Mental Health

NB: you will need to sign up for the Student Helpline Spectrum.Life app to access this video. Download through your app store: iOS and Android. 1. Start by creating an account with your UoA email-address (using organisation code ABERDEEN)2. Log in via the app , or if you prefer the web version: universityofaberdeen.spectrum.life

Movember: Men’s Wellbeing in Focus - 50min pre-recorded session

'Movember' is more than growing a moustache; it’s about shining a light on men’s health. This session will explore both mental wellbeing and physical fitness, with a focus on open conversations and practical lifestyle changes that can make a real difference to your health and wellbeing.

This 50 min Video podcast explores some of the different types of male communities out there today and the positive effects they have been having on the lives of individuals as well as the wider community. Discussing how these communities help with removing stigma and breaking down barriers when it comes to talking about men's mental and physical health.​

Listen to Dan's journey with mental health at University and why it is important to seek help and support if you are struggling. Visit the Student Minds website for more support as a university student.

University Counselling Service Workshops

The Counselling Service offers psycho-educational workshops to students throughout the year on 'Anxiety' and 'Self-esteem'. These are facilitated by experienced, qualified counsellors from the University Counselling Service. Please visit their webpage for details and booking forms. If you have any questions about these workshops, please email: counselling@abdn.ac.uk

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

Find out more about managing transitions, and perfectionism. As well as exploring unhelpful thinking patterns and where to reach out for support.

Chapters:

1. Introduction
2. Managing Transitions
3. Unhelpful thinking patterns
4. Dealing with perfectionism
5. Reaching out for support

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 20 mins of content.

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

In this course, you’ll learn more about what anxiety and stress look like and how they can affect you.

Chapters:

1. What does anxiety and stress look like?
2. The cycle of anxiety
3. How do you cope with anxiety and stress?
4. Managing anxiety and stress
5. Preventative measures

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 20 mins of content.

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

Learn techniques to cope with stress, and recognise when it's time to seek help. Learn how to create open conversations about stress in both your work and home life.

Chapters:

1. What is stress
2. How stress effects the mind and body
3. How to deal with stress
4. How to talk about stress at work and at home
5. When to seek help

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 35 mins of content.

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

Not all stress is bad for us. However, when stress undermines both our mental and physical health, it then becomes a problem. This course will show you how to recognise and manage the stress in your life.

Chapters:

1. An introduction to Stress
2. Understanding stress
3. Signs & symptoms of stress
4. How NOT to cope with stress
5. Managing stress effectively
6. Is stress bad for you?
7. Burnout at work
8. Identifying the Sources of Stress in your life
9. The Stress Boat
10. Stress FAQ's

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 50 mins of content.

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

This course will offer tips and strategies around helping you to better manage and deal with anxiety.

Chapters:

1. Anxiety: The fight or flight response
2. What is anxiety?
3. The signs and symptoms of anxiety
4. Managing anxiety (Part 1)
5. Managing anxiety (Part 2)
6. Types of anxiety
7. How we respond to anxiety
8. Anxiety in young people
9. Short-term relief or long-term relief
10. Anxiety FAQ's

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 50 mins of content.

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

Depression can drain your energy, hope, and drive which often makes it harder to tackle and do what you need to do to feel better. We will offer some simple tips on coping with depression, how to deal with it and how to take action.

Chapters:

1. You don't need to struggle with depression
2. Understanding depression
3. Identifying depression
4. Helping someone you are concerned about
5. Prevention and Treatment
6. Depression in the media and the stigma associated with depression
7. Therapeutic lifestyle change for depression
8. Depression Awareness and Mental Health Issues
9. “…. But I’m not depressed?”
10. The wandering mind: Why do we want to be present?
11. Depression FAQ's

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 55 mins of content.

You can access this module, and many others via the Spectrum.Life Student Helpline App which you can download to your phone or access online.

This comprehensive course explores the different aspects of coping with loss, offering support and strategies to help individuals process their emotions and find healing.

Chapters:

1. Bereavement and grief
2. Types of grief
3. Looking after yourself and others

Duration: Self directed learning at own pace, approx. 30 mins of content.

The NHS has produced some excellent audio/video guides on a range of topics:

• Self-help for low mood and depression - In this audio guide, a doctor explains what you can do to help yourself cope with low mood and depression.

• How to cope with anxiety – a relaxation technique - In this audio guide, a doctor explains how you can take control of anxiety.

• Sleep problems - In this audio guide, a doctor explains what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a good night's sleep.

• Low confidence and assertiveness - In this audio guide, a doctor gives you tips to help build your confidence.

• Unhelpful thinking - In this audio guide, a doctor helps you to replace negative thoughts with more positive thinking.

Self-help techniques and general lifestyle changes can help improve your overall mental and physical wellbeing. Understanding what you are experiencing with your mental or physical well being and working to manage these problems can help prevent difficulties becoming problems.

Access a range of information and self help guides from the University Counselling Service