The 10th of October marks World Mental Health Day.

The theme for 2023 set by World Foundation of Mental Health is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.

Just as we all have physical health, we all have mental health. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. Our mental health impacts how we think, feel and act. 

You can watch this short YouTube video for an overview of what mental health is: 

Did you know that one in four people will experience mental illness in their lifetime? This is nothing to be ashamed of and something that as a University we encourage our staff and students to talk about. Often this is something that is short lived, but some conditions can be lifelong.  

It's hard to know what a mental health problem is if this isn’t something you are used to talking about. The most common problems with mental health are anxiety disorders and depression.

If you are an international student coming from a country where mental health isn’t discussed or where a diagnosis comes with a burden of stigma it can be particularly difficult to ask for help, but we are here for you. 

Typical symptoms for these conditions would be excessive worrying, low mood and lack of motivation, changes to sleep patterns and stopping doing the things you normally enjoy doing. 

If you would like to know more about mental health or understand how the university can provide support then please do contact student services or complete an online referral form for help from one of the mental health and counselling team where we will give you the opportunity to talk about your experiences.

It can also be helpful to meet other students going through similar experiences, to feel less alone with your problems, which is why we run a variety of groups and activities throughout the year. Find out more about wellbeing group activities here.

Attend one of our FREE weekly international student meet-ups in the SU Lounge!

Join us every Thursday from 4-5pm in the SU Lounge to make new friends, share experiences, and build a strong international student community. Together, we'll create lasting memories and support each other's journey in the UK! 

The International Students Meet-Up is a series of events that caters to the needs of international students who might have missed out on the International Welcome Week or Freshers' activities in Plymouth university. This initiative is not just a collection of events but a cohesive platform that fosters community-building, provides crucial information, and offers a warm welcome to international students from diverse backgrounds. 

The next meet-up is taking place on Thursday 12th October (session 3: Academic Success Workshop). 

In this session, you will meet staff from the Student Learning team, English Language Centre and the Library for tips on effective study strategies, time management, and making the most of University resources! 

We would love to see you there! 

Your SU President, Tonari Arikekpar, explains more about these international student meet-ups and what they got up to in the last student meet-up (5th October) in the video below: