General advice
Mind is the UK’s leading mental health charity. They provide advice on:
The NHS provides excellent guides to coping with a wide range of mental health problems.
Specific issues
Overwhelming feelings
How to manage uncomfortable feelings, published by Sydney University, explains how emotions can become overwhelming and provides useful techniques for regaining some calm and control.
Anxiety and panic
Grounding is a technique for coping with anxiety and panic. It can help you calm your nervous system and connect with the present moment so you’re not hijacked by difficult thoughts and feelings. A range of approaches is explained in this guide to grounding techniques.
You could also try this NHS-approved breathing technique for restoring calm.
Social anxiety
Advice on overcoming social anxiety and building social confidence:
- Dealing with social anxiety, a guide based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from CCI, a well-regarded Australian clinical psychology service.
- Building assertiveness, a guide based on CBT from CCI.
- How to stop worrying whether or not they like you, a video from the School of Life, a global organisation that helps people lead more fulfilled lives.
Low self-esteem
Self-compassion can be a powerful antidote to low self-esteem. Self-compassion is not self-pity or self-indulgence. Nor is it self-esteem; with self-compassion, you don’t have to feel better than others to feel good about yourself. Self-compassion allows us to drop some of the harsh self-criticism that can make us so miserable. Find out more about self-compassion:
- Cultivating self-compassion, a workbook based on CBT from CCI.
- TED talk on self-compassion by author and researcher Kristin Neff.
Sleep problems
Resources for getting a good night’s sleep:
- Sleep hygiene, a simple guide based on CBT from CCI.
- Relaxation before sleep, a podcast from the UK’s Mental Health Foundation.
Loneliness and homesickness
- We have written a guide to getting support if you or someone else is feeling lonely or isolated.
- The Mix is a young people’s charity that provides guidance on dealing with homesickness.
Exam stress
Some people take exams in their stride. But for many, they cause a great deal of stress. Our exam stress podcast can help you spot signs of exams stress in yourself and take steps to combat it.
Perfectionism
Do you constantly judge yourself against exacting standards of excellence? Does this take a toll on your mental health? If so, you may find it helpful to look at these resources:
- Focused Minds. The Department of Psychology and Student Support are welcoming students to take part in a study looking at the relevance and usefulness of an 8-module online programme - Focused Minds that helps students struggling with the pressure of their own goals, whose self-worth is impacted by not being able to achieve in the way they want, and who want to work towards positive goal attainment without the fear of never feeling ‘good enough’. It’s goal is help you with these types of problems related to perfectionism and improve mental wellbeing. Find out more here and register to take part.
- Learn to pursue healthy goals rather than unrelentingly high standards, a guide based on CBT.
- TED talk on the Growth Mindset by pioneering psychology professor Carol Dweck.
Procrastination
On the face of it, putting off what's important or necessary makes no sense. Yet so many of us do it. Find out why, and what you can do to work with this tendency, in The Problem with Procrastination, a Heads Up podcast from the University's Counselling team.
Finding someone to listen
- The Samaritans support anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide. They offer 24-hour confidential support on the phone, by email and in person.
- Nightline is run by fellow Bath students. It offers listening, support and practical information. It opens every night from 8pm to 8am during term times.
Support in Bath
If you’re struggling to cope on your own, there’s plenty of help available at the University and locally to support your wellbeing and mental health.
Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing Service offers immediate help and advice on all kinds of welfare and wellbeing issues.
Therapeutic Services and Mental Health
Our Therapeutic Services and Mental Health team runs courses and workshops as well as providing one-to-one talking therapy and mental health advice. To access our one-to-one services, you first need to book an initial consultation.
Be Well App
Download our free app which provides you with the tools to start building healthy, positive habits into your everyday life. These include:
- podcasts based on mindfulness
- three minute short podcasts to help calm you in stressful situations
- journaling
- guided breathing exercises
- mindfulness exercises to help you in the moment
- track and build healthy habits
BaNES Talking Therapies (IAPT)
BaNES Talking Therapies offer regular courses that can help you manage a range common mental health problems such as low mood, depression, anxiety, stress, phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) . They use evidence based therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), meaning that there is proof that the therapies are likely to make you feel better. The website lists the courses currently available. They are updated every few weeks with new dates and are all self -referral. You will need to be registered to a BaNES GP (doctor) to access them.
You may also want to book an appointment with our Wellbeing Team to talk through your difficulties and explore additional or alternative support too.
Podcasts
We have recorded a number of podcasts to help you deal with common problems faced by students. Subjects we've covered include:
- exam stress
- being at home with your family
- procrastination
- dealing with uncertainty.
Suicidal Thoughts
One in five people will experience suicidal thoughts at some point in their lifetime. This might range from wishing you weren’t here anymore or thinking others would be better off without you, to making plans to end your life. Please don’t keep suicidal thoughts to yourself. Tell someone you trust – a friend, family member or a professional.
To find out more about what the University is doing to prevent suicide and all of the help that staff and students can access if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts please read the Suicide awareness and prevention page.
If you (or someone you know) are having suicidal thoughts and do not feel able to keep yourself safe then call Security on 01225 383999 from campus. If you are not on campus call 111 or go to the nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E)
If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.