This document discusses supporting students' mental health. It defines mental health as a spectrum rather than binary, outlines common issues like stress, anxiety and depression in students, and describes symptoms of anxiety and depression. It then provides guidance on how to support someone experiencing a panic attack or struggling with their mental health. The document encourages creating a positive culture through openness, check-ins, self-care and support networks. Finally, it lists further support resources available to students, such as the Advice Place, Student Counselling Service and Mind.
This document discusses supporting students' mental health. It defines mental health as a spectrum rather than binary, outlines common issues like stress, anxiety and depression in students, and describes symptoms of anxiety and depression. It then provides guidance on how to support someone experiencing a panic attack or struggling with their mental health. The document encourages creating a positive culture through openness, check-ins, self-care and support networks. Finally, it lists further support resources available to students, such as the Advice Place, Student Counselling Service and Mind.
This document discusses supporting students' mental health. It defines mental health as a spectrum rather than binary, outlines common issues like stress, anxiety and depression in students, and describes symptoms of anxiety and depression. It then provides guidance on how to support someone experiencing a panic attack or struggling with their mental health. The document encourages creating a positive culture through openness, check-ins, self-care and support networks. Finally, it lists further support resources available to students, such as the Advice Place, Student Counselling Service and Mind.
• Common issues for students • How can you support someone? • Further support SUPPORTING STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH Sarah Moffat, Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) sarah.moffat@eusa.ed.ac.uk WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH? • Everyone has mental health • Mental health is not a binary, it is a spectrum • Mental health is fluid, & can change over time MENTAL HEALTH IS A SPECTRUM People can have a mental illness, but be mentally well if they have successful coping strategies & support. Equally, people without a mental illness can have very poor wellbeing if they face challenging circumstances and do not have coping strategies in place.
optimal mental wellbeing
maximum mental illness minimal mental illness
minimal mental wellbeing
COMMON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG STUDENTS • Stress – Almost all students will experience some form of stress at University, usually triggered by academic pressure or personal circumstances • Anxiety – While it’s normal to be nervous in stressful situations, people with Anxiety often feel overly anxious under pressure (sometimes to the point of panic attacks) or experience low-level anxiety all the time, regardless of the situation. • Depression – Again, while it’s normally to sometimes feel down, these feelings are categorised as Depression when they continue for over two weeks, recur regularly (e.g. once a month), or have significant negative impact on an individual’s quality of life. SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY • Feelings of panic, fear or uneasiness • Problems sleeping • Catastrophic Thinking (obsessing over the worst case scenario) • Heart palpitations • Difficulty concentrating • Panic attacks HOW TO SUPPORT SOMEONE THROUGH A PANIC ATTACK 1. Find a quiet space away from people 2. Encourage them to take slow, deep breaths 3. Reassure them they will be ok 4. Provide an activity to redirect energy SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION • Exhaustion and lack of energy • Problems sleeping • Difficulty concentrating • Feelings of hopelessness • Loss of interest in activities which used to bring joy HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT SOMEONE Whether you notice someone is acting differently, or they disclose to you that they are struggling, you can use these five steps to support them.
A – Assess for risk
L – Listen non-judgementally G – Give reassurance & information E – Encourage appropriate professional help E – Encourage self-help and other support CREATING A POSITIVE CULTURE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH MODELLING THE WAY
• Be open & honest about your own mental health
• Check in regularly – give people the opportunity to discuss how they’re doing • Encourage self-care – Especially at stressful times, encourage people to rest & relax • Establish support networks – Set up a buddy scheme & encourage people to check in with each other FURTHER SUPPORT The Advice Place Student Counselling Service Practical advice & support In-person & online counselling; • Main office in Potterrow but smaller opportunity to talk through issues office at KB with someone who is neutral • Third floor of Library (main office, • 0131 650 9225 but smaller offices on other • advice@eusa.ed.ac.uk campuses) • www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/advice • 0131 650 4170 • student.counselling@ed.ac.uk • www.ed.ac.uk/student-counselling FURTHER SUPPORT Mind Sarah Moffat (EUSA) Information & advice General question on on all mental health supporting students or mental related issues health • www.mind.org.uk • sarah.moffat@eusa.ed.ac.uk ANY QUESTIONS? sarah.moffat@eusa.ed.ac.uk