Mental Health Awareness

health Awareness
Mental Health Difficulties

• Mental Health problems are essentially disturbances in the way in which people think,
feel and behave.

• They can range from the worries and anxieties we all experience as part of everyday
life to other longer term problems that can begin to affect our daily functioning.

• We all have times when we feel down or stressed or feel unable to manage. These
feelings often pass, but sometimes they are hard to cope with and you might feel you
need extra support.

• Everyone is different. Some people manage their problems and recover well while
others may feel weighed down by them for a long time.

• The majority of people who experience mental health difficulties recover but sometimes
people need longer term or more specialist support.
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Student Mental Health
While many students with mental health difficulties manage university life well there will be some students who find their mental
health difficulties affect their academic work, ability to settle into university life, make friends and have a positive experience.
Sometimes mental health problems can be severely disruptive to a student’s capacity to study and learn.

What factors could impact on a students wellbeing?

• Students are at a stage of transition between dependence and independence.

• Adapting to perhaps living independently for the first time
• Forming new social networks (can often lead to isolation)
• Working academically in a new environment (more autonomous self directed learning and prioristising work)
• Managing a tight budget (perhaps having to work part time)
• The student population has also become increasingly diverse
• There is an increase in modular learning which can result in students progressing through courses over
differing timescales. (less contact with tutors/relationships not being formed)
• Rates of family breakdown have increased enormously over the past few decades.
• For international students they have the added challenge of living in a new country and adapting to a
different culture.
• Increasing pressures around money, body, lifestyle
• Consumerism, 24 hour social networking and what is available and accessible to young people
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Spotting the signs?

Presentations/behaviours which may indicate

deteriorating mental health.
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• Low mood, miserable, tearful or overly anxious
• Withdrawn or unusually quiet
• Observed decline in personal appearance/appearing unkempt
• Inappropriate dress; more flamboyant and or revealing/overtly sexual
• Excessive signs of fatigue/exhaustion
• Speech - loud, inappropriate in content, pressured – rapid, difficult to interrupt
• Erratic behaviour or behaviour that is out of character
• Difficulty concentrating in lectures/seminars or in conversation –appear preoccupied
• Visible signs of self harming such as cuts, burns, scarring.
• Behaviour may be seen as tense, irritable, agitated
• Appear withdrawn, detached from other people and the environment
• Finding it difficult to relate to/communicate with other people
• Expressing feelings of hopelessness, despair, or extreme loneliness
• Thought disturbance, e.g. difficulty sustaining conversation – may be thought blocked or
evidence of jumbled thoughts.
• Talking about suicide or self-harm, or actually doing/attempting it
• Mood or behaviour changes (maybe subtle or significant)
• Talking incoherently/or ideas jumping from subject to subject
• Reduced productivity, judgement, memory, concentration
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Wide range of ‘diagnosis’ or ‘conditions/presentations’

Most common presentations amongst students:

• Anxiety
• Depression

Other less common ‘conditions’:

• Bi-polar disorder
• Psychosis / Schizophrenia
• Personality disorder
• OCD / Phobias
• Eating disorder
• Alcohol/addictions
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Anxiety

The feeling we get when our body responds to frightening or threatening experience/an unpleasant
feeling we all get from time to time. Anxiety can be generalised across a range of situations, or may
be situation-specific (e.g. exam anxiety, social anxiety, public speaking anxiety).

Anxiety affects how we feel, think, behave, our body. It manifests itself in a variety of ways.

Feelings: Nervous, worried, frightened, stressed, tense, unsettled, panicky, irritable

Thinking : Constant worry, thoughts racing, minds jumping, imagining the worst

Common Thoughts : I’m cracking up, I’m going to have a heart attack, I can’t cope, I’ve got to get out of here.

What happens to your body: Heart pounds, chest feels tight, butterflies, stomach churning, jumpy, having to go to the
toilet, sweating, dizzy, light headed.

Behaviours – Avoidance, pacing, getting flustered, irritable, unable to relax, talking quickly
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Depression / low mood

Feelings: Persistent low mood, feeling down, tearfulness, low motivation, feeling alone

Thoughts : Self critical, I’m no good, I’ve wasted another day, low self confidence, helplessness, what is the point in
life

Physical Symptoms : Lethargic, tired, irritable, changes in appetite, sleep disturbance

Behaviours : Self isolation, reduced motivation – reduced self care, less animated and expressive - facially flat,
reduced eye contact
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Awareness
Sleep
Vicious Cycle Negative Thoughts
Over Generalise

Sunlight
Ignore Positive
(CHALLENGE)

Relaxation
Physical Activity
Diet
(TAKE CARE OF
SELF)

Problem Solving
Make good use of Solutions
time (motivation) Recognise
Diary plan personal
Small Steps Qualities
(POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR) (SELF REWARD)
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Risk Factors

Depression has no single cause and can involve the interaction of many factors (psychological,
environmental, biological).

Life events : relationships, bereavement/loss, stressful event/trauma such as being a victim of

crime, academic problems

Physical : Medical conditions, stress, medication

Social situation : Isolation, loneliness, bullying/abuse

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Suicide: Risk Factors / warning signs

• Depression, including excessive feelings of guilt or shame, self reproach and anger
• Feelings of worthlessness and very low self-esteem, particularly if accompanied by very high ideals or expectations
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and futility
• Isolation, feelings of alienation
• History of previous suicide attempts
• Any evidence of suicidal thoughts or plans – sorting affairs, finances, possessions.
• Alcohol and/or other substance abuse
• Recent severe trauma or stressful event such as a major loss, or the threat of loss
• Significant changes of behaviour, e.g. becoming withdrawn, when this is not typical of the individual.
.• Male gender (3 times more likely than women)
• Concurrent mental disorders
• Certain professions - doctors, students
• Hopelessness, talking about feeling trapped or unable to cope with distress
• People who are suicidal often tell people about their thoughts or give clues to
others about their feelings

(sources – Papyrus / NHS / Samaritans/ Mental Wealth/NHS)

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Suicide: What should you do?

Ask
Asking if a person feels suicidal is extremely unlikely to put the idea into their head, and they are more likely to be relieved to not be holding it alone anymore. Ask the student
directly about feelings and plans. (“Are you thinking of killing yourself?” “How have you thought about doing it?”)

Listen
Take what they say seriously. Try to understand their perspective of the situation. The student may be able to tell you what they need and who might help.

Discuss
Try to discover what might make a difference without imposing your solutions on the situation. Offer practical help towards problem solving - e.g. lifting an academic deadline.

*** Don't over-reach your own limits of time or expertise

**** Refer - Do not take sole responsibility for the situation. Sensitively indicate that you are concerned enough to arrange for further help, even if it means breaking
confidence. They must speak to an experienced practitioner as soon as possible. Express care and concern, and assure
the student that you will help him or her get professional help.

If you are unsure seek advice without breaching confidentiality first.

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• If you are concerned about a student, follow your instinct and encourage them to talk to you. Talking about self destructive feelings does not make it more
likely to happen. Also ‘if you don’t ask they are unlikely to tell’

• Listen attentively and acknowledge what they are saying, take it seriously and make it clear that you want to help. Express care and concern, and assure
the student that you will help him or her get professional help

• Don't make light of it, criticise or be judgmental. Reassure them that you have heard what they are telling you.

• Give information to students about where they can get help, offer to initiate the call, or make an appointment for them yourself.

• Ask their permission to involve other - parents, friends and /or student support services.

• A diplomatic approach may be required with a student who does not recognise the need or is unwilling to accept help – talk through all the options. Find
out why they are reluctant and try to address that particular issue. If concerned about imminent risk – contact appropriate emergency services.
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Leeds Beckett University Supports

Students:

• On Line Registration
• Registration via our on-line form accessed from our webpage
• Registration at any time
• Variety of supports available

Staff:
• Student Wellbeing Team provides staff:
• Consultancy, guidance and advice
• Joint meetings and on-going liaison with students
• Sharing of information to ensure co-ordinated approach to student experience
• Training – MH Awareness sessions bookable via I-Trent
• Training – MH Awareness: supporting Students module –People Development on-line
• Support for Urgent Situations

• Student Wellbeing Webpages on Student Hub

• Extensive range of self help resources to be able to direct students to
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• Other useful links

• Student Wellbeing Team

• Urgent Support Information for Students
• Urgent Support Information for Staff
• Self Help Resources for Staff and Students

• Leeds Mind
• Re-think
• Mental Health Foundation
• Time to Change
• Centre for Mental Health