Let's keep talking - Time To Talk Day - let's talk about mental health

I'd say it's a lot more linked to upbringing/culture

Interesting. What makes you say that?

Why is mental health so low on university agendas?


Hi everyone,

How are you all doing? It's been a while since we chatted.

For those of you that have exams how are you finding revision? Remember to make time for cups of tea and a natter with friends, and schedule time for treats like a walk in the sunshine or a movie night with pals.

This is a very interesting article. What's your experience of wellbeing services at university?

Why is mental health so low on university agendas?


Hi everyone,

How are you all doing? It's been a while since we chatted.

For those of you that have exams how are you finding revision? Remember to make time for cups of tea and a natter with friends, and schedule time for treats like a walk in the sunshine or a movie night with pals.

This is a very interesting article. What's your experience of wellbeing services at university?

Interesting - I'm at Exeter and have accessed the services. I think she has a point. I went there at the start of the year. Was very distressed and was told that I had to wait 5 weeks for an initial assessment. Following the assessment in October, I had to wait until Christmas for CBT. CBT was utterly terrible and she suspended the sessions without following me up with anything else. They had abandoned me. I then went to a disability person (after false information from the GP) where I confessed I was suicidal, and then wellbeing wouldn't stop bugging me. When I said this was unhelpful and making me feel worse, I was dismissed and accused of not making the most of the service - an absolute joke when they refused to see me for weeks when acutely distressed. I now have a mentor who I rarely see and ridiculous amounts of trouble with my GP and psychiatrist which makes me feel totally alone. I could go on. They haven't been good at dealing with the pressure of 20,000 students (very small and low staffed service) and also have prioritised poorly. Going through the motions of this system has made me feel worse. Ridiculous, I wish I'd never bothered.

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Hi everyone,

It's mental health awareness week from the 12 - 18 May and the focus is going to be Anxiety.

This is the official information pack:

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/content/assets/PDF/publications/mental-health-awareness-week-kit.pdf

Thought we could start generating some ideas together on how TSR's community can support this week

I'm going to start quoting some of you in!

SR x

I think raising awareness of anxiety and the issues that surround it would be a good idea.
I think it'd also be a good idea to perhaps generate like a info-pack or something - educating and informing others about anxiety is, signposting to charities and organisations that offer services to help individuals with anxiety, as well as maybe providing suggestions/advice to help reduce it e.g. mindfulness techniques

I think raising awareness of anxiety and the issues that surround it would be a good idea.
I think it'd also be a good idea to perhaps generate like a info-pack or something - educating and informing others about anxiety is, signposting to charities and organisations that offer services to help individuals with anxiety, as well as maybe providing suggestions/advice to help reduce it e.g. mindfulness techniques

^ this. And that anxiety isn't just being 'a little bit worried' it's so much more than that.

Honestly I think unis on the whole do a pretty good job.. On the NHS you can be waiting months, 4-6 months is not an uncommon waiting time for counseling unless they feel that they can prioritise you. 5 weeks is pretty damn good compared to services elsewhere.

Hi everyone,

It's mental health awareness week from the 12 - 18 May and the focus is going to be Anxiety.

This is the official information pack:

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/content/assets/PDF/publications/mental-health-awareness-week-kit.pdf

Thought we could start generating some ideas together on how TSR's community can support this week

I'm going to start quoting some of you in!

SR x

Thats really good, i have anxiety myself so i will definitely look at what they have on that site, let me know if anything i can do


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The reason it takes so long on the NHS is the goverment criminally underfunds mental health services, its also worth noting that for a LOT of mental health issues, 6 weeks of 1 hour counselling sessions really isnt even close to enough support.

The only decent thing my Uni had was nightline who you could call or even pop into see if you were having a MH crisis, there needs to be a hell of a lot more support and investment for mental health in Uni, NHS and workplaces/schools imo


Posted from TSR Mobile

I do think we have to be realistic though, even on the NHS it can take months for an operation and weeks for a referral for potential cancer. It is never going to be ideal.

Brilliant thank you I think if we comfortable to do so it's about sharing our experiences and how manage it day to day, what's worked for us, what hasn't. When does it get worse, and what are the exception times i.e. our really good days

I think the article is a little unfair and skewered tbh. Admittedly I know nothing about Exeter but the welfare services at Cambridge are excellent.Yes, the waiting time for counselling is 3-5 weeks, but it's still shorter than the NHS. And that does not mean you don't get significant additional support from your chaplains, tutors, others in the meantime.

I feel that unis DO try to help quite considerably with mental health issues, doing whatever is feasible to help. They certainly assist more than [most] employers would. At the end of the day you're ill though; your university can't be expected to bear the burden of your illness alone.

This is a very interesting article. What's your experience of wellbeing services at university?