I know journaling and blogging are also useful and great ways of expressing your emotions, but at the time non-fiction writing seemed a little close to giving more attention to the negative voice in my mind, so I opted for creative writing instead. Whilst it was originally a project to distract myself, by completing a creative activity that I enjoyed and that was entirely for myself, it acted as a reminder that I was still a capable person and had a lot to give to the world. 

Creative writing deserves a place on the Student Minds Blog and so we would like to open it for you to send in your stories and poems you’ve written for your mental health. 

We will accept short stories up to 1000 words and poems up to 30 lines for now, one story or poem per submission. You are also welcomed to contribute your creative work as part of a usual blog post, we would love to hear stories behind a particular piece. We also ask that the content and language used is in keeping with the blog guidelines. More info on this can be found on the write for the blog page. 

We are so excited for this new chapter of the Student Minds Blog and look forward to reading your creative work! 

To find out more about writing and submitting a blog or creative writing piece for us, please see our page write for the blog or email blog@studentminds.org.uk. If you have any questions, please get in touch by email. 

I’m Hannah and I have recently graduated from Exeter university with a degree in English. My time at university taught me that there isn’t enough awareness and support for young people with mental health difficulties. I am excited to be working with a platform that supports students and enables their voices to be heard.

You are everything but alone

Kajol shares her experiences of dealing with mental health issues during the pandemic and tips for sharing how you are feeling.

- Kajol Jain

As we are faced with further national lockdown restrictions, it is as vital as ever that we all look after ourselves and, most importantly, our mental health. As a student who is currently on a gap year and struggling during these strange times, I have found volunteering to be an extremely useful tool in terms of helping others as well as myself. 

Speaking to others who are struggling to cope with not being able to see their loved ones has made it easier for me to connect with people in a similar situation to my own, especially considering the fact that, for the majority of this year, we have all been confined to our homes with little or no social contact, leaving some of us slipping into feelings of depression. Online platforms such as Zoom have been a lifeline for many, helping them to keep in contact with their friends and family. However, not all of us have been able to access these kinds of sites. It can be so easy to take things for granted and for a long time that’s what many of us did. We took for granted the fact that we could see friends every day or go over to our aunt’s house whenever we wanted and now life is so different. Nevertheless, talking to people via volunteering has definitely helped me to make a difference, not only to the lives of others but also my own. Knowing that you have made someone else smile, or brightened up their day by asking them if they have eaten breakfast or if they have spent some time in the garden can do wonders for the both of you.

The smallest of things can often have the biggest impacts and we are not always aware of our own power. Volunteering has helped to reduce my stress levels as it allows me to talk to people who are facing the same problems that I am, also helping to combat the feelings of loneliness that I have experienced. Many of us have spent lockdown sleeping or watching the television all day and not getting a lot of sunshine in our lives. While it’s completely okay to take this time indoors to rest, stepping out of your home to go for a quick walk can not only be refreshing but do so much for your mental health. It’s up to us to make a difference when it comes to our wellbeing and it's vital that we do what we can to look after ourselves during the festive period as Christmas looms less than a month away. Take the time out to video call your friends or give your grandparents a call. It could do the most for their day and by uplifting others we are in turn helping ourselves. It’s so easy to find yourself submerged in depression as we face these hardships but the best thing to do is always to let it out in whatever way works best for you.

The coming weeks could be a great chance to fill your time with new activities. By all means, get creative and start baking (everyone starts out as a beginner) or get outside and walk through the park to get that much-needed breath of fresh air. Meditation helped me a lot throughout the first lockdown and I feel like I can rely on it to keep my mind healthy throughout the coming period. It doesn’t have to be long. As little as twenty minutes of yoga in the mornings can be enough to keep your mind healthy and it has definitely had a positive impact on my life since the start of the pandemic. Taking these small steps can help to improve our mindset in the long term and when we eventually come out of lockdown we will be grateful that we kept our minds healthy. One piece of advice I would want to give to others is to allow yourself time to heal. Some things take time and, especially if you feel that your mental health has gotten worse, speaking about it to someone can have the biggest impact. Asking others for help doesn’t make us any smaller, in fact, those that turn to others for help are often the happiest because they know they will always be able to learn and be supported. That’s something we can do to escape from depression -  to ask others for help so we don’t feel quite as lonely, and you never know, they may feel the same way as you do! 

If you find yourself struggling with feelings of isolation during lockdown, visit Student Space for online resources and direct support via text, email, phone call or web chat.

I'm Kajol and I would like to share my story in the hopes of helping other people to be happier! Mental health is one of the most important issues that society is attempting to tackle and I thought it would be beneficial to write about my experience to help others as we try to get through these strange times.

Volunteers’ Week: The Benefits of Volunteering

Emily shares her experience with volunteering and its benefits for mental health.

- Emily Maybanks

Volunteering can have a positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing in so many ways. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. With Volunteers’ Week 2020 running from Monday 1st June until Sunday 7th June. Now is a chance to show appreciation and gratitude to the volunteers across the country and around the world who give their time to causes special to them. It is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering. Although the coronavirus pandemic has stopped many of the things we would usually do, there are still many ways we can get involved with volunteering online, and we can use this time to think about what we can do once the pandemic has eased enough to be able to volunteer normally again.

There are opportunities to volunteer online at this time by teaching or tutoring online, or running support sessions via platforms such as Zoom or Skype. Usually, there are lots of opportunities to volunteer such as in charity shops for local and national charities, in hospices and hospitals and volunteering in schools by reading with children or supporting children and young people with SEN for example. Also, there are volunteering opportunities in libraries, museums, animal shelters and national parks.

As a university student or graduate, volunteering can really help you to advance your career, learn new skills, and use existing skills. Volunteering can help you to gain experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, project planning, task management, and organisation. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings at work once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position first. Furthermore, there are plenty of opportunities at university to volunteer, with many universities having a volunteering service. While I was at university, I volunteered for my students’ newspaper and dedicated a lot of time to it, and enjoyed being able to meet new people and learn new skills. Since graduating, I have started volunteering at the radio station at the hospital in my hometown, which has again enabled me to gain a new experience, meet new people from different walks of life and learn new things.

With busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer,  however, the benefits can be enormous. Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for the volunteer. Volunteering also has many benefits for mental health; giving your time to others can help protect both your mental and physical health. It can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose.

While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your day. It increases your self-confidence and provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals. Volunteering can also help you feel less lonely. Furthermore, it can help those who really struggle with their mental health to gain confidence before they think about returning to work or looking for a paid position.

Volunteers’ Week 2020 is also a time to express our gratitude to those who have dedicated their time to helping during the coronavirus pandemic, either by volunteering in hospitals or by dropping off food and essentials to family, friends and neighbours.

“Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.” 

For more information Student Space is here to make it easier for you to find the support you need during the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information and support on looking after your wellbeing at university, click here.

Click here to see more information from Student Minds about the coronavirus outbreak and mental health. 

My name is Emily (Em). In 2018, I graduated from Swansea University with my BA degree in Modern Languages, Translation & Interpreting where I was also passionate about and dedicated to Swansea Student Media and the University students’ newspaper – Waterfront. In September 2020 I will be starting a PGCE at the University of Reading to train to teach Secondary MFL (French and German). I blog for Student Minds because I have experienced mental health issues as a student and now also as a graduate, as well as various other health issues, and I support friends who also have mental health difficulties. I am a passionate writer and writing has been important in my mental health experiences – both in helping me to explore and to cope with my mental health, as well as sharing my story in order to help and inspire others.

Self-Care and Self-Love during Covid-19 Quarantine

Thomas shares three tips for self-care during COVID-19 Quarantine—Routine, Creative Downtime and Giving & Taking. 

- Thomas Swain

The morning sun bleeds through the gaps in my bedroom curtains. It’s 10:40 AM. Day 12? 13? 20 of lockdown? Who’s even keeping track anyway. I roll out of bed (rather reluctantly) and start my day by browsing the news on the bog. I’m confronted by a macabre whirlwind of negativity. Overwhelmed healthcare services, isolated countries, mounting deaths, inept politicians…you get the picture. 

But how do we switch off from the endless COVID-19 noise? And how can we look after ourselves during a pandemic? — What we need is some good old-fashioned self-love. And we all deserve a bit of that.

1. Routine, routine, routine

Yep, many of us lost our dear old routines! Unless you’re a key worker, most of our plans, daily grinds and activities have been barred to the confines of our homes. At the beginning of the lockdown, I reverted to my summer holiday mindset: Watch videos until my eyes can’t stay open any longer, wake up at midday, watch more TV, eat ice cream and other snacks, may or may not exercise, and repeat the next day. Before I knew it, my readings were stacking up, important emails were going unread, and that lingering guilt was growing inside of me. I was feeding my stress monster. 

Little did I know how much I took going to work every day, and commuting to school or university—that much-needed change of scenery—for granted. Routine can help anchor us, reduce stress and keep us on top of our goals. The thing that’s stopping you from returning to your work, goals, projects is that sense of guilt. And it’ll only grow the more you shy away from it. 

It’s important to take back control, but do it slowly. Write lists, and tick off easily accomplishable tasks so you fire off that reward circuit in your noggin. It’ll make you feel great. Start small, for example:

• Wake up before midday

• Shower

• Make my bed

• Brush my teeth

• Only have one piece of junk food (if at all)

• Don’t look at the news before going to bed/after waking up

• Read 5 pages of your textbook (no more, no less)

• Write half a page of A4 notes from your textbook (no more, no less)

• ……

Notice tasks such as reading 5-pages of a textbook are easy to accomplish. By breaking things up into such small chunks, you’re conditioning your mind into accepting the possibility of working towards something you’re scared of, like a set of exams, an interview, etc.

2. Creative Downtime

You might not be able to head down to your local pub, or hit the gym with a mate—but that doesn’t mean your social life has to suffer in silence. We are social creatures who require some degree of interaction in one shape or form. Lockdown is a tough time for even the most introverted of us. That’s why you need to be creative when it comes to socialising. Use FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, or whichever tele-videoing platform you prefer to connect with your friends.

But what online activities can you do together? 

• Video games… (board games, and the like, are readily found with a quick Google search—as well as fully-fledged multiplayer games like Minecraft)

• Safaris, a virtual trips to a zoo or aquarium

• Visit museums remotely

• Use Netflix Party to watch films together

• Exercise/yoga classes

• Make dinner together, or if you’re feeling exotic, cocktails

3. Giving and Taking

Altruism—the act of giving to others—goes hand-in-hand with self-love. In times like this, your first instinct may well be to lock yourself away in a cocoon and never come out. But this can be counterintuitive, especially in the midst of a pandemic—where social connections are limited, and uncertainty is at the forefront of many people’s minds. Isolating yourself further from the world will only serve to solidify those feelings of sadness and anxiety. 

Compassion is much needed during a time like this. And showing it to others will help to strengthen our communities, bolster our relationships and keep our mental health in check.

• Volunteering for NHS volunteer. If the thought of delivering prescriptions isn’t for you, you can also just be a friendly face of support for someone over the phone/via texts. The NHS needs as much help as it can get, and the person on the other end of that phone WILL appreciate your support.

• Do you have a friend in need? We all have challenging circumstances facing us, so it’s good to be that voice of reason for a mate that needs someone to rationalise their fears—or, simply to listen. Don’t forget about your own needs though, and remember to share your anxieties too. Conversations are a two-way street. 

• Small acts of kindness. These come in all shapes and sizes. It can be delivering a food shop to a family friend, sending revision notes to a friend who’s been struggling, or walking a dog for someone who’s isolating. 

And of course, don’t forget a wealth of wellbeing hotlines and services (e.g. The Calm Zone, Samaritans and Big White Wall) are available if you need that extra bit of support 

Good luck out there!

For more information Student Space is here to make it easier for you to find the support you need during the coronavirus pandemic.

For further information on COVID-19 and looking after your mental health, click here. 

I am Thomas Swain, a GDL student studying at the University of Law’s Exeter campus. I have suffered with anxiety and depression since about 2014, and I have been open about my conditions in most areas of my life since. I am a strong advocate that the legal profession is in serious need of a transparency check when it comes to mental wellbeing and stress levels.

Embracing A Challenge: How to Enjoy The Unknown

Kate shares her experience of venturing out of her comfort zone through student radio and her tips for fostering a sense of belonging at university.

- Kate Bradford

A sense of belonging is deemed as necessary a requirement as food and shelter for human survival. Without it, you can feel that your daily life lacks value. You might feel unmotivated. Lost. As though you’re living with no purpose. This is especially true when making big transitions in life, just like the one from school to university. In addition to moving to a new place and starting a new course, you are also adapting to being self-sufficient, wrapping your head around an advanced subject matter, and meeting new people from across the globe. But for some people, the challenge of settling into a new environment is the hardest aspect of this transition. It can be difficult and often overwhelming. You can feel a sense of estrangement to your new home and not know who or where to turn for help.

Although this is a very common feeling, loneliness amongst students is often a taboo topic. It’s not talked about. University culture can breed states of isolation, unhappiness and incompetence, all of which could have been previously unfelt by many students. More than you think suffer in silence and have no clue that their friends, or even flatmate next door, are encountering the same issues. The prospect of a student feeling ‘out of place’ within a busy environment during one of the most ‘sociable’ chapters of their life can be a hard thought to comprehend. A possibility that even the sufferer can find distressing and inexplicable to process. Lonely? But I’m a sociable person! Why me?

In my experience, the onset of loneliness can be exacerbated by adjusting to a routine that is radically different from the one you knew before. My school promoted productivity. I thrived on the business of my academic work, drama classes, sports fixtures and friendships. Every aspect of co-curricular life was to be utilised and enjoyed. I loved the feeling of being productive during my day, which in turn, made me look forward to Sundays off school. In hindsight, I don’t think I had the time to stop and listen to my own thoughts. When I arrived at university and suddenly found myself with loads of free time, I didn’t know what to do with it. My ‘normal’ routine had been replaced; although I had asked for this change and even eagerly looked forward to it, I didn’t fully understand how it would impact me. I needed time to process this change in my life and cultivate an important balance between my social life and studies.

I lacked a sense of identity and ownership within my new home; a place, in later university years, I would call my 'home away from home'. Ironically, now that I'm a recent graduate, I miss those three years of my life and university ‘home’ terribly! The good news is that it does get better. However, a sense of belonging within your new home isn't just waiting for you, ready made; you have to create a new life for yourself and throw yourself into it. That’s what I ultimately learned to do. I want to share some tips I learned for fostering a sense of belonging:

• Align Your Thoughts 

I like to use the Headspace app to factor meditation into my daily routine. I found that after practicing mindfulness each day for fifteen minutes, it can help you establish a controlled burst of ‘me time.’ It became second nature for me and I began to feel incredibly odd if ever I missed a session – just like I had forgotten to put my shoes on before I hopped out the door. Remember, once you’ve put all your ducks in a row, it’s easier to prioritise what’s important.

• Take The Reins! 

Find your purpose. Only YOU can make a difference. Begin to immerse yourself in your new environment and start to make small changes to explore different avenues of university life. As you start to embed new commitments into your routine, like a society meeting or a mid-week sports practice, you’ll be motivated to cope with the challenges and embrace them.

• Develop a ‘Give it a Go’ Attitude 

There is a place for you, but that doesn’t mean you have to get stuck in with only one thing. Explore different options. Join a society, volunteer on campus or within the community, attend a public lecture, try a team sport – the possibilities are endless! You could meet like minded people, so try something new and have a laugh!

• Try something that scares you…you could be pleasantly surprised! 

I ventured out of my comfort zone when I volunteered on student radio in my second and third years. I co-presented The Ninety Minute Show every Thursday with a team of two fellow undergraduates. Whilst I enjoyed making friends with like-minded people, it was great fun to learn a new skill and have an affirmative release from academic work. Remember, you can’t grow as a person if you stay where you are comfortable – find the courage to explore the unknown.

• Say no to self-sabotage 

Don’t be afraid of not enjoying everything. If something doesn’t work out, give something else a go. It’s a fallacy to think you have to be perfect or that everything has to go well all the time. The truth is, we’re all exploring what life has to offer and realizing our strengths and weaknesses as we go along. So, take every day as it comes; don’t get hung up on what you can’t control.

For more information about transitioning to uni and accepting help with your mental health, please see here. 

Hi, I’m Kate. In 2019, I graduated from Newcastle University where I read History. I volunteered on Newcastle Student Radio and co-presented The Ninety Minute Show on Thursday evenings. Embracing change and exploring new opportunities on campus helped me deal with newly felt concerns and combat isolation. I hope to support and encourage students to speak out about taboo topics.

Student Mental Health: What Are The Key Questions?

Michael writes about the importance of student voice in setting the mental health research agenda and how you can get involved.

- Michael Priestley

Which research questions still need answering to better understand and support student mental health and wellbeing at university? Have your say by March 15th 2020!

Throughout my time at university, I have kept encountering the same key questions: 

• How do education policies and practices impact on student mental health and wellbeing? 
• How does a high pressure and competitive environment of exams and assignments impact on student mental health? 
• Could changes to learning and teaching styles, curriculum content, and assessment strategies promote better student mental health and wellbeing? 
• And does better mental health and wellbeing enhance learning? 

Now, as a PhD student, these are my key questions that I grapple with in my own research. What are yours? What, from your experience of university, do you think are the key research questions that need to be answered to better understand and support improved student mental health? 

With rising concerns about student mental health at university, the SMaRteN national research network is leading the Key Questions project to call for students to set the student mental health research agenda on the issues important to them. They are asking us: If you had £100,000 to spend on student mental health research, what questions would you ask? 

SMaRteN will then use your questions to inform the allocation of future student mental health research funding. After all, without research that is attuned and relevant to the student experience, how can we really understand the key issues and make positive changes to the state of student mental health?

As experts by experience with first-hand knowledge of the specific challenges and demands of university life, we as students must be represented and empowered to lead the change in student mental health. The survey needs as many student voices as possible to ensure that the priorities represent the wider experiences, challenges, and priorities of the whole student population. From undergraduate to postgraduate, international to home student, studying education to engineering – we all have mental health and better mental health is better for all of us, so make sure your voice is heard. Whether it’s a question around prevalence, risks, support, transitions, causes, intersectionality, high risk groups, interventions or anything else, this is your chance to use your voice to raise the issues that are important to you in future mental health research and practice. 

Taking part is easy! You can submit your questions to the Key Questions survey to ensure that your voice, your experience, and your needs are included in the research that will shape the changes to student mental healthcare. This is our chance to change the state of student mental health by informing future research and evidence-based policy. This is our chance to make a difference. Get involved and tell a friend. 

For more information on how you can get involved to change the state of student mental health, click here. 

I’m Michael and I’m the editor of the Student Minds Blog. I am a PhD student at Durham University studying student mental health and wellbeing. I write for Student Minds to share my own experiences of mental health difficulties and to advocate for change to improve the state of student mental health.  

Campaign: Time for Tutees

Student Minds Bath share their successful Time for Tutees campaign and hope it inspires other university campaign groups. 

- Student Minds Bath

Time for Tutees – as the name might suggest this was and remains a campaign designed to reform the roles that personal tutors play in the pastoral care of their tutees at the University of Bath.

Some months into the 2018/19 academic year, it became very clear to us that in the vast majority of cases, students did not feel that they could discuss their mental health with their personal tutor. Hence, we set out to determine exactly what was and wasn't working in the personal tutoring system, with a view to writing and submitting a paper to CSSU (Council, Senate, Students' Union).

We held focus groups with both students and staff, using their experiences to write our recommendations for the paper. Perhaps the three most common themes that emerged from the focus groups were expectations, inconsistency and training.

Expectations: students were unsure what exactly they should expect from their personal tutors with regards to pastoral care.

Inconsistency: personal tutors across departments had completely different concepts as to what their role encompassed, leading to huge disparities in students' experiences with their tutors across the university.

Training: tutors receive no specific training for their role despite representing the first point of contact with the university for many students.

Towards the end of the year, we presented our paper at CSSU and emphasised in particular our request for the formation of a working group between the university, students' union and us (to work on this project long term and refine the recommendations for implementation). This request has since been fulfilled in addition to a few of our smaller recommendations such as defining the role of a personal tutor more specifically in official documentation (i.e. in the quality assurance document that specifies the function of the personal tutoring system and responsibilities of individual tutors).

At present, we are awaiting the first meeting of the working group to better gauge how best we can push this campaign forwards. Despite the university being slow to react (this campaign has been going for nearly a year), we have been successful in raising the profile of personal tutoring, with a focus on mental health, both within the university and the Students' Union (who have now included personal tutoring in their top ten issues to tackle this academic year).

Whilst we are still working to achieve the changes we set out to make, we are still proud of the differences we have made despite our outreach and size. The Student Minds Bath campaigns team is comprised of six students, all balancing their lectures, coursework and exams with their efforts to bring about change. I hope if nothing else, the success of the Time for Tutees campaign thus far serves to underline how much of an impact students can have if they put their heads together and organise. I hope this serves as an inspiration for other student groups looking to transform the state of student mental health.

Click here to find out more about volunteering with Student Minds
Click here for Student Minds Bath's Facebook page

Student Minds Bath is one of the many university-based, student-run campaign groups overseen by the national charity of the same name. We are a small team focused on bringing about the changes in mental health policy and provision that our fellow students wish to see.

Social Anxiety and How to Make Friends at University

Astrid talks about her journey to finding great friends at university.

- Astrid

Often students move halfway across the country to attend university, without knowing anyone else and having to fend for themselves for the first time. My biggest fear about joining uni was not making friends and I shared this fear with most other students. 

Being a fresher should be exciting and I didn’t want my worries to prevent me having any fun. Here are some ways I made making friends easier: I decided to volunteer abroad before I began university. I thought it would boost my confidence and make me more comfortable living and spending a lot of time with a new group of people. I was right! 

It introduced me to stepping outside my comfort zone for a shorter period of time. It also prepared me to meet a large group of new people and engage with them. Most of the people I met were also volunteering by themselves. Nobody knew anybody beforehand, and everyone was in the same boat!

The stories my fellow volunteers told me were surprising. Many others were volunteering for similar reasons to myself, to boost their confidence or even help manage their mental health. The coordinators even said that about a quarter of volunteers are on a form of medication or treatment for mental health conditions. Volunteering abroad is primarily done collectively, volunteers sharing their interest in helping others and the work they are doing, forming natural friendships with plenty to chat about in the evenings.

Since my first time volunteering, I have joined many different projects with different organisations, both affordable and expensive. The range of people from different backgrounds was far wider on more affordable programmes. 

I can’t be 100% sure if my teaching and building work was helping my anxiety as there were so many other things happening as well: meeting new people, living and working together, going out in the evenings and weekend tours. But I would definitely recommend volunteering as it totally worked for me and covers so many bases. I’m not sure if volunteering on my own on a computer in my room would’ve had the same effect!

Once I’d started university, I felt more confident talking to new people and wasn’t scared to live with a group of strangers. I am confident this wouldn’t have been possible without spending time volunteering abroad. However, I still didn’t feel comfortable knocking on people’s doors and introducing myself. I came up with another way to make friends. 

I thought if I joined clubs then I could meet people and we would share an interest, as it had worked with volunteering. I made a mistake in joining the football team to begin with. I knew the basic rule, kick the ball into the goal, and thought that it would be great exercise. But I hadn’t considered that the majority of people who had joined the football team had played football at school, some even knew each other from their schools playing each other in the past. My lack of skill made me stand out for all of the wrong reasons. 

After failing miserably at playing football, I chose to join the water polo team. No one on the team had ever played before and we were all novices. We instantly had something in common, our lack of water polo skills.

I also joined the ice-skating team. The first couple of lessons were spent with everyone continuously falling over. After the first time it became a joke and we bonded over sore bottoms and bruised legs. Volunteering abroad and joining clubs at university helped making friends effortless. I would recommend anyone who is nervous about making friends at university to volunteer abroad beforehand, even if it is only a couple of weeks before freshers.

When at uni, join as many groups as possible, the weirder and less common the club the more likely there will be fellow newbies who you can bond with over inexperience. 

Some Useful Links: Transition to Uni Know before you Go

Astrid Halliday loves travelling and especially getting away overseas to help build and develop a community. Volunteering many times with Original Volunteers and also with Habitat For Humanity, she loves sharing her passion and encouraging other to travel in a similar way.