#UniMentalHealthDay2024 is on Thursday 14 March — and it's more important now than ever
University Mental Health Day shines the spotlight on the student mental health in higher education.
Organised jointly by Student Minds and the University Mental Health Advisors Network (UMHAN), University Mental Health Day happens every year in March. Today is a chance for universities across the country to raise awareness of mental wellbeing — whether that’s understanding your situation, learning to support your own health, or finding out where to go for support if you need it.
And with 1 in 4 students saying they have a current, diagnosed mental health issue (Student Minds, 2023), it’s clear that understanding mental wellbeing in universities is a growing priority to students and universities.
Discover your university services
Universities have a range of mental health support available, whether you're looking for general wellbeing support, advice, or help getting a diagnosis.
Many university wellbeing teams offer 1-to-1 support, counselling, mindfulness workshops, or wellbeing events. They might have relaxing spaces like the Chaplaincy too.
At Portsmouth we have a range of Wellbeing support, whether you're looking for help in halls, to connect with others at our weekly Wellbeing Cafe, or to attend our annual Feel Good Fest where you'll join other students, staff, local artists and organisations to explore personal wellbeing. The Wellbeing Service also runs workshops on specific topics like managing exam stress, mindfulness and bereavement support.
The Students' Union Advice Service supports you throughout university too. This service runs independently from the University, so is a great option if you're looking for support with appeals or extenuating circumstances, or want to talk to someone away from your academic studies.
Read Roxanne's storyYou are never alone with services like Wellbeing, the Student Finance Centre, and Careers and Employability. The services that the uni offer are so valuable and I would recommend utilising them if you ever need to — everyone is really friendly, helpful and impartial and have a vested interest in your wellbeing.
Speak to your personal tutor
For many students, your first step to accessing uni support services is to speak to your personal tutor. They'll direct you to the correct services, and be able to support you if your wellbeing is impacting your studies.
Aside from the friendliness of fellow students, and the fantastic memories I’ve made here, I’m also especially grateful for the openness displayed by the lectures on my course in their efforts to support us, especially in this last year.
Creating a space for open discussions surrounding mental wellbeing and friendly check-ins were very much appreciated by myself and my fellow classmates, and I've helped developed a mindset I’ll take with me beyond my studies.
Stay informed
Your mental wellbeing will probably change across your time at university. This could be directly linked to your studies, for example across exam season, may be related to situations beyond your control such as family incidents, or could be because your wellbeing changes naturally over time.
Knowing what support is available and how to look after yourself before you're in crisis means that if you do experience issues, you'll already be prepared and have the information you need to get help.
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