My experience of Anxiety and Depression

Posted on 27 June 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

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
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Celebrating Armed Forces Day and Support for Student Veterans

Posted on 25 June 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

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
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Speaking out about Bipolar Disorder

Posted on 21 June 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Speaking out about mental health problems

Posted on 14 June 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Speaking out about depression and anxiety

Posted on 11 May 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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.
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Speaking out about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Posted on 2 May 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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,
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Advice for my fellow PhD students

Posted on 1 May 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Stand with LGBT+

Posted on 16 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Join us in supporting Trans Day of Visibility

Posted on 27 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Speaking out about Social Anxiety

Posted on 20 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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What’s on your mind? #LetsShare

Posted on 21 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Speak about your mental health, creatively

Posted on 9 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Why you should Chat to a Champion

Posted on 29 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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December Downloads: Apps to keep you on the right track

Posted on 11 December 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Put off Procrastination!

Posted on 22 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Be Suicide-Alert

Posted on 22 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Wake up your Wellbeing!

Posted on 20 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Transgender Awareness Week

Posted on 16 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Support for students who grew up with an alcoholic parent or guardian

Posted on 13 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Alcohol Awareness Week

Posted on 13 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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University not going so well?

Posted on 8 November 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Take the ACTion course

Posted on 2 November 2017 by Your Student Life Supported

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
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Benjamin’s Bright SPARK

Posted on 30 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

How Benjamin Land is using Enterprise and SPARK to help young people suffering with mental health issues ‘Prior to university, I had a vision about setting up a retreat centre for mental wellbeing offering a wide variety of activities. I decided to turn thought into action by drawing together a variety of nourishing and supportive activities
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Support for male survivors of sexual violence and rape…

Posted on 29 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Would you like to help us create a safe campus culture – become an Empowered Bystander…

Posted on 26 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Are you a student who has been affected by violence or abuse? Meet our Disclosure Response Team…

Posted on 26 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Managing anxiety

Posted on 20 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

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
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Learn to overcome negative thinking

Posted on 18 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Natalie, Student Wellbeing Champion, talks about the Living Life to the Full course offered by the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service… When you are experiencing stress or going through a difficult time, you may also notice how your thoughts and cognitions are also negatively affected. Imagine walking down the street and seeing a close friend walking past.
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Living with OCD: A poetic insight

Posted on 16 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

In line with OCD Awareness Week in October, Wellbeing Champion, Emma, shares a personal poem called ‘Quirks’ about her experience with Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Quirks Sitting in a coffee shop talking to your friend You laugh, The big proclamation: ‘I’m so OCD!’ You proceed to explain Your charming oddity, The funniest joke in the
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3 Tips for Looking after your Mental Health

Posted on 12 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Tamzin, Wellbeing Champion for the Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, talks about why mental health matters… Why do we prioritise physical ailments over mental illness? Just because you can’t see an illness doesn’t mean it’s not there. Mental health and self-care is so important within today’s modern stressful society. When it all gets too much and
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National Coming Out Day

Posted on 11 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Jo, a member of the Student Wellbeing Team, talks about National Coming Out Day on 11th October… From birth, most of us are raised to think of ourselves as fitting into a certain mould. Our culture and our families teach us that we are ‘supposed to’ be attracted to people of a different sex, and
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Walking to Wellbeing

Posted on 9 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Cardiff University Placement Students, Daisy and Nichola, have teamed up to tell us all about Walking to Wellbeing and why YOU should get involved… Hi, we are Daisy and Nichola, and we are running a programme called Walking to Wellbeing with the Counselling Health and Wellbeing service.   Sometimes we can struggle to get out
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Mind your Head

Posted on 9 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Rachel from the Health and Wellbeing Team talks about World Mental Health Day and gives advice on maintaining your mental health whilst at university. World Mental Health Day is on Tuesday 10 October and all week at Cardiff University we are promoting awareness of mental health through ‘Mind Your Head Week’ organised by your VP
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Feeling homesick? Here are some tips to help

Posted on 6 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Amy, from our Counselling, Health & Team, talks about dealing with homesickness. The transition for students when starting university can be smooth for some and really tough for others. It’s not surprising that some students find the change difficult. Some will also have the added challenge of missing home or struggling with adapting to a new
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Meet Paula, the key contact for care leavers and estranged students

Posted on 4 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Paula, our dedicated contact for care leavers and estranged students, gives a warm welcome to new and returning students and explains the support available… My name is Paula Barker and I’m the dedicated contact for care leavers and estranged students at Cardiff University. I’m based in the Advice and Money Team within the Graduate Centre (3rd floor)
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Tips for settling in

Posted on 2 October 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Term time has officially begun! Student Intern, Sophie, has some top tips for managing the pressures of a new academic year. Some students have been counting down the minutes until uni starts back, but others might be a little nervous.  It can be difficult to leave home after a summer spent with family and old
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Drink safe

Posted on 27 September 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Student intern, Victoria, shares her rules to live by this Freshers’ Week. So! The Freshers’ Week madness begins and alongside it students everywhere are thrashed by the media for being grossly irresponsible hedonists (my new favourite word). It means ‘obsessed with self-indulgence’, and I’m sure they wouldn’t call us that if they saw the number
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Top tips to thrive at uni!

Posted on 22 September 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Tamzin, Wellbeing Champion for the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service, talks about getting the most out of your experience when starting uni for the first time… Well it’s here! You’ve aced your A-levels and now the day is upon you – you’re starting uni! Starting university can be very daunting – you may be moving to
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Living a healthy University life

Posted on 1 September 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Two of our students have teamed up to share advice for freshers and current students on leading a healthy life whilst making the most of your time here at Cardiff University! Well done! You’ve made it to university and you’re probably enthusiastic to explore and try new things, whilst also a bit anxious about how
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Would you like to become a Student Wellbeing Champion? We are now recruiting volunteers!

Posted on 7 July 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Jo, from the Student Wellbeing Team, talks about how you can become a Student Wellbeing Champion… Are you passionate about your own wellbeing? Passionate about the wellbeing of others? A caring person? A great communicator? Eager to increase self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem? Wanting to further your employability skills? If you answered yes to any of
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Transitioning from University: Coping with change

Posted on 21 June 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Wellbeing Champion, Tsvetina, shares some guidance for those moving back home for the summer and those leaving University altogether… It’s that time of the year again and everyone is packing away to go home. Going back to see your family can be an exciting and heartwarming experience, but it involves a transition which may not
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Gwasanaeth Cwnsela a Lles yn yr iaith Gymraeg / Counselling and Wellbeing service through the Welsh language

Posted on 21 June 2017 by Your Student Life Supported

Mae Gwenan, Ymarferydd Cwnsela a Lles dwyieithog, yn rhannu gwybodaeth am y gwasanaethau Cwnsela a Lles sydd ar gael yn yr iaith Gymraeg. Mae dros hanner poblogaeth y byd yn siarad mwy nag un iaith*. Felly mae’n hollol naturiol i lawer o bobl allu cyfathrebu mewn mwy na un iaith. Rydym yn byw ym mhrifddinas
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Supporting you this summer

Posted on 15 June 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Student intern, Victoria, shares information about the support available to students during the summer. Assessments and exams are finally over! Sighs of relief swept Cathays on the 9th June, alongside torrents of rain and the chaos of General Election results. Now, undergraduate students across campus are getting ready to pack up their things and head
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Ready, steady, get set for the Cardiff University Student Fun Run 2017!

Posted on 15 June 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

After hundreds of students took part in our Student Life Fun Run last year, it’s back again this year with new t-shirts, new participants and new prizes! Student intern, Sophie, tells us more… Cardiff University students, staff and alumni are invited to walk, jog, skip or run around the 2.4 km route through Cardiff’s Civic
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Celebrating Armed Forces Day and supporting our student veterans

Posted on 15 June 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Rachel, Wellbeing Practitioner from our Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, talks about the dedicated support available to student veterans… Armed Forces Day is an annual event which provides an opportunity to show our support for the men and women in the armed forces who are currently, or have previously served, as well as their families and
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Surf your way to better Wellbeing

Posted on 24 May 2017 by Your Student Life Supported

Do you fancy learning surfing in a friendly environment this summer? Do you want to boost your wellbeing and gain more confidence? The Wave Project may be just for you… What is The Wave Project? The Wave project is a charity that was started in 2010 as a voluntary group funded by the National Health
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4 great apps to build your confidence…

Posted on 2 May 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Try out one of these apps, recommended by the Counselling, Health and Wellbeing team to help you build your confidence.   Have you ever wondered what could’ve happened if your shyness or fear of rejection had not gotten in the way? Do you sometimes wish you could believe in yourself no matter what people say
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Help us to create a suicide-safer University

Posted on 20 April 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Jo, Wellbeing Practitioner & Counsellor from our Counselling, Health and Wellbeing team, talks about creating a Suicide-Safer University.  Find out how you can become a Suicide-Alert Helper and learn the skills to identify and support any person who may be having thoughts of suicide… Suicide is one of the most serious issues all universities face,
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How have you found adapting to life in Cardiff? Tips on managing ‘culture shock’

Posted on 30 March 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Tsvetina from our Counselling, Health and Wellbeing team explains more about culture shock… All international students coming to Cardiff have different experiences when they first arrive at Cardiff University. Everyone has their own expectations and have heard different things about life in the UK, which is one of the reasons why some students may settle
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Trans Day of Visibility and support for Cardiff students

Posted on 29 March 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Jo from our Counselling, Health and Wellbeing Service talks about Transgender Day of Visibility: 31st March 2017…   Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is a day to show your support for the trans community! It aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of trans people everywhere while fighting sexism and transphobia by spreading understanding of trans
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