With the festive period now over and ‘Blue Monday’ (16 January) approaching, it’s important to recognise how to support your mental health during this time.
There is scientific evidence to support the idea that winter affects our mood and some people even have a diagnosable condition called ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’.
You can follow the below tips to help try and combat the winter blues:
- Get more light – go outside when it is daylight as much as possible
- Eat well – it’s easy to crave bad foods when looking for comfort but try and maintain a balanced diet with fresh fruit and vegetables
- Get active – activity is believed to change the level of serotonin in the brain, which is the mood-regulating hormone
- Get enough sleep – poor sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health
Accessing support from our Student Services team
Student Services offer wellbeing and mental health support to all of our students, we can book you in for a 1:1 appointment and refer you outward to other agencies where needed.
We can offer support with:
- Anxiety/Low Mood
- Other mental health concerns
- Bereavement
- Relationship/family issues
- Finances
- Identity support
- Safeguarding
We are available from 8:30am – 5pm, Monday – Friday (excluding Bank Holidays and Christmas closure).
You can find the Student support team behind Confetti HQ reception or you can call 0115 952 2075 or email studentservices@confetti.ac.uk to arrange an appointment.
Other sources of support
As a Confetti Student, you also have access to Togetherall – a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing.
You can sign up here using your student email address.
NHS Mental Health Helplines are available for people of all ages throughout England, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Please use your postcode to search here. You can also text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258 for text support.
If you are in crisis, you can contact the Samaritans to talk any time you like, in your own way by calling 116 123.
If you are someone else is at immediate risk or require urgent support, please speak with a trusted adult (such as a parent/guardian), contact your GP during their normal working hours, present at your local A&E Department or dial, 999.
