Coping With Student Life

Looking after your mental health while studying is important.

Studying is likely to bring a number of changes to your life. Hopefully it should be enjoyable and interesting but it can also be challenging – especially if you are experiencing a mental health problem.

Some changes or new experiences that many people encounter are:

• Meeting and working with new people
• New demands such as deadlines for written work or presentations
• Exams
• Balancing the demands of studying with work or caring commitments
• Maintaining relationships with family and old friends
• Leaving home or moving house

Apart from choosing something you want to do for your personal development or pleasure, or to improve your work prospects, it is important to try to choose a way of learning that fits with your lifestyle and preferences. There are a variety of courses available. They may differ in length, when and where you can do them, and when and whether they have exams or assessments.

Studying can be demanding. It is natural to feel anxious about this at first.  But while it may appear daunting, most people do quickly adapt to new forms of studying and find it rewarding.  If it does seem too difficult or stressful, it helps if you have considered where you will be able to go for support. 

There are many welfare support options available to you – some based at your college or university, some in the wider community. 

Learning how to de-stress is crucial. Straightforward, effective, self-help techniques are going to be helpful when you have a heavy workload, in the run-up to exams, and even when you’re sitting in the exam room. 

Our booklet, How to Cope with Student Life, is a great resource for more information around considering your mental health when taking on the challenge of further or higher education.