Mental Health

'Mental health' is a phrase that often fills people with concern, as it is often wrongly equated with mental illness. In fact, mental health simply refers to the state of our mind at a given moment, in the same way that physical health refers to the state of our body. Like our bodies, minds are incredibly complex machines and sometimes things go wrong in one way or another. Most problems can be resolved, but it is important to look after our minds as we do our bodies, so that problems don't get out of control.We all suffer from some of the symptoms of mental health problems now and again. There is no more reason to panic than you would if you happened to show some of the symptoms of a physical illness. The time to seek help is when the symptoms persist or worsen and you or someone else is scared or cannot cope with them.

Many mental health problems, especially the more severe ones, first strike a person when they are in their late teens or early twenties, so some students will, of course, be affected. Mental health problems can arise in response to stresses such as relationship worries, alcohol/drug abuse, stressful lifestyles without regular eating/sleeping patterns, financial problems, poor standard of living, living away from familiar emotional support, academic or exam pressures and difficulties in finding a job.

Getting help

If you think that yourself or a friend may be suffering from any form of mental health problem, do not hesitate to seek advice or specialised knowledge.

New This Year...

POM - Peace Of Mind. Supporting student mental and emotional wellbeing through a facilitated self-help group. For more information www.bathstudent.com/pom

FURTHER INFORMATION

AWARE, 1 East Level 3, Tel: 01225 (38) 6906
Counselling Service, Wessex House 8.24 Appointments Tel: 01225 (38) 4796 General Information Tel: 01225 (38) 5461
Medical Centre Tel: (38) 6655
MlND (Mental Health Charity) Tel: 0845 766 0163 (Mon to Fri, 9.15am 5.15pm)
Saneline Tel: 0845 767 8000
Womankind (Women's Mental Health Project) Mon to Fri 10am -12noonTel: 0845 458 2914