Survive or Thrive: Mental Health Awareness Week
Posted on 8 May 2017
Are you surviving or thriving?
Good mental health is more than the absence of a mental health problem.
With Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mental Health Foundation encourages us all to look beyond mental illness and think about how we can all move from merely surviving to thriving.
We can all find it difficult to cope from time to time. This week focuses on building the kind of resilient mental health that enables us to cope with everyday difficulties as well as larger life stresses.
Exam stress
Exam season can be a stressful time, but with good habits and planning you can take the pressure off and still make sure you're studying in a way that's effective for you.
Making sure you're eating well, sleeping well, and taking regular breaks can help you work more effectively than gringing yourself down in an effort to battle through your revision.
Our Top tips for study and exam success are full of simple advice that can make the difference between surviving and thriving during the exam period.
Common challenges
It's easy to feel like you're struggling alone, but there are many challenges common to student life that can be easier to deal with if you know what to expect.
Our web pages provide advice and self-help guidance to help you deal with academic pressure, unpick perfectionism, address anxiety and more.
Mindfulness
Worrying about what may happen in the future, or getting stuck thinking about events that have passed, can prevent you from enjoying what's going on right now and make it harder to deal with difficulties when they arise.
Practicing mindfulness can help you be more aware of the present moment and set worries aside. The Open Door Team has created mindfulness videos to take you through a few simple exercises to improve your state of mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ_vJ1_Oomw
Help and support
If you do find yourself struggling, we are here to help. Whether you just need someone to talk to, or something more, the University provides a range of services to support your mental health needs. Visit our page.