Prioritising Your Mental Health at University
University can be one of the most exciting chapters of your life; but it can also be one of the loneliest, most overwhelming, and mentally demanding. What makes it even harder is how easy it is to convince yourself that whatever you’re struggling with “isn’t serious enough” to talk about. Whether it’s anxiety, homesickness, academic pressure, or simply feeling lost, many students carry the belief that they should be able to handle it alone.
You walk around campus and see people laughing, studying together, attending lectures confidently, and you think, Why am I the only one struggling like this? What we often forget is that everyone is carrying something. Everyone has their own battles, their own fears, and their own “skeletons in the closet” that aren’t visible from the outside. Just because someone looks fine doesn’t mean they are.
This mindset – believing that your pain is insignificant compared to others – is one of the biggest barriers to seeking help. It keeps you silent. It convinces you that asking for support is a sign of weakness, when in reality, it’s one of the bravest things you can do.
Seeking help early can prevent small issues from becoming major obstacles later on. What might start as exam anxiety or homesickness can gradually grow into burnout, isolation, or long-term mental health struggles if left unaddressed. Taking that extra step to speak to someone could genuinely change your university experience, and your future.
One of the most valuable resources available to students is the Centre for Wellbeing on campus. The fact that it is free for all students already removes a major barrier that many people face when accessing mental health support. The Centre offers one-to-one sessions, both in person and online, which makes it accessible regardless of your schedule or comfort level. Appointments can be booked in advance, allowing you to seek help in a way that feels structured and safe.
The flexibility of these services is important because not every situation requires long-term support. Sometimes, you might just need a single session to talk through exam-day anxiety, stress about deadlines, or a difficult personal situation. Other times, you may realise that you need more guidance and ongoing support; and that option is available too. What matters is that you are given space to figure out what you need.
Alongside this, services like Thrive One provide drop-in sessions during specific afternoons at the Hive. These sessions are particularly helpful if you’re not ready for formal counselling but still want to speak to someone. Even knowing that these spaces exist can be comforting; it reminds you that you’re not alone and that support is always within reach.
Support doesn’t only come from official services. Friends, personal tutors, and Student Union representatives all play a crucial role in student wellbeing. Sometimes, opening up to a friend or tutor can be the first step towards getting the right help. And if you don’t know where to start, the VP Support is often the best person to approach. Their role isn’t just administrative: they are there to listen, to reassure, and to signpost you to the right resources based on your needs.
At the very least, they can offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. More importantly, they can help you identify what kind of support would be most beneficial for you. You don’t have to have everything figured out before asking for help, that’s part of the process.
We need to break the fear of appearing weak, especially during exam season when pressure is at its peak. Struggling in silence often makes things worse. It isolates you, amplifies your stress, and convinces you that you’re alone in your experience. The truth is, asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human.
University is not just about academic success; it’s about learning how to take care of yourself. Learning to ask for help is a life skill that will serve you far beyond your degree. You deserve support, and you deserve to feel okay asking for it.
