Resources at YSJ for Mental Health and Wellbeing
May 15, 2023
For our first post for Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, you can find a list below of resources at YSJ that you can access as a current student. Whether you’re dealing with Anxiety surrounding personal problems, financial or academic, we hope that you will find something here at YSJ to help ease those worries.
Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD with Dr Zoe J. Ayres
We’ve invited best-selling author of "Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD" Dr Zoe J. Ayres to deliver a free webinar to YSJ PGRs on how to manage your mental health during your PhD.
After spending several years in academia post-PhD, Zoë moved to industry, and is now Head of Research & Development at a biotechnology company. She is also a mental health advocate and the best-selling author of “Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD: A Survival Guide”. She continually advocates for improving mental health in research, raising awareness of the common issues people face throughout academia through various campaigns, talks and initiatives.
The PhD mental health crisis has only been exacerbated by the pandemic with approximately 1 in 2 PhD students experiencing mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, and 80% of researchers showing signs of mental health distress during the pandemic. This talk will discuss managing mental health during the PhD process, including the statistics behind PhD mental health, common stressors you may face as a PhD student, and some tips and tricks to manage them along the way. This is a mental health talk with a difference – we will explore systemic issues in academia, which is so often not acknowledged.
This event will take place online via Microsoft Teams on June 27th from 12-1pm. To book a place visit Managing Your Mental Health During Your PhD Tickets, Tue 27 Jun 2023 at 12:00 | Eventbrite
Wellbeing and welfare support (York St John University, 2023)
YSJ have specialist support services ready to provide you with mental health or emotional support, as well as support with some of the more serious welfare challenges you might be facing.
- Wellbeing support
Anyone can experience mental health difficulties.
Whether you are finding it difficult to manage aspects of your personal life or perhaps you are finding the environment of higher education an emotional challenge to adapt to, we offer a range of types of specialist support to help you.
- Welfare adviser appointments
A meeting with a welfare adviser is an opportunity for you to talk through practical welfare challenges you are facing and which are causing you difficulties.
These might include sexual assault, domestic violence, pregnancy, police or crime matters, or other issues that are having a serious impact on your studies.
BOOK A WELFARE ADVISER APPOINTMENT
- Need help now?
We offer support as quickly as we can to students who register with our team, but there may be a waiting time to see us.
We are not an emergency or 24/7 service. Therefore, if you are concerned that you might harm yourself, or if you are in any situation in which you are facing an imminent life-threatening situation, we have details of the services that are available to help you.
- Health Assured service
We are pleased to offer to all our students at York St John a service called Health Assured - accessible via an app or via an online portal.
This service – which includes videos, factsheets, 4 week plan templates, and live chat and support from counsellors – is offered to you in addition to the services offered by our own University wellbeing team.
You are very welcome to make use of the services that our wellbeing team provides or the Health Assured service, or both!
- Open Afternoons
The YSJ Wellbeing Team are continuing their Open Afternoons service into the summer term. This service gives students the opportunity to speak with a specialist Mental Health Practitioner from our Wellbeing Team, who can listen, provide a space for students to talk about their current mental wellbeing, signpost to other services, and discuss coping strategies.
The Open Afternoons take place 12pm to 3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays (except on Bank Holidays), and students can access the service by visiting the Holgate information services desk and filling in a short form.
- Self-help resources
In addition to our specialist services, we believe strongly in the positive impact that self-help resources can make.
Whether you are waiting to meet with us, or just wanting to find some information about ways in which you might be able to enhance your own wellbeing, take a look at the self-help resources we have developed for you. You can also take free online training to improve your understanding of welfare related issues.
SELF-HELP RESOURCES WELFARE TRAINING AND COURSES
View the Wellbeing Support Webpage here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing-support/
Converge (York St John University, 2023)
Converge provides courses for adults who use mental health services. Their courses help you develop skills in a supportive educational environment. You have the freedom to be creative, challenge yourself and discover new abilities.
Most courses take place at York St John University. Courses are taught by staff, students and people with particular expertise and their own experience of mental ill health. They also offer some courses online and by post.
Applying for a course
You can attend a Converge course if you are an adult (18 and older) and you:
- Receive current support for a mental health issue
- Have experienced mental health issues in the past
Courses are free of charge. They take place during term time and vary between 4 and 10 weeks in length. You can apply for a course throughout the year.
Find more information regarding Converge here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge/
Learn how to apply here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge/apply/
Religion and spirituality
The York St John chaplaincy provides spaces and opportunities for reflection, listening, confidential support, prayer, worship, meditation, socialising and spiritual exploration.
Our university Chaplain is Reverend Jane Speck. You can visit the chaplaincy office during the week in CP007, next to the Japanese Peace Garden.
You can also get in touch by contacting chaplaincy@yorksj.ac.uk.
Find more information, such as Faith advisors, here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/religion-and-spirituality/
Disability support and inclusion
If you have a disability, long term health condition, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty (SpLD), then additional support is available to you.
REGISTER FOR SUPPORT: https://yorksj.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a92YSNQakn0zL9Q
Find more information here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/disability-support/
Student Health Centre
York St John has a health centre on campus which is part of York Medical Group. Doctors' surgeries are held regularly and a practice nurse holds a daily clinic on a range of services.
Registering with the Student Health Centre:
If you have not already done so, please register at Quad East for all of your medical needs and advice. The services we provide are tailored specifically to students.
You can register with the Student Health Centre before you arrive at University. You can register with us online or through the York Medical Group website, completing the online form under the Student Registration tab:
References
York St John University. Converge. 2023. 5th May 2023. <https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/converge/>.
—. Wellbeing and welfare support. 2023. 3rd May 2023. <https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing-support/>.
—. Student Health Centre. 2023. 9th May 2023 <https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/student-health-centre/>.
—. Disability Support. 2023. 9th May 2023. <https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/disability-support/>.
—. Religion and spirituality. 2023. 9th May 2023. <https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health-and-wellbeing/religion-and-spirituality/>.
