The student experience: managing your mental health at university

University mental health day

Contrary to popular belief, the life of a student is not a straight line. Attending university is an opportunity to better oneself, but this time in a person’s life can be full of stress and dread just as much as it is full of excitement and hope. University can have an infinite number of highs and lows, but not one person’s experience of university will be the same. There are mistakes. There are sleepless nights. There are times when it’s all too much. There are times when one might realize that they aren’t able to continue with their studies and that it would be better to press the pause button. And yet, at the end of it all, there is relief and a sense of accomplishment and a life changing experiences to be had.

Take it from me. I took a few years to work before I decided I wanted to study at my local college. After taking enough classes, I was able to transfer to university and complete my undergraduate degree. Moving to a different country allowed me to study my master’s degree and complete my doctorate. I loved being a student, but I struggled through these years in ways that I never would have been able to prepare myself for.

Student mental health is particularly important to me, which is why I want to acknowledge Student Mind’s initiative to launch University Mental Health Day.

Why student health matters

With over 2.86 million students currently at university in the UK, Student Minds has identified a range of difficulties impacting student mental health. Difficulties can include adjusting to university, loneliness, homesickness, financial stresses and pressures, technology poverty, global crises (impacting home and international students), problems related to drug and alcohol use, sexual assault, difficulties contacting lecturers/supervisors, breakdowns in friendships/relationships, family problems, etc. Such difficulties can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, depression, deferring studies and/or withdrawing from university, and in some cases, suicide for and amongst students.

In the UK, the number of students who disclosed a mental health condition to their university increased by 5% from 2010 to 2022. In 2022, Student Minds found that 57% survey recipients described experiencing a mental health issue during their time in university while 27% of responding participants had a diagnosed mental health condition.

Attending university is meant to be challenging, of course, but isn’t meant to be impossible. Short-term support is often available to students and it would be encouraged to liaise with your university if you have a long-term mental health difficulty or diagnosis.

In the lead-up to exams and submissions, here are some tips you can consider to succeed during the stressful end of year period:

Find somewhere to study

Especially in a post-Covid and lockdown world, the need for connection and being on campus or in a designated working space can be essential to studying. Leaving your flat or student accommodation, even for a few hours, can contribute to increased motivation and mood. Being in a designated place to work can eliminate the distractions from home and can encourage some get-up-and-go to accomplish other tasks while you’re out (going to the gym, grocery store, etc).

Don’t forget to prioritize self-care

Losing sight of self-care is extremely easy to do during busy periods at university but is essential to come back to in order to promote success at university. Focusing on self-care can include simple things like taking breaks to meet with friends for coffee or lunch, having set working times, getting to the gym at the beginning or the end of the day, or having a rest day at the weekend (if you can afford to take some time off!). Staying on top of other household tasks, such as cleaning your room or making sure you have clean clothes and laundry. Taking care of and staying on top of household responsibilities can reduce stress just as much as doing something positive and will be just as essential during stressful and challenging times.

Ask for help

The most valuable bit of advice I can give is to ‘ask for help’ when its needed- this isn’t just in the university context either! If you need a confusing concept or theory explained to you, don’t be afraid to ask a classmate or a friend. Asking someone to read your writing can always be helpful to make sure that you’re making your points clearly and consistently, and to pick up any spelling mistakes that could have been made along the way.

There can also be times when life situations and circumstances can get in the way of studying and performing when its needed most. While it might be stressful, let your lecturers and supervisors know when this is the case. This can include, for example, if there’s been a bereavement, a developing health concern, or a financial/housing crisis or concern. Speak to your lecturers to let them know if there is a growing concern in your life that could impact your studies and you might be advised and encouraged to apply for mitigating circumstances and/or good cause. It will also be helpful to be registered at your university if you have a diagnosis such as ADHD, dyslexia, or have a long-standing difficulty with anxiety or depression should you need any additional support or if further considerations could be offered to you proactively by your university.

A comment on the student experience

During lockdown and Covid, many students took time out from university and deferred studies as until the global situation slowly resolved. Other students progressed with their studies, but for students who took time out, this would often cause a great sense of guilt and shame. It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience and time at university is going to be different and that we’re all doing our best to accomplish our academic goals- sometimes it takes a little longer than expected to get across the finish line. it might feel terrible at the time, should you need to defer studies for a period of time, but this internal crisis will resolve at the time of graduation- it’s not that important at the end of the day!

My time at university (and time working in a university) gave me the incredible opportunity of meeting people from all over the world. The problem, though, is that the life of a student can be a transient life and the university, in many ways, is similar to an airport. People might plan on leaving the local area after finishing their studies and might have ideas for their lives. It’s important to celebrate and enjoy time together, but it’s also a reality that maintaining friendships can be challenging. While you might not see each other as often as you might like, friendships remain.

If you or a loved one is struggling with your time at university, there is always help to turn to. Feel free to get in touch with us at MAPP Psychology to speak about your time at university and what you can do to manage your mental health to reach your academic goals.

-Dr. Adam Lorenzen