Coping with mental health difficulties at University

A really helpful article for students coming to university who have mental health diffculties. It gives guidance on how and where to access support. Don't forget when you arrive at university to seek me out to see what support you can access here. All my informaiton is on the website under Student Support.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/25/how-to-cope-with-mental-health-difficulties-at-university

Parents, do you worry about how your child is coping at university?

With their first term over, many new university students will return home for the holidays full of stories of forged friendships and exciting adventures. But for others, the experience will have been a challenging one. They may have struggled with feelings of homesickness, isolation, anxiety and stress.

A survey in November 2014 found that those aged between 18 and 24 are four times as likely to feel lonely most of the time as those over 70. And that poses a problem for parents how can they help? Now the answers can be found in a free guide.

Produced by mental health experts, A Parents Guide To Depression aims to answer  the  questions families ask most often.

Download the guide here

http://www.cwmt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/parents-guide-to-depression.pdf

Student Minds Petition

Today, 49% of young people (17 to 30) enter higher education. According to the National Union of Students, 20% of these individuals are experiencing a mental health problem. That’s a lot of students.

Students need support between home and university to be joined up. Without careful planning, students who have only recently been discharged from a service move to university and do not have access to support for the crucial first months at university. Early and continuous support is the best way to ensure that a student’s condition does not deteriorate, which might otherwise require them to drop out of university.

Sign the petition to ensure all UK students have access to consistent care pathways catering to their needs.

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/doh-address-the-gap-in-student-mental-health-support?utm_source=Student+Minds&utm_campaign=62aa529a9a-Win+for+Student+Mental+Health!&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_30936ac40b-62aa529a9a-63879009

An inspiring video on managing voice hearing

This is a very moving video of a student's experience with schizophrenia and recovery.

"To all appearances, Eleanor Longden was just like every other student, heading to college full of promise and without a care in the world. That was until the voices in her head started talking. Initially innocuous, these internal narrators became increasingly antagonistic and dictatorial, turning her life into a living nightmare. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalized, drugged, Longden was discarded by a system that didn't know how to help her. Longden tells the moving tale of her years-long journey back to mental health, and makes the case that it was through learning to listen to her voices that she was able to survive".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjEN3peCJw

What is depression?

Let the black dog be your guide.

http://www.upworthy.com/what-is-depression-let-this-animation-with-a-dog-shed-light-on-it?g=4&c=ufb1

Update on Student Mental Health Survey

The first part of the Grand Challenges survey is complete.Over 230 people completed this survey between June and July 2013 and a total of 459 challenges were submitted. Stage 2 of the project is now open. this will help identify which of these specific challenges is a current priority.

This information will help organisations understand where action to improve the state of student mental health might be most effective. You can find out more information and complete the survey here -

 www.studentminds.org.uk/grand-challanges

 This survey is open to any member of public to complete - we particularly invite responses from current university students, recent university graduate and University staff and health care professionals working to support students in university. The survey will close on the 4th of October.