The Student Experience Podcast

Depression is a term which is often overused and as with many mental health difficulties, it is poorly understood. We all have periods of our life when we experience sadness, but when these feelings persist and impact our lives significantly we may be looking at something more serious.

This podcast explores what depression really is, and how to access support if you are being affected by it.

You can watch the video about depression as discussed on the podcast here.

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For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here

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For our first episode of 2021 we revisit a topic that feels worthy of another conversation. 

On our first ever podcast episode we delved into the impact of the pandemic on mental health, and as we find ourselves once again living under the restrictions of lockdown we discuss ways of looking after your wellbeing in the current context.

Although most face to face contact has stopped, please remember the Wellbeing and Mental Health Team is still available to support you. We have added a new section to the support tab of the University of Chester app under 'I need help now' with information and resources to support: Physical health, Emotional Health, Living with a mental health condition and Domestic abuse and self-isolation during the Coronavirus pandemic.

You can email us via [email protected] for all wellbeing related queries, covid specific enquires to [email protected] whilst general enquiries can be directed to infopoint on 01244 511550.

You can also keep connected with us by following our Instagram accounts: @thestudentsupportpodcast and @uoc.happyhealthylife and keep an eye on Portal for updated advice and information.

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Anxiety is something that all of us experience. However when anxiety levels pass a certain point it can significantly impact our functioning and make daily life an overwhelming challenge.

In this episode we talk about making sense of anxiety, and what we can do to manage if anxiety becomes a feature in our lives.

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife

For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

• Instagram: @uocshoutout
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In this episode we talk about issues around equality, masculinity, 'lad culture', and the importance of challenging inappropriate attitudes and behaviours towards women.

White Ribbon are the leading charity that is ending male violence against women by engaging with men and boys to make a stand against violence. Their mission is for all men to fulfil the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women. They act as a catalyst, encouraging people, and especially men and boys, to individually and collectively take action and change behaviour. White Ribbon Day 2020 falls on 25th November.

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife

For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

• Instagram: @uocshoutout
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In this episode we speak to Sonya Jones, Service Manager from the charity We Are With You. We discuss some of the most commonly used substances, their effects, and some of the steps that can be taken to reduce harm and increase education around drugs.

There is evidence that the onset of COVID-19 has led to an increase in illicit substance use amongst students, and the wider population (Neurosight, 2020) 

This can be understood in terms of a number of factors-including the way students socialise, the freedom of being back at University following lockdown and easier access to substances online such as via the dark web which people perceive as being a less risky means of acquiring drugs.

Whilst evidence shows an increase in the use of cannabis, ketamine, MDMA, LSD and benzopiazepines a very clear message is that 93% of students report that they would not consult their university about drug use with over half of this group stating so due to a fear of being punished. (Neurosight, 2020)

You can find out more about We Are With You and access resources via their website or on social media:

Instagram: @wearewithyoucharity
Twitter: @WeAreWithYou
Facebook: @wearewithyoucharity

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife

For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

• Instagram: @uocshoutout
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In part two we welcome Rebecca Hughes and Helen Cooper on to the podcast to discuss the support that the University offers to care experienced students, from pre-arrival through to graduation. Further details of that support package are available  here.

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife
Follow our Outreach and Widening Participation team @uoc_outreach

For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here.

 

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

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In the first of a two-part episode on care experienced students and University we are lucky to be joined by Kerry Jones, one of our recent graduates who studied Applied Psychology at University Centre Shrewsbury. Kerry shares her inspirational story and discusses her own experiences of the care system, being a young mum, and achieving success at University. 

The numbers of children in the UK care system this reached a 10 year high in January of 2020 at 78,150. 

Access to higher education is much lower for young people who have been in care. In 2017-18 only 12 per cent of pupils who were looked after continuously for 12 months or more entered higher education compared to 42 per cent of all other pupil

The data also shows that for qualifiers in 2018-19 the rate of achieving a first or upper-second class degree qualification was 12.1 percentage points lower for care experienced students when compared to students that were not in care. (OFS, 2020)

In part two we will be discussing in more depth the support available for care experienced students at the University of Chester. Details of that support package are available  here.

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife

For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here.

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

• Instagram: @uocshoutout
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Emily Jones (Disability & Inclusion Team Leader) joins us to discuss the support that her team provides. There are currently over 2000 students within the University that have declared a disability to us, the most common being specific learning difficulties and mental health.

In this podcast we discuss the areas of staff specialisms that exist at the University of Chester, and how much work goes in to ensuring the University is an inclusive environment where all students have opportunities to succeed. A vast amount of support is available but too often students are not sure what they are entitled to, or how they can access it. Here, we talk about the types of support on offer, from reasonable adjustments for academic studies, Inclusion Plans, to Disabled Students Allowance and Non Medical Helpers.

Students can contact the Disability & Inclusion team at [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife

For any general queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here.

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

• Instagram: @uocshoutout
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Once University starts and the initial excitement of a new beginning subsides, students can be left holding on to a lot of difficult and conflicting emotions.

Thoughts such as ‘these people are nothing like me’, ‘why am I not having fun like everyone else’ and ‘this is not how I imagined’ are completely understandable and, whilst it might not feel like it, you can rest assured that there will be lots of other students asking themselves the same.

In this podcast we discuss some of our own experiences of starting University, and share some of our top tips for settling in now that Welcome Week is behind us.

Follow us on Instagram @thestudentsupportpodcast
Follow our Wellbeing team @uoc.happyhealthylife

For any student queries about student support, please contact us on [email protected]

More information about the support services we offer at the University of Chester is available here.

Follow University of Chester Student Shout Out on:

• Instagram: @uocshoutout
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World suicide prevention day was established in 2003 and is observed on September 10th each year with a view to raising awareness around what remains one of the most challenging global phenomena we face. 

Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally. The latest World Health Organisation statistics suggest that one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds, and for every 1 adult who completes suicide there may be up to 20 others who have attempted.

There are a wealth of myths surrounding suicide including:

·       Talking about suicide might give someone the idea to do it.

·       If someone is serious about taking their own life there is nothing you can do

·       Only people who are mentally ill think about suicide

·       People who say they want to kill themselves are merely seeking attention and should not be taken seriously.

Whilst the statistics and reporting around suicide can feel scary and overwhelming, there is a strong body of evidence that suggests that coherent prevention strategies can reduce suicide rates. As someone who has encountered suicide within both my professional and personal life, I have observed and felt the devastating impact it has on those left behind. The last 10 years have seen a significant shift in people’s attitudes and the narrative and discourse around mental health, but there is still a long way to go and we all have a role to play in how we look after ourselves and one another.

Here at the University of Chester we work in partnership with our students to empower them to achieve their hopes and aspirations both during their studies and beyond. We want to foster continuous conversations about wellbeing and promote thinking which is more conscious and critical amongst our student body. 

Student experience is at the heart of everything we do, and our Student Futures Support and Development department is home to staff with a wealth of expertise and experience who work tirelessly to meet the individual needs of each of our students. If you need any support around your emotional wellbeing or any other element of student life you can email [email protected] or [email protected] to arrange an appointment with a member of our team. 

Suicide awareness and prevention has to remain a priority on a global, national and local level and there are some brilliant sources of support for those affected by suicide including a list of resources below:

www.samaritans.org or 116123

www.sossilenceofsuicide.org 

www.thecalmzone.net or 0800 585858

www.sane.org.uk 

www.papyrus-org.uk 

www.supportaftersuicide.org.uk 

https://uksobs.org/ 

www.giveusashout.org or text SHOUT 85258

www.studentsagainstdepression.org 

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