Wellbeing Champion and Biomedical Science Student, Abbie, shares her experience of anxiety and depression, and encourages others to talk about how they’re feeling. When anxiety and depression began to have a huge effect on my life, I found it difficult to talk about how I was feeling. I struggled to even put what I was Read more
Kirsty, Wellbeing Practitioner in the Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, talks about Armed Forces Day and the dedicated support available for student veterans… Armed Forces Day is an annual event which provides an opportunity to show our support for the people in the Armed Forces who are currently, or have previously served, as well as their Read more
PhD Student and Postgraduate Peer Supporter, Sum, discusses Bipolar Disorder and shares his own personal experience of this mental health condition… My experience with mental health problems began when I was sixteen years old. After significant struggles and inaccurate diagnoses of depression whilst completing my undergraduate degree, I was correctly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Since Read more
Music student and Wellbeing Champion, Sophie, talks about the potential side-effects of hormonal contraceptives on mental health and shares her own story… My experience with mental health problems began in school and correlated with when I began taking oral contraceptives. I suffered with low mood, mood swings and anxiety until I finally opened up to Read more
Scot, Wellbeing Practitioner, talks about Mental Health Awareness Week… It’s mental health awareness week and it couldn’t come at a better time! Exams and deadlines are happening for many of us, or are looming in the near future, so let’s not forget to take care of ourselves. The theme this year is stress and Read more
Polly, Geography Student and Wellbeing Champion, talks about her struggles with depression and anxiety…. In 2015, I came to University, and symptoms of depression and anxiety made their appearance. Being in an unfamiliar place, away from my usual support network, made this even more challenging and I struggled to speak about how I was feeling. Read more
Psychology student and Wellbeing Champion, Nichola, discusses her experience of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how one honest conversation can make a world of difference. After suffering silently with PTSD at University, one honest conversation spurred a positive path towards acceptance and coping strategies. From once struggling to even express my feelings to friends, Read more
Rachel, Wellbeing Practitioner from the Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, shares tips on coping with anxiety before and during exams. It is natural to feel anxious prior to an exam. In fact, a little anxiety can actually help performance. Anxiety and stress cause the body to release adrenalin which can be helpful when responding to challenging Read more
Amy from our Wellbeing Team shares some useful tips to help you cope with exam stress. It is normal to feel a little bit of stress (some level of stress can help you focus), but too much of it can lead you to feel out of control and can make it harder for you to take Read more
Rachel from the Student Wellbeing Team shares tips on how to manage your revision time effectively. It can be really hard to find self-motivation as the exam period gets closer. It requires a great deal of discipline and organisation to revise, especially when the joint demands of different courses or modules become overwhelming. Good planning Read more
Carolyn, Postgraduate Peer Supporter, shares some key advice for postgraduate students and tells us more about the Postgraduate Peer Support group. An old piece of advice and a lifesaving strategy for me and my work has been to “kill your darlings.” In other words, get rid of my most precious and especially self-indulgent passages for Read more
Jo, Wellbeing Practitioner, talks about the Students’ Union’s new LGBT+ Mental Health Campaign: Stand with LGBT+, and how you can show support and get involved! For the LGBT+ Community, the risk of struggling with poor mental health is higher. What does LGBT+ mean? ‘LGBT+’ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and other identities. The phrase Read more
Tamzin, Student Wellbeing Champion, tells us more about Trans Day of Visibility and how you can show your support for the transgender community. Saturday 31 March is Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV), part of the LGBT+ awareness days. TDOV is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and show your encouragement and support for trans rights and Read more
Final year geography student, Callie, discusses her experience of social anxiety and the impact that being more open about mental health can have. In 2016, I finally admitted I had Social Anxiety and found help at University. This year I helped to launch a University Campaign and found out I have an interview for my Read more
The 19 – 25 March is National Conversation Week and, in an era where much conversation has been replaced with staring at phones, it has never been more needed! Social Media Cleanse? Social Media can be great – catching up with friends or just seeing what’s going on in the world – but it’s so Read more
Jo, Wellbeing Practitioner and Time to Change Champion, talks about Cardiff University’s new Mental Health Campaign: What’s on your mind? #LetsShare, encouraging us all to share more when it comes to mental health… Mental health problems are common. One in four of us will be affected at some point in our lives. So being able Read more
Student Wellbeing Champion, Tamzin, discusses creative ways to speak about your mental health and improve your wellbeing. I’m one of over a hundred Student Wellbeing Champions (trained students who offer peer to peer support around campus and via online instant messaging) and reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health is something we’re all passionate about. On Read more
We know violence and abuse affects our students. IT’s NOT ON and we are addressing it. We are here to help you if you are affected, and you can help by recognising the signs and telling us if you know a student is at risk. Violence and abuse can happen to people of all ages, Read more
Sophie, Graduate Intern (and dog lover), tells us about the events and activity you can get involved in to help yourself and others this February… Getting involved in student causes and volunteering your time at University to support others can be a great way to boost your wellbeing and CV – I’ve done it and Read more
Hannah, one of our Student Wellbeing Champions, talks about Online Peer Support and the new Chat to a Champion service. The Chat to a Champion online drop-in launched last term! It’s a great way for us Wellbeing Champions to offer peer support to students over the internet. What I think is so great about it Read more
If you are funded through Student Finance Wales or Student Finance England, you will not receive your second student loan payment until Monday 8 January. Rachel, our student intern, talks about what to do if you’re not already prepared… With Christmas around the corner and New Year’s celebrations just after, we know that this might be Read more
With the holidays fast approaching, our winter survival guide is here to provide information, advice and guidance for Cardiff University students. Whatever your plans over the winter recess, we have created a series of blogs to help give you some fun ideas on what to do and offer practical advice on your wellbeing during the holidays. Read more
Nichola, Counselling, Health and Wellbeing placement student, shares her recommendations on the best apps to support your wellbeing, study and finances… December is known for its festive activities which bring joy to many but can also be frustrating for others. Winter recess is that time of the year when many student houses empty for a couple Read more
If you’ve experienced violence and abuse of any kind, please know that you are not alone and our Disclosure Response Team are here to offer practical support and advice. Money tensions, unrealistic expectations and increased alcohol consumption make the Christmas period a peak time for relationship abuse/domestic violence. If your partner is controlling, coercive or threatening towards Read more
One of our Wellbeing Champions, Tsvetina, shares tips on coping with homesickness… Staying in Cardiff over the holidays is a decision or necessity for some students due to a number of reasons. If you are staying in Cardiff over the winter recess, please rest assured that it is normal to feel a bit off-balance when lectures Read more
Our student intern, Rachel, talks about how you can have a great Christmas holiday and also get career ready… Christmas time is the best time to relax, catch up with family and friends and get ready for the next year ahead of us. But remember, we are only half way through the academic year and Read more
English Literature and Philosophy student, Christabel, shares some things to do in Cardiff over the winter break. Whether you want to make the most of some time off to get involved with some festive fun before you head home for Christmas or are staying here during the winter break, check out these 10 things to Read more
Paula, the dedicated contact for care leavers and estranged students shares some advice for students estranged from their families this winter. The festive period can be challenging if you are estranged from your family. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, the never-ending advertisements featuring happy families around the Christmas tree may make you feel angry, Read more
Sophie, Student Intern, discusses how you and your friends can stay safe this winter… With tinsel, gifts, Christmas lights and snow loads of university work, it might be easy to put personal safety on the back burner. However, whether you’re heading home or staying in Cardiff over the holidays, it’s still important to take precautions to ensure your own and Read more
Victoria, Student Intern, discusses festive drinking and warns not to get too jolly… For some, ‘tis the season for festive drinks. However, don’t feel like you need to chug mulled wine just to get in the festive spirit. Alcohol can affect your university experience and your mental and physical health. The festive season often comes Read more
Rachel from the Student Wellbeing Team shares tips on how to stay on track with your studies whilst also enjoying the winter break. There are always a million and one things to be done over the festive period – whether it’s making sure you’ve bought gifts for everyone, arranging to meet up with friends or catching Read more
Tamzin, Wellbeing Champion, gives her 5 Top Tips for beating procrastination and boosting productivity! Procrastinating is one of the major student vices and we all fall victim. Right now, I’m writing this blog while putting off my primary source analysis… Here are my top tips to help manage and overcome procrastination! 5 Top Tips to Read more
Tamzin, one of the Student Wellbeing Champions, talks about Suicide Safety and how to become a Suicide-Alert Helper. Suicide – it’s a difficult topic but we need to drop the stigma and say the word. Suicide can affect anyone. There is no template for who can be suicidal. Be Suicide-Alert I recently attended a four-hour Read more
George, Student Intern shares his insights into culture shock and tips from our International Student Support advisers… Having lived in either England or Wales for the entirety of my life, I’ve never really experienced ‘culture shock.’ Sure, I’ve been abroad and experienced different cultures and ways of life, but I have never lived in a Read more
Rachel, Wellbeing Practitioner from the Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, talks about wellbeing and how you can attend a new peer-delivered workshop to enhance your own wellbeing. Mental wellbeing is more than just ‘feeling happy’ – it involves both the mind and the body. Happiness is a part of this, but in a wider sense it Read more
Cardiff University is aware of how violence and abuse affects students, and is committed to addressing these issues. A violent crime is when someone physically hurts or threatens to hurt someone, and also includes crimes where a weapon is used. The police will record a crime as violent if the offender clearly intended or intends Read more
Jo, from the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Team, talks about Transgender Awareness Week, 13 – 17 November, and Transgender Day of Remembrance, on 20 November… Transgender Awareness Week is an annual event which aims to raise the awareness of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address some of the issues the trans community faces. Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) takes place just after Transgender Awareness Week, and is Read more
Eleanor Brown, Wellbeing Practitioner, talks about the support available for students who grew up with an alcoholic parent. This week is Alcohol Awareness Week. Find out how our Counselling, Health and Wellbeing service could help if you grew up with an alcoholic parent. Find out more about Alcohol Awareness Week and the support available here Read more
Eleanor, Counsellor and Wellbeing Practitioner, talks about alcohol at uni… This week is Alcohol Awareness Week. Take some time to find out about drinking safely and the support available at Cardiff University. Find out more about the support available for students who grew up with an alcoholic parent or guardian here 3 Tips for drinking Read more
Our Advice and Money Team give you some tips on what to do if you are struggling with university and considering withdrawing… Starting university is exciting but it also comes with some anxiety. It’s quite common to feel overwhelmed in the first few weeks and wonder if you are in the right place, or if Read more
Rachel, Wellbeing Practitioner from our Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, talks about Remembrance. Join us in a two-minute silence to remember our Armed Forces’ Veterans on Saturday 11 November. On Saturday 11th November at 11am, we ask you to take a moment show your support for the veterans of our country. Please take a moment to put Read more
Eleanor Brown, Student Counsellor, talks about the Take ACTion course offered by the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service… Do you ever find yourself have a debate with your inner voice, perhaps justifying why you have put off that task or activity you planned on doing today or arguing about why you should be doing it when all you Read more
Anyone can be affected by sexual violence. Sexual violence can happen to anyone, no matter your age, your sexual orientation, or your gender identity. Men and boys who have experienced sexual violence, experience the same feelings and reactions as other survivors of sexual assault, but they may also face some additional challenges because of social Read more
Sometimes boundaries can be crossed on purpose and sometimes boundaries are crossed unintentionally due to lack of education. Here are 7 things you might not realise is sexual abuse but still has no place on our campus… What is Sexual Violence? The term “sexual violence” is an all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to crimes like sexual assault, Read more
True consent should sound like a clear, enthusiastic consensual ‘yes’ from both individuals, and they should have the freedom and capacity to give their consent. Here’s our advice on how to gain consent from a sexual partner… If someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, unconscious or Read more
No student should have to experience sexual violence or abuse. The Disclosure Response Team are here to support you and advise on your options should you choose to report… Immediately after an incident it is normal to feel shock, pain, anger, numbness and denial. Some students will want to keep themselves busy, some will want Read more
As a student of Cardiff University, we hope that you’ll play your part in creating a safe campus culture. Acting as an Empowered Bystander is easy and can have a huge impact. What is the Bystander Effect? The Bystander Effect is a psychological phenomenon where you are less likely to receive or give aid when Read more
Cardiff University is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for students. The Disclosure Response Team is here to support you. Violence and abuse can take many different forms. We strongly advise that you read through all the information available to you by searching ‘Violence and Abuse’ on the Intranet before submitting a report. This will Read more
Our student intern, Sophie shares how you and your friends can stay safe in the lovely city of Cardiff… So you’ve settled into your student life and are getting on with your studies, but do you know how to stay safe when at university? Cardiff is generally a safe city, but it’s still important to Read more
Sari, Student Counsellor, talks about the Managing Anxiety course offered by the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service… Sometimes anxiety is a massive nuisance – it stops us from trying new things, undermines our confidence, clutters up our minds so that we can’t think straight. You might have noticed the anxious ‘voice’ inside you, telling you stories Read more
