Going to university can be a big step, you may be leaving home and living independently for the first time in your life. Going to uni opens up a whole new world of exciting opportunities and experiences to you. It's wonderful!
However, university and student life can come with its own challenges and pressures; e.g. managing your finances, balancing your work load and social life (I hope I'm not putting you uni off here). If you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed or depressed, don't shut yourself away and suffer in silence. Remember, it is OK to feel like this and it is OK to ask for help.
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| Don't suffer in silence - it's OK to ask for help and support |
Sometimes when people go to university they believe they're going to be thrown in at the deep-end and left to their own devices. Whilst you are the one making the decisions of where you are going to live, how you divide your time to your studies and social life etc., you are not completely left on your own. There is help and support at hand.
Below I've compiled a list a tips that can help you get the most out of university, as well as how to deal and cope with some of the stresses of student life:
- Whilst at university, joining a sport or a society of something you love can be great for your mental health! It's time away from your studies and time for you to relax and socialise. It can be a great way of making new friends and can even act as a support network in times of difficulty.
- You can even make use of on-line student forums (such as The Student Room) as a source of support, as well as a place to socialise and relax.
- Personal tutors are also an excellent port of call for any problems you may have. For example, if you are getting stressed about your workload, or worried that you feel disorganised, you can speak with your tutors. They can offer you advice and help you to decide a course of action.
- Additionally, universities offer a wide range of services that can help with any worries you may have; whether you're worried about your finances, living arrangements, finding work etc. It's definitely worth checking out and taking down information of the help services your university offers.
- As well as this, almost all universities offer a counselling service - talking with a counsellor is a good way of letting off steam, as well as having some time and space to breathe and talk through any problems you may be having.
- Talking to a GP can also be beneficial; they can decide what they think will be the best way forward for you - whether it would be medication, talking therapies or both. If you have moved away from home, make sure you register with a local practice so you have someone to talk to whenever you need to.
It can be daunting and stressful having to talk to strangers about personal issues; if you're worried about forgetting what you are going to say, or worried that you won't be able to talk, then perhaps write down what you would like to say before go and use this as back-up if you need to. You could also take a close friend or someone that you trust if you don't want to go and handle it alone.
The mental health charity Mind also offers help and information about coping with student life, which you read more about here.
To everyone going to university at the end of summer I do hope you enjoy your time at uni and I wish you all the best for the future.
BMNM.
