Today is University Mental Health Day and Harriet has been busy working with other staff members to plan some exciting sessions for you all. Find all our upcoming events here, and read what's on for UMHD22 below - plus some resources from Wellbeing Representative (HE), Aaron Lovelock!
Artists' Wellbeing Workshop | 10 - 11am | Online
Join Ethan, the Student Wellbeing Advisor, for this interactive session on managing stress and anxiety, incorporating mindfulness-based and solution-focused approaches to wellbeing. The session will include a demonstration of Do-In, a type of self-massage therapy that uses acupressure points and is great for an instant energy boost and stress relief. Open to all FE and HE students. Session via Google Meet: meet.google.com/rcu-qsfi-ytj
Poetry and Creative Writing Session | 12 - 1pm | Online
Join Rachel, the HE Learning Development Manager, for this exciting and interactive session focused around poetry and creative writing. Open to all FE and HE students. Session via Google Meet: meet.google.com/wmd-jkxp-mcw
What happens when we translate our thoughts, memories and emotions into words? This workshop will explore creative writing practices such as free-writing and poetry, giving participants an opportunity to play and experiment with thoughts, memory and emotion through the medium of text/language.
Yoga Class | 2 - 3pm | Students' Union
Join Eleonora, the Student Welfare Disability Advisor, for a fun, relaxing yoga class in the Students' Union. Eleonora is a professionally qualified Iyengar Yoga teacher with 18 years of experience as a yoga teacher with a current Indemnity Insurance.
Yoga is a very ancient practice known to relieve stress and anxiety, it can improve breathing and sleep, the digestive system, your focus, and concentration. It can give you confidence and improve your self-esteem and general wellbeing. Please bring a mat and wear comfortable clothing, and join us in the Students' Union.
The movements will be simple, aiming to release tension from your neck, shoulders, and lower back from the long hours of sitting. It will work on opening and lifting the chest to create more space for the lungs with a focus on the breath. The breath is primary in yoga and directly affects the Vagus nerve functions responsible for the autonomic nervous system. It has a main role in the parasympathetic nervous system which controls the digestive tract, respiration, and heart rate functioning.
Mental Health Training | Free Courses and Resources
We also wanted to share with you a range of free courses and resources, to help you better support yourself and others when it comes to mental health issues. Why not try this free Suicide Prevention Training from Zero Suicide Alliance, this free COVID-19 Psychological First Aid course from Public Health England via Future Learn, Further Education or Higher Education e-learning through the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust or one of the free Open Learning courses from the Open University?
Student Minds | Student Space
The Student Minds Blog has got a number of articles written by students about navigating university life during the pandemic, as well as resources and support. You can also text ‘STUDENT’ to 85258 to start a conversation, 24 hours a day.
Colouring Pages | The Sad Ghost Club and Anastasia Tasou
PCA Alumni Lize works with Nathan and Helen to run The Sad Ghost Club, a small creative project making comic books, apparel and merchandise to spread positive awareness of mental health. They have put together downloadable colouring pages which you can access here for free here, to help make our lives a little more colourful. Anastasia Tasou is a UK-based artist specialising in typography. She has various zines, colouring pages and activity sheets available for free here and here.
Best,
Harriet Moore - Student Union President
Aaron Lovelock - Wellbeing Representative (HE)
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