Well-being Support
Asking for help or support for your well-being can often be one of the biggest challenges you struggle with in higher education. There are many reasons for this. You may not know what help is out there, lectures or student services may appear intimidating to approach, or you simply don’t want anyone to know you are struggling.
Knowing when you need help and how to get it is massively important. All colleges and universities will offer help as part of their student services. It is a good idea to familiarise yourself the services offered by your university or college of choice. If this is a concern before you go, it’s worthwhile factoring in these services when you are making your UCAS choices. There are also lots of external help services that offer external support and help. It can also be hard even recognising you even need help.
Sometimes you can be so deeply involved in a situation or you may have lived with your situation for so long that you don’t realise how much you need help. Sometimes it takes a friend of family member to spot that fact you need support or help.
KNow before you go
Hacks for support
It’s often the simple things that can have the biggest impact on your success academic success.
Sleep
Sleep is a much-undervalued tool to help you dealing with academic pressures. A recent study by researchers at the University of York, found that 60% of UK students were sleep deprived. Many of these students noted that their lack of sleep negatively impacted their mental well-being. Not only that other research published in the Nature Research Journal found that poor sleep partners can lead to lower grades in assignments and exams.
Plan Ahead
It’s easier said that done, but don’t leave things to the last minute. Many students find themselves pulling ‘all-nighters’ to meet deadlines. Staying up all night pounding coffee or energy drinks, really isn’t the best way to get things done. The combination of sleep deprivation and caffeine can mess with your mental well-being, and generally make you less productive and understand less. If this is you, consider joining a study group or find friends or classmates that can help you become more organised.
Questions
If you are lost in or struggling with your studies, ask questions your lecturers questions during, before or after classes or even by email. They are there to support you and it is in everyone’s interests that you succeed. There will also be support services at your university or college that can help you with academic support, managing your workload as well as making support arrangements for assignments or exams if needed.
Useful Sites to Learn More
Student Minds
NI Direct
The Guardian