Mental Health awareness campaign

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This week the Union of Students marked Mental Health Week, raising awareness of a topic many students consider a taboo.

Organised by the Welfare Committee, Sports Committee and Mental Health Matters, the one-week campaign aimed to educate students on different disorders related to anxiety, stress and depression. It also set out the services that are available to students throughout the University.

Following a series of social campaigns organised in the Union, such as Disability Awareness Week and LGBT Campaign Week, Mental Health Week focused on the balance between physical exercise and psychological well-being.

Natalie Hibbs from the Welfare Committee said: "We are focusing specifically on anxiety, stress and depression this week - encouraging students to talk to one another about how they are feeling, to eat a healthy diet, and to get plenty of physical exercise to improve their mental well-being.

"Also, we will be running a follow-up campaign in the second semester alongside the Shrimps group, who will be doing a special performance to raise money for MIND."

This week's campaign included exercise in front of the Union and a Relaxation Day, as well as information on where students can ask for help.

The week provided students with an opportunity to write down what worries them on a 'Stress Level' board and discover that other people share their anxieties.

Though mental health is usually something most people feel uncomfortable talking about, one out of four suffers from a mental health problem. Away from friends, home and family and pressed by deadlines, lack of sleep and poor diet, it comes as no surprise that a students' psyche is under constant threat. The fact that fellow students often have no knowledge or understanding of the problem only makes matters worse.

The organisers of the campaign aim to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health problems while offering advice to students.

There is plenty of help for stressed-out students. The University Health Service and the University Counselling Service both provide services for students. The Mental Health Matters organisation also provides drop-in sessions for students, friends and family to find information and share their experiences.

The Skills for Life programme organises workshops which concentrate on different mental health issues – exam insecurities, revision problems, sleep deprivation, peer pressure and disappointment.

Mina Kasherova