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Second year student Anisha Bhatia shares how she looks after her mental health at university
Over the last year at UCL, as an international student, I’ve really been on a mental health rollercoaster. Dealing with the feeling of being in a new place, adjusting to university, making friends, handling finances, managing household chores and stressful university assignments can be a bit of a nightmare, and feel really overwhelming. Trust me, I’d know.
This World Mental Health day, I wanted to share some of my top tips that have helped me settle into life at UCL. Here's what I wish someone had told me at the start of my journey:
Be active and take advantage of things that get you moving
Whether it’s a relaxing session of yoga with Project Active, or an active workout in the TeamUCL Gym, I find it really helps to move my body. This year, I’ve decided to try out a new sport: gymnastics! The endorphins you get from being active can help you sleep better, manage stress, and for me, they just make me so much happier.
Be proactive with your classes & slow down when you need to
UCL has one of the coolest systems: Delayed Assessment Permits (DAPS). DAPs allow you to take a step back when needed; I made sure I used mine when I was academically stretched thin, and this really helped. A DAP entitles you to either a 5 working day extension or a deferral (it depends on the nature of your assessment), and you're not required to provide evidence or wait for approval.
Sometimes, hitting the pause button is the most responsible thing you can do for yourself and your mental health, so you can achieve more in the long run.
Access Student Support; don’t ever be shy
There's so much support available to you at UCL, so don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
The Students' Union has an Advice Service on the first floor of 25 Gordon Street, and it’s filled with everything you need to navigate your time at university. Whether your finances are stressing you out or you have academic issues, speaking to someone helps ease your worries. I have met so many people who are so much happier thanks to these services! Their advisors can talk to you about anything from exam stresses to housing issues, and it's independent from the uni.
Also, Student Wellbeing services in the Student Centre is filled with the kindest staff, who are always there to ease your worries and help you with any academic and wellbeing concerns. Their team are experts in wellbeing and mental health, and their support is free for you to access.
Build a community by participating
What most people don’t tell you is that participating in university activities - whether its societies, volunteering, getting a part-time job, or anything else that stands out to you - is one of the best ways to build a community.
By simply participating, you're creating a space for yourself where you belong, whilst meeting new people and finding a community along the way. I know that working as a content creator and heading up my society this year has brought me some of my closest university friends - and I couldn't be more grateful.
This Mental Health Day, remember that you’re never alone. If you're ever struggling, or feel like you don't fit in, just like I often have, try something new, participate in activities on campus or reach out to someone for support.
Wondering where to get started?
Your Students' Union is here to help you discover all of the new opportunities you can get involved with, to help you grow new skills, find where you belong, and gain friends for life. It can feel overwhelming to know where to start. My one tip for right now would be to take advantage of all of the taster sessions that happen at the start of term - they're a really brilliant way to try something new.
The students' union's What's On calendar highlights all of the events and opportunities that are happening on campus week to week. You can buy tickets to any of the events, and keep up to date with what's happening.
Some other things you might want to check out:
- Have you heard of the Students' Union's Networks? They're a great way to connect with people from similar backgrounds, and find your community at uni
- The Social Impact team at Students' Union UCL - you can find tons of amazing volunteering opportunities
- artsUCL - they run so many cool programmes, covering everything from painting to acting, and everything inbetween
- Like I mentioned above, moving my body really helps me to look after my mental health. TeamUCL Gym, TeamUCL Leagues and Project Active are all great ways to get moving, at a really low cost (and sometimes even free)
Support Services available with UCL
- Access support through the Student Support and Enquiries Desk
- Visit the Students' Union's Advice and Support Service
- askUCL: submit an enquiry online to find the guidance and answers to your questions.
- Student Support Phone Lines: call and speak to an adviser 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Join an event with 'Your Guide to Thrive'
- DAPS – Access support if you need to delay an assessement