Mental Health Resources: Finding the Right Support
Adam Gordon is studying for a DFA in Creative Writing. His doctoral work explores queer histories of Glasgow, and the effect of contemporary theories of ecology on the form and structure of the novel. He is the current Researcher Development PGR Communications Intern.
Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, so it felt like a good moment to start a conversation about what to do when we’re struggling. We all need extra support sometimes. UofG has a range of services in place to help you when you need it, and I myself have made use of the university’s mental health support. This blog is intended to give you an overview of what’s available so that you can access the right thing at the right time, or point someone else in the right direction when they’re struggling.
Please do be aware that this post will talk about some difficult subjects, to signpost people to the relevant support.
Before getting into specific services, I’d like to highlight the ‘Self Help’ page on the UofG website, here. It’s not the most appealing name for the page, which is a shame because it’s actually a really useful list of resources both within and outside the university. It has information on and links to further services covering everything from anxiety to perinatal mental health, eating disorders, and resources from the UofG Students of Colour Network on the impact of racism and cultural bias on mental health. It’s a good first port-of-call if you are not sure if you’re in need of 1-2-1 counselling, but are looking for more general help and information.
Peer Wellbeing Supporters
Peer Wellbeing Supporters are other students and researchers who have had training from qualified counsellors. They are there to support you with anxiety and stress, isolation, even academic and financial worries. You can drop in to an appointment for a ten minute chat, or stay for an hour, it’s up to you. It can be easier to talk to someone outside your circle of friends, and if you’re in need of an honest conversation in a safe space, this might be a good resource for you. You can find out more and book an appointment here.
It’s important to say that Peer Wellbeing Support isn’t counselling, and if you have really serious concerns there are other services that might be better suited to your needs; I’ll outline these below.
Counselling and Psychological Services
The university offers 1-2-1 counselling for people experiencing more serious mental health problems. In brief, it can offer short-term, focused blocks of therapy, wellbeing consultations, advice, group work, and a range of self-paced resources to help you through difficult periods. For a full overview, check out their webpage here.
Please be aware that the service can’t diagnose or prescribe, and people with severe concerns about their mental health should contact their GP. There is Crisis Support, however, and it’s worth taking a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the advice on what to do in the most serious situations.
UofG Sport Active Lifestyle Wellbeing Programme
This is a brilliant initiative from UofG Sport, open to all staff, students, and researchers. Research has clearly shown that regular physical activity can have a huge impact on mental health. It’s really easy to get stuck in a negative spiral: we’re tired and depressed, so we don’t do any exercise, and we feel bad about that, so we get more depressed… I have absolutely been there. The Active Lifestyle Wellbeing Programme is a great way to gently ease yourself out of that spiral.
The 6-week programme features two 30-40 minutes sessions per week. Your trainer will talk to you about what you want out of the programme, and any barriers that might stop you from achieving that goal. If all you want is to meet for a 30-minute walk that makes you get out of the house, that’s totally fine. If you’re looking for something more intense, like weight-lifting or badminton, that’s fine too. It’s about your needs and goals.
You can find more information on the programme and its potential benefits, as well as a link to the self-referral form here.
Togetherall
Togetherall is an anonymous, online community offering both peer and professional support, as well as a range of self-paced resources. Sometimes you just need to get something off your chest and voice your feelings in a supportive space. Anonymity can be beneficial, allowing us to be honest about what we’re going through. If that resonates, then Togetherall might be a good resource for you.
Previous PGR Intern Danielle Fatzinger wrote a blog post on her experience of using Togetherall, so for a firsthand account you can read her piece here.
Combatting Loneliness
Finally, as the focus of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is Loneliness, I’d like to end with a (far from complete) list of things you can do to get together with other PGRs! Happily, there are many – too many to list, so I’ll provide links to (yet more) lists so you can find something that resonates with you.
Follow the PhD Society on Instagram to keep up to date with social events. You can also see their website here.
Check out our list of PGR Network here!
As well as the SRC Student Networks here.
If exercise is your thing, check out Run Talk Run on Fridays at 6pm.
And if you prefer a slower pace, come to your weekly PGR Walks on Wednesdays at 1pm. We meet outside the Gilchrist PG Club for an hour’s stroll and conversation. Follow us @UofG_PGRs on Instagram for regular updates.
What other ways do you connect with other PGRs? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!
