How to look after your mental health at university

When experiencing poor mental health, you may feel like you’re alone but this is simply not the case. It is an experience many people can identify with and, no matter what the issue, you're most certainly not alone. None of that changes when you reach university, of course, and there are options and methods out there to support your mental wellbeing while you're studying for a degree.

With that in mind, we’ve partnered with Student Roost to go over a few of the main ways to look after your mental health while at university and practise self-care during your course, as well as how Student Roost can help out with its 24/7 student support system.

The most common mental health obstacles for students

University students face a lot of big changes, particularly when just starting university, and it’s perfectly understandable that a lot of these major changes can lead to poor mental health over time.

One of the most common triggers for mental health difficulties can be the transition into independent living and study, due to moving away from home for the first time and being responsible for your own workload and deadlines. This major change is one of the reasons for increased rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self-harm among students.

Another major cause of mental health issues amongst university students is difficulties in managing stress and various pressures. 

Ways to help your mental health at uni

Whatever the issue may be, there is a wide range of things you can do in order to help give yourself a break and take some of the stress off yourself, promoting improved mental health both now and in the future.

  • Give yourself some time - perhaps one of the simplest things to do is to make sure that you carve out some time that’s just for yourself. It’s tempting to be out with friends, socialising or having fun as much as possible and university is certainly the best time to get out there, meet people and try new things - just be sure to include some alone time as well.

    Schedule some time each week that’s dedicated to just yourself, putting aside all other plans and tasks and just do something you love. Read a book, play a video game,  watch YouTube or get started on that meditation app you’ve been meaning to try. You’ll find that having that set time just for yourself makes a big difference.
     
  • Keep active - it might seem like common sense, but be sure to keep active and remember that your physical health plays a big part in your overall mental health. Get some fresh air and explore your new hometown, maybe carve out a morning jog route or simply get some time in the gym sorted each week - many Student Roost properties offer free-to-use residents-only gyms, some of which operate 24/7. It will do wonders for your sleep schedule as well as your overall health, both physical and mental.
     
  • Go easy on yourself - There are plenty of things at university that will require a significant amount of mental energy and can be stressful - from daily duties to deadlines. One thing you should make sure you do is to give yourself a break from worrying about the smaller things. If you can’t make it out with your friends at the weekend, don’t beat yourself up about turning their invite down, they’ll understand that you're setting boundaries and doing the right thing - looking after yourself.
     
  • Talk to people and ask for help - Need to talk about the way you’re feeling? However small it may seem, it’s good to talk!  You might be surprised how many of your friends can empathise or share similar feelings or stories. If you don’t want to talk to your friends about it specifically, your university’s support system will be able to signpost to the right people and services when you need the help.

    Student Roost properties train all of their staff in how to support their in-house residents and can help guide you to the specialist support available to you.
  • Find a hobby or outlet - Another tip that might sound like common sense but is good to remember: while you’re at university, it’s easy to neglect any kind of creative or satisfying outlet for yourself, away from your studies and socialising. Try getting back into an old hobby you used to love - journaling, playing an instrument, miniature paintings, etc or even join a society at uni and pick up something new.

    Each university will have a range of clubs and societies you can look into and join and they can be a great outlet for some extra energy you build-up, while also offering you a way to take your mind off your general studies and stresses for a little while. You might even meet some new lifelong friends along the way.

How Student Roost can help your mental health

If you choose to stay in a Student Roost accommodation during your time at university, 24/7 support will be available to you  - going beyond simply having an after-hours security guard. Whatever time of day and whatever your concern, Student Roost assures access to a trained team onsite in each of its properties.  They’ll be there to help you and other Student Roost residents, either providing direct help or setting you up with everything you need to get help, including tailored support from relevant organisations and charities.

Student Roost has a focus on student wellbeing that offers even more than trained and friendly staff to speak to at any hour of the day. As a resident, you can benefit from free online mental health UniHeads training to support you and your friends, a free-to-download app to connect and check in on residents in the same property as you, and social spaces and events that can help to combat loneliness. 

For more info on Student Roost properties and the 24/7 support available, be sure to check out their website for all the details.

About our sponsor

At Student Roost, we have put our students' experience, welfare and safety at the top of our agenda since 2017.

Our 50+ properties are located in 22 cities around the UK, with more to come. We aspire to deliver the best possible living experience, offering 24/7 service, flexible payment and tenancy options, and 'wow factor' spaces providing comfort and student-friendly facilities.