It’s an especially difficult period for many students as deadlines are approaching so it’s easy to neglect self-care and wellbeing. This is why CivSoc and other engineering societies came together to implement a Wellbeing Month in March which coincides with Suicide Prevention week, University Mental Health Day, and Eating Disorder Awareness Week. This includes a range of events from de-stressing with lego to learning how to support each other.
What’s going on this month?
Past events
● 1st March: 8 Steps to Support a Mate Workshop with PROJECT:TALK Bristol Society
● 2nd March: Chill, Chat, and Lego with other engineering societies
Upcoming events
● 6th March: Walk Your Mind with PROJECT:TALK Bristol Society
● 27th Feb - 27th March: Strava Competition for Mind Charity supporting mental health
What can you do to support others?
On the 1st of March, we learned how to support others around us with PROJECT:TALK. It was an extremely helpful workshop that discussed themes surrounding the stigma of mental health in the engineering field and what we can do to combat that by using the steps below to normalise expressing our feelings.
Connect: Find your way to ask someone how they’re doing. Examples:
How are you feeling?
How’s your week been?
Sleep ok?
Listen: Actively listen and engage with what they’re saying
Validate: Use “human” emotions, like heavy or overwhelming. Try not to sound shocked.
Example: That sounds tough. Thanks for sharing that with me
Plan: What’s next? Make a plan or even a GP appointment depending on the situation. Examples:
What can I do best to support you right now?
I’m hopeful that we can work through this together. Shall we catch up tomorrow?
What can you do to support yourself?
Taken from the Mental Health Foundation, here are 10 steps on how you can take care of your mental health:
Talk about your feelings
Keep active - Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and feel better.
Eat well - A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health
Drink sensibly - Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings.
Keep in touch
Ask for help
Take a break
Do something you’re good at
Accept who you are - Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.
Care for others - Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together.
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