Today’s average university students can face a fair bit of stress. Stress can lead to a variety of mental health issues if left untreated. Most students at university live on campus or in student accommodation, with university taking up a central space in their life for at least a few years. As such, it is the responsibility of the university to not only protect their students but also offer support for their wellbeing.

Leeds Beckett offers a variety of services for students. The most prominent and present being the Student Wellbeing team. The student wellbeing team is a multi-disciplinary team made up of counsellors, mental health practitioners, chaplains, and other practitioners who are qualified to talk about mental health and talk you through any emotional difficulties you might face whilst at university. You simply fill in a form, book an appointment on MyHub, and have a chat with your assigned counsellor. This chat maybe could be just the one session or your needs might require a few more sessions. The first session should make that all clear for you.

The university recognises the fact that students sometimes face difficulties which might cause emotional duress – such as a breakup, a death, academic pressure, home sickness – the university is willing to offer support through all of that.

All of these services are free of charge and are available to you throughout the year.

Apart from these services, there are various events and workshops which one can participate in which can help you cope with any issues:

  1. Doggo-De stress day – This is probably one of my favourite events so far. During exam week, the university union partners with the guide dog society. Imagine this - a room full of university students sitting around in a circle with a few retired guide dogs who are absolutely adorable and friendly coming up and cuddling. It was an absolute stress buster to say the least.
  2. Stress Control Classes - The course, aimed at young people aged 17-25 years, is a psycho-educational class based on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) techniques. This starts from 20th of Feb weekly till March 20th 2019. To register, you would have to contact the Leeds IAPT service, either by telephone or online.
  3. Support Groups – There are various support groups you could join in both the university and the wider city. All of the support and information talked about in the groups is strictly confidential and is a safe, non-judgemental space to talk about what you might have faced.
  4. Creative Space – Divert your mind by learning a few creative things such as origami at one of the creative spaces around Leeds. You could also try colouring, painting, poetry writing, crosswords or sketching. These all offer you the opportunity to divert your mind and take a break from studying.
  5. The Chaplaincy- Whether you have Christian faith or not, the Chaplaincy is open to anyone that wants to have a confidential conversation or explore spirituality. They also have a 24/7 helpline that you can contact if you urgently need support.

There are various other options too, that the university students can seek that are not directly a part of the university. Students can contact the one that they feel best suits their needs and approach them. University is a pivotal time in our lives, and often students undergo a lot of change while here, but one should never hesitate to ask for help if they find this difficult. That does not make you weaker and often is a sign of strength if you recognise your wounds and are willing to take the effort to heal.

Call 999, 111 or the Samaritan helpline 116 123 if you or anyone you know is suffering from a mental health emergency.

Doggy destress day

Anagha

Hello everyone, I am Anagha Kannan, hailing from Mumbai in India. I currently study an MA in Public Relations and Strategic Communications. I enjoy reading, writing and music. Apart from that, you can find me wherever the coffee and food is at!

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