The winter break is a time for fun and festivity. But with all the pressure to have a good time, it can also be a challenging time of year. For some the winter break can throw up various challenges – family relationships, isolation, financial worries.
Fortunately, Student Space has some great articles on how to survive the winter break.
From all of the Counselling, Health Advice and Chaplaincy team at UAL, we hope you have an enjoyable winter break.
We will be celebrating University Mental Health Day on Thursday 14 March 2024. The Counselling, Health Advice and Chaplaincy service will be offering various events and activities at Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins and London College of Communication from Monday 11 March to Thursday 14 March. Please join us for one of our workshops and events. We look forward to seeing you there.
Lots of students at UAL make contact with the Counselling, Health Advice and Chaplaincy team at UAL. We support students with a wide variety of concerns.
One of the most common obstacles to getting help in place happens when students aren’t registered with a GP (general practitioner.) It can be frustrating if you need help with your physical health, mental health or general wellbeing. Not being registered with a doctor can add to those frustrations.
Doctors can do lots of important things like prescribe medication, refer you to other services within the NHS and monitor your health conditions. There are so many good reasons why students should register with a GP where they are living while at university.
The NHS can help you find a GP in your local area.
UAL students can also register with Holborn Medical Centre.
So what are you waiting for? If you haven’t registered, do it now!
Christmas can be one of the most exciting times of year. This is a time for fun, family and friends. Sometimes these expectations can pile on the pressure. For some Christmas and the winter break can be a time of isolation, especially if you are not able to see your family and friends. Travelling home to visit loved ones or staying at university over the break can throw up different challenges.
Here we list a few resources that may help you manage your wellbeing over the festive season.
From all at UAL’s Counselling, Health Advice and Chaplaincy service, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
At this time of year many students experience the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, sometimes referred to as SAD. As the nights draw in, we can become more lethargic, lacking in energy or motivation. Your mood may drop. There can be the impulse to comfort eat more and to hide away.
Many of these symptoms can be indicative of SAD if they occur as the nights draw in, particularly after the clocks go back at the end of October. The lack of natural daylight can reduce levels of vitamin D and have a direct impact upon mood. Changes to sleep patterns are common.
Some people say they find using a light box can be helpful. These devices aim to emulate natural daylight. You may also wish to have a conversation with your GP to see if SAD could be having an impact on you. Remember it’s important not to self-diagnose. Have a conversation with your doctor to see what could be going on.
You may also wish to check out Mind’s useful summary on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD.) Mind is a national charity for the support of mental health.
Many of us experience procrastination at one time or another. Students can be particularly prone to procrastination. The challenge of meeting deadlines and submitting work that will be assessed can bring up some difficult emotions. But help is at hand. This informative article in The Guardian shines some light on why we procrastinate.
Why not check out UAL’s wellbeing workshops where the Counselling and Health Advice team run informative workshops on procrastination and other useful topics.
Image credit: Work in Progress, Tommaso Russo, MA Graphic Communication Design, Central Saint Martins, UAL | Photograph: John Sturrock
Check out this ambient music which can help you focus on your studies.
Learn more about what you can do to maintain good mental health. Artists and creatives often face challenges, especially when dealing with a complex or challenging brief. Here are some great articles to give you some ideas on how to maintain your self-care and mental wellbeing while engaging in your creative process.
Sometimes we all need a bit of help to sleep better. Listen to the amazing work ‘Sleep’ by contemporary composer Max Richter. This composition is intended to be played all night to accompany a restful night’s sleep. Richter sometimes performs this work live with his ensemble for 8 hour concerts where the audience are invited to sleep as they listen.