Taking care of your wellbeing
The Five Ways to Wellbeing
Evidence suggests that taking these five steps can help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
- Connect with other people - make time to catch up with a friend or loved one, chat to a colleague or talk to someone new
- Be physically active - this can be as simple as getting outside at lunchtime, walking, or taking the stairs rather than the lift. If you’re a wheelchair user pick up some tips here Fitness advice for wheelchair users - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Pay attention to the present moment – known as mindfulness. This can include taking in your surroundings, taking notice of your own breath, or embracing nature.
- Learn new skills - sign up for a course or training webinar.
- Give to others - volunteer your time or donate to a fundraiser for a charity you care about.
Read more on the NHS website 5 steps to mental wellbeing - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Wellbeing Resources
Check out the list of resources below which may help you to look after your wellbeing.
SilverCloud® is a clinically proven digital mental health and wellbeing platform, which offers digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programmes and tools. As a student of ours it’s free to sign up and you can do it by following this link. Then just enter your University details to get started.
Togetherall is a digital mental health support service which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Professionally trained Wall Guides monitor the community to ensure the safety and anonymity of all members. As well as Togetherall's online community, as one of our students you have free access to a wealth of useful resources and can work through tailored self-help courses covering topics such as anxiety, sleep, weight management, depression and many more.
Living Life to the full provides a range of free self-help resources help people tackle depression, low mood and stress or anxiety, at every stage in life. They do this through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy educational life skills which are delivered in print and digital formats.
Use your Wellbeing Toolkit to develop and support your wellbeing whilst studying
Building skills which enable you to be more resilient in the face of challenges is an effective way of supporting your wellbeing. We cannot avoid challenges or difficult experiences but we can learn to respond differently to these events.
Looking after your emotional health at university is as important as looking after your physical health. Your toolkit offers tips, techniques and activities to help you track your progress and build skills to support your personal wellbeing while you study. You can also use it to book an appointment with Wellbeing, or book dedicated quiet library spaces.
During term time, the Education Welfare Team and Wellbeing Services runs a number of talks and activities, on our campuses and online. These activities are often run in conjunction with the Residence Life/Res Life team and your Students' Guild/Students' Union.
- Talks and activities for students (this page mainly covers events based in Devon but there are also some online events and some events in Cornwall).
- Support sessions and events for students in Cornwall
There are peer support groups that cover a variety of topics. They provide a safe space to discuss thoughts and feelings and interact with others who might face similar challenges.
Reading can be a great form of self-care, and there is a wide range of books available on various mental health topics. If you are interested in understanding your mental health further, we have compiled a list of books to get you started.
We have developed a selection of audio resources featuring a variety of relaxation techniques - you could try them all and see which feels best for you.
Apps are an easy way to keep in touch with your mental health, at your fingertips. We've created a list of our favourite mobile apps, available for free on iPhone (App Store) and Android (Google Play).
Our workbooks were developed specifically for you. The topics cover common issues which may arise during your time at university. The techniques are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Other workbooks and programmes you may find helpful include:
These are challenging times for the world, with conflicts, climate change, money worries and other concerns often causing stress for us, our loved ones and friends.
If you’re looking to manage your stress and anxiety levels, we have put together some advice and suggestions for you.
