We all know that good mental health is important, and we all know the recommendations to maintain good mental health. But life happens and it doesn’t care if you have eaten the right food or drank enough water, mental ill health can affect anyone. I have lived my life battling with anxiety and depression, and it is exhausting. I spent years feeling bad about myself for not meeting some kind of invisible standards I had set myself, including withdrawing from my brick uni many years ago due to my mental health challenges.
Then just for fun a few years ago, my body decided to throw in chronic illnesses that affect my mobility and general day-to-day living. As a result of this, I had to rethink how I manage my mental health and wellbeing. I know exercise is good for my mental health, but I also know that if I went on a lovely long walk, I would be pretty much useless at doing anything else after. So the best thing that helped me with my mental health was learning about myself and focusing on the things I can do, not the things I can’t. It sounds much easier on paper than it is in practice, though!
No one is perfect and mental health is a continuum that most people bounce around – it’s just about knowing when to catch yourself before you fall completely. Your studies can be a great way of beginning these patterns – you wouldn’t study 24 hrs a day without a break so why should you do the same with your mental health. Find something that brings you joy and take time to do that, even if it is just for a small amount of time each day or week etc. It doesn’t have to be the same thing – it can be a variety. I am currently rotating between Lego, colouring (embracing my inner child here), reading and any other random thing I find to do instead of TMA writing!
It can also be incredibly liberating (if you feel able to) to talk with others and have a sense of community, particularly as OU students are generally all isolated from one another. This is also the theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and we have lots of events and student groups / clubs and societies for you to get involved in. Now if you are like me and that sentence fills you with absolute dread, don’t be afraid. I spent a lot of time sitting on the edges not speaking or having my camera on in events before I felt comfortable enough. You can drop in and out of events or you can join conversations with other OU students over on OU Students Connect. You can also get involved in the OU community through volunteering with others to represent OU students in OU decision-making (a shameless plug but we are currently recruiting for Student Representative roles).
If your studies are affecting your mental health or if you need any further support, please do ensure that you have made the OU aware of any of your support needs. You can also speak with your tutor or Student Support Team (SST). If you don’t feel comfortable talking with anyone about this, there is a wealth of help and support available at the OU. I know searching the website can feel overwhelming, so I have included some links below to some useful resources that helped me through my OU degree.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, take some time to think about what works for you, what brings you joy and what you need to get through the bad times. If you need to cry, cry; if you need to laugh, laugh; and one of my personal favourites – if you need to take a nap, take a nap!
These are some of my useful resources, please feel free to share this article with some of your own resources for other OU students to explore:
OU study advice and support:
Sharing your disability and support needs with the OU – Telling the OU about your disability | Help Centre | The Open University
Disability Support at the OU – Who can get disability support | Help Centre | The Open University
Library resources – Training and events | Library Services | Open University
Referencing and plagiarism – Library – Referencing and plagiarism | Library Services | Open University
Individual Representation Service – Individual Representation Service
Community:
Student support groups – Support Groups
Clubs and Societies – Clubs and societies
Volunteering – Become a Student Representative!
OU Student Connect – OU Students Connect
Student Hub Live – The Student Hub Live | The Student Hub Live
General mental health and wellbeing support:
OU wellbeing app – OU Wellbeing app
Help centre – Mental health, wellbeing and keeping safe | Help Centre | The Open University
National Support Network – Find Help Fast | The Open University