The term ‘mental health’ refers to your emotional and psychological wellbeing, and it influences the way you feel and think, as well as your behaviour. Having good mental health can improve your quality of life and it can also help you perform better at university. 
It is important to remember that mental health problems are part of everyday life, and they can manifest themselves in many different ways. Mind has put together a detailed list of mental health problems which include a description of their symptoms, possible causes and treatments: Mind - Types of mental health problems.
If you think you might be suffering from a mental health problem, do not hesitate to speak to your GP. If you need any tips to prepare for your appointment, please find some useful suggestions on the Mind website.
To find a GP and other services near you, please click here.
Browse the Students' Association website to discover how BPP can help you manage your mental wellbeing. You will find direct links to Counselling services, Learning Support resources, and useful information from our Safeguarding team.
Access the NHS Mental Health Services website to find out how to get urgent assistance, such as therapy, counselling and local mental health services.
Mind offers a wide range of resources and information about mental wellbeing. If you would like to speak to their team about mental health problems
and treatments, or you need information regarding services, please call their Helplines or read their Guides to Support and Services.
Mind has also put together a great list of videos, tips and tools to help students like you take care of their mental wellbeing and manage their student life. To discover these resources, please visit the Student Mental Health Hub.
Togetherall is a mental health virtual service managed by clinical professionals which offers a 24/7 online support and access to courses and resources.
Mindfulness is a practice you can learn which involves staying in the present, and paying attention to your body, feelings, and surroundings. Mindfulness can help you to feel calmer and be more self-aware; moreover, it can help you deal with unhelpful thoughts and understanding yourself better.
The amazing thing about this technique is that it can be practised anywhere at any time, you do not need any equipment, and it can be integrated with meditation and breathing exercises.
To get more from your mindfulness exercises, try to:
pick a regular time to practise
practise in a place where you feel comfortable
observe and accept your feelings and thoughts, without judgement
If you are a beginner, you may want to start practising mindfulness while listening to guided sessions. Oxford Mindfulness Centre has created Mindfulness and Meditation Audio Sessions that can be accessed for free. In addition to these resources, as a BPP student, you have free access to LinkedIn Learning and its wide range of courses, such as these Mindfulness courses:
Practising yoga regularly can bring many benefits to your body and mind. It has been proven that yoga can improve flexibility, enhance your physical strength, improve your posture and balance, boost your mood, and develop brain functioning.
To learn more about the mental health benefits of yoga, please see the research paper: Yoga and mental health: A synthesis of qualitative findings.
There are many different types of yoga, so it is very important that you find the style and teaching that suits you. This article contains a detailed guide to the different styles of yoga and their characteristics that you may find useful.
In addition, please find some useful resources listed below:
Chair Work: Yoga Fitness and Stretching at Your Desk: Use your Athens account to access this LinkedIn Learning course and learn exercises you can do at your desk.
Mind - Support your Wellbeing with Yoga: Richmond Borough Mind has created a yoga activity sheet with simple but effective exercises and tips.
Mental health and sleep are closely linked; a good sleep helps you to release the stress of the day and can improve your mental and physical wellbeing; moreover, it can improve memory and enhance learning.
If you are having problems sleeping, you could try these tips suggested by Mind:
maintain a regular sleeping routine;
keep a sleep diary - you may want to try using this template provided by the NHS.
reduce caffeine and alcohol before bedtime;
meditation.
Did you know that as a BPP student, you can access LinkedIn Learning courses for free? Here are some resources that might help you improve your sleep quality:
As explained in the report produced by the Mental Health Foundation, spending time outdoors can help you both on an emotional and on a physical level. It has been proven that connecting with nature can boost your mood, enhance concentration, reduce anxiety, and improve your physical health.
There are many activities you can try to enhance your connectedness with nature:
take a walk in your local park;
have your meals outdoors;
exercise outside;
work in a garden or grow plants and flowers in your home.
You can find your local park using this link, and you can browse accessible nature reserves here. For information about UK’s National Parks, please click here.
In addition, please visit Mind to discover more ways to connect with nature and improve your wellbeing.
Mindfulness by
Mindfulness is based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Co-developed by Professor Mark Williams of Oxford University, MBCT is recommended by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and is as effective as drugs for preventing depression. But, equally, it works for the rest of us who aren't depressed but who are struggling to keep up with the relentless demands of the modern world.
The Mindfulness Solution by
(Audiobook)
Mindfulness offers a path to well-being and tools for coping with life's inevitable hurdles. And though mindfulness may sound exotic, you can cultivate it-and reap its proven benefits-without special training or lots of spare time. Trusted therapist and mindfulness expert Dr. Ronald Siegel shows exactly how in this inviting guide.
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The Self-Care Handbook by
Bestselling author Gill Hasson shows you how to develop the mindset, routines and habits that can protect, maintain and improve your health and wellbeing. The Handbook presents straightforward approaches that can help you feel good about yourself, manage stress and anxiety, achieve a work-life balance, increase your physical health and much more.
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