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Mental Health is a term that includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also determines how we handle stress. It is important to look after your mental health, especially whilst at university
What is mental health?
It's natural to feel happy when something positive happens to you or to feel sad, anxious, angry or scared when faced with something challenging or negative in your life.
Good mental health and wellbeing is to recognise that it is natural to feel different emotions, but also knowing when you need some help in dealing with life events.
Good mental health is just as important as good physical health, and maintaining it should be a priority for everyone.
If you are experiencing problems with you mental health they can affect the way you think, feel and behave, much like a physical illness. However, the symptoms are not always visible to or understood by others.
Signs to look out for
Here are some of the early warning signs that you should look out for:
- mood swings or consistently lower mood
- loss of interest in doing things you previously enjoyed
- not wanting to socialise or spend time with family and friends
- disturbed sleep patterns
If you feel that you may be suffering from any of the symptoms, it's really important that you seek help and support through one of these channels:
- Make an appointment with you GP. If you are not registered with a local GP, you can find details of practices close to you via the NI Direct website.
- Access support through the Student Wellbeing Team to explore self-help strategies and potentially access additional study needs (ASN) support if you receive a formal diagnosis. Our Student Wellbeing team are available from 8.45am-5pm (Mon-Thu) and 8.45am-4pm (Fri).
- Contact support organisations such as those listed on this page and through our Helplines page for information on support groups and other resources available to you.
