We understand how difficult things are for students in the current circumstances, especially now that England will enter another lockdown from Thursday 05 November. Please remember there is always lots of help and support available from SUSU, the University and external teams. Some of our outlets and services will remain open during this next lockdown, please see the opening times below.

Support for Students

If you are struggling with your mental health, feeling lonely or just want to talk about what’s on your mind please make sure you reach out to someone. You’re not alone and lots of students may … Read the rest

This week is International Stress Awareness Week, and our Sabbs have each shared their top tip for coping with stress at uni. In the current circumstances and with another lockdown for England starting on 5 November, it’s normal to be feeling stressed. Make sure to check in with your mental health and reach out for support if you need it – remember, you’re not alone.

Our Sabbs top tips are…

Take a Step Back

Take a step back from your work when you feel it’s becoming too much for you. Take some deep breaths, or go for a walk – … Read the rest

Last week marked World Mental Health Day, so we wanted to share a blog about prioritising your mental health at university alongside the resources we shared last week. It is difficult when you are busy, working hard, away from home, or socialising a lot to keep on top of your mental health and to incorporate good self care and wellness practices into your routine.

Find activities that make you feel productive and interested

Finding activities like sports clubs, societies, part time work or other extra-curricular activities is so important. Knowing you are interested in something and have a goal or … Read the rest

Content warning: Mental Illness

Saturday 10th October 2020 is World Mental Health Day, and we wanted to take this opportunity to let students know that in these particularly difficult times, we are here to help you with your mental health.

Problems like loneliness, homesickness, work pressures, housing issues, financial difficulties, romantic relationships, and physical health can all contribute to mental illness or struggling with your mental wellbeing at university. Whether you are a new or returning student, we know that sometimes there are things going on in your life which may negatively affect your mental health. We will be posting … Read the rest

May saw Mental Health Awareness Week but did you know that this coincides with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Awareness Month? BPD is also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) and it was not until 1980 that it was officially recognized in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). For this month, our VP Welfare and Community spoke to a student who has BPD, and heard their experiences of it.

According to the NHS, BPD is ‘a disorder of mood and how a person interacts with others. […] In general, someone with a personality disorder will differ significantly … Read the rest

There’s lots of information around at the moment with different details about the support you can currently access, so we’ve put it all in one place in a summary below. These services are available for every student!

Financial Support

The Student Hardship Fund has been expanded and is available to any student. They have now streamlined the process so that it offers short term, six-week assessments to cover essential day to day living costs, so it is now easier to apply and faster to get money. You can use this to access money for accommodation costs, necessary technical equipment, food … Read the rest

Content Warning: talk of suicide, suicidal ideation, death, mental illness

Despite the breaking down of stigma around mental illness, suicide is still seen as a taboo topic. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, a day dedicated to preventing suicide through action, conversation and support.

A lesser-talked about issue within this conversation is suicidal ideation. Many people experience suicidal thoughts without actively planning for it, or even necessarily wanting to.

Something I’d learned in therapy this year was that intrusive thoughts, and thoughts about death and suicide, are actually a lot more common than we think. Many people experience intrusive thoughts … Read the rest

10th October is World Mental Health Day, an annual day recognised by The World Health Organisation to provide an opportunity for those working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done. This year’s theme, chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘young people and mental health in a changing world’.

As a Students’ Union, young people’s mental health and well being is so important to us. We would like to take this World Mental Health Day to talk about the work being done and the work left to do. … Read the rest

10th October is World Mental Health Day, an annual day recognised by The World Health Organisation to provide an opportunity for those working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done. This year’s theme, chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘young people and mental health in a changing world’.

As a Students’ Union, young people’s mental health and well being is so important to us. We would like to take this World Mental Health Day to talk about the work being done and the work left to do.… Read the rest

10th October is World Mental Health Day, an annual day recognised by The World Health Organisation to provide an opportunity for those working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done. This year’s theme, chosen by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘young people and mental health in a changing world’.

As a Students’ Union, young people’s mental health and well being is so important to us. We would like to take this World Mental Health Day to talk about the work being done and the work left … Read the rest