University of Westminster marks Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 with rich programme of events

The sessions, which were run by the University and the Students’ Union, were open to all students and aimed to support their wellbeing during the stressful exam period.

The week kicked off with an online workshop titled ‘Managing loneliness whilst studying and being at university’, hosted by the Specialist Mentors within Disability Learning Support (DLS). The Mentors offer one-to-one support aimed at helping students registered with DLS overcome barriers to studying and achieve their full potential at university.

The workshop focused on several areas including how to identify and understand the feeling of loneliness; the different periods in which loneliness can be experienced throughout university and the impact this has on your wellbeing; practical strategies to manage feelings of loneliness; how students can connect with others and manage time alone; and the support available to students.

There was also a ‘Maintaining Social Wellness’ online workshop which introduced students to some of the tools used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help them work on maintaining good relationships. Social wellness refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others and involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering a genuine connection with those around you.

Students could also grab a self-care hamper at Westminster’s Cavendish Campus on Tuesday and on Harrow Campus on Thursday. The hampers were aimed at promoting the small ways that students can look after themselves in stressful periods.

Experts from the leading mental health charity Mind held an online workshop a couple of times a week to support students in gaining the knowledge to look after their mental health, develop coping strategies, and support others too.

On Wednesday, students were invited to talk to experts from Mind at a coffee and chat drop-in session at Harrow Campus where they could get advice and support in a confidential setting if required; ask questions regarding their mental health and wellbeing; find out what support is available, and collect self-help resources.

Also on Wednesday was an online ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ workshop aimed to support students in practicing mindfulness in the context of the NHS’s 5 steps to wellbeing. The workshop introduced students to the practice of mindfulness and how to pay attention to the present moment in order to support their wellbeing during the assessment period and beyond.

On Thursday, students were invited to attend a reflective online workshop about counselling and company, which examined how we can be more comfortable in our own company, what it takes to be content with being alone rather than lonely, and how we can combat loneliness and be connected in healthy ways.

There was also a webinar on Thursday focusing on the types of support offered by the University of Westminster’s DLS and how students can register with the service.

On Friday, students were able to attend a ‘Building Your Confidence’ workshop which aimed to help them to identify thoughts and behaviours that affect their confidence and taught them some Cognitive Behavioural Techniques to overcome these behaviours.

Find out more about the wellbeing resources available at the University of Westminster.