Welfare & Diversity – Mental Health Support available at LSU
I know I did sign off with my previous blog, but when I was presented with the opportunity to write about the Mental Health support that the Welfare and Diversity section of the LSU provides, I couldn’t resist. When duty calls, I answer…
It’s no longer news that I was John Phillips Hall’s Welfare and Diversity Representative for 2016/2017 academic year, and successfully organised the first-ever JP hall Welfare Week (Proud Welfare Rep). As a Welfare Rep, my focus was on the general well-being of students, and I ensured to get involved in (and organise) activities that promote and cater for this aspect of student life at Loughborough.
Support Networks
The Welfare and Diversity section of the LSU has Associations and Support Networks and Services that exist to ensure that students have the right support throughout their stay in Loughborough. HeadsUp is one of those support networks that promote positive mental health and well-being and raise awareness of mental health issues. I recommend that our new students especially get involved in the activities organised by this support group.
Mental Health Day
The LSU also organises a University Mental Health Day aimed at promoting positive mental health amongst students. This year’s event (held in March) featured several activities including Art therapy, yoga sessions, and an interesting competition/challenge for Welfare Hall Reps. to create buddy boxes full of self-care goodies which will be given out on the Day.
It was an interesting one for me because we – John Phillips Hall Committee – won the Buddy Box challenge (One of such wins that ultimately earned us the Welfare and Diversity ‘Highly Commended’ award for the Most Improved Hall). Our beautiful Buddy box contained self-care goodies, including a hand-written letter from my Committee, expressing our love and inviting the winner for a massage. Aren’t we sweet?
Well-being
From my experience as a Welfare Rep, I know the importance of Mental health and well-being and would always recommend that all students – whether or not you have a mental illness/issue – should strive to improve their mental health. As a postgraduate student in a country outside my home country – with all the cultural, language, academic and everything-in-between barriers and differences – I had to ensure the stability of my mental health and general well-being in order to thrive socially, academically and otherwise.
There are different kinds of pressures that can cause stress and inadvertently threaten one’s mental health. Hence, it is important to always be self-aware and, once you notice you’re under such stress, seek the necessary support. Again, the Welfare and Diversity section provides such support to students throughout their study to ensure they ultimately have the best student experience at Loughborough.
I’ll sign off with this word of advice:
Remember, you cannot perform your best if you’re stressed. Therefore, put your mental health and wellbeing first.
On another news, I miss Loughborough! ☹
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