‘Are you OK?’ Campaign

‘Are you OK?’ is a campaign to help students to look after their wellbeing whilst at Staffordshire University. The campaign explores physical and mental wellbeing and issues that impact on students’ lives and how they feel about themselves. If not eating or sleeping well for example, a student may feel irritable or overwhelmed, affecting their daily life.

The campaign conveys the message that it is OK not to feel at your best all the time, suggesting ways of improving wellbeing, which can have a long-term beneficial impact on mental health.

Self-care is important for an individual to recognise how they are feeling and when they might need the help of others, encouraging students to do things they enjoy, balancing studies and personal time, to eat healthily, plan their meals, exercise and sleep.

The Covid-19 situation obviously has an impact on wellbeing, but it is OK and natural to feel unsettled at this time.

A series of webinars have been created:

• Wellbeing and self-care

• Healthy eating

• How to improve the quality of your sleep

• Academic Study Skills/Library support

• Coping with homesickness

• Tips for coping with anxiety and stress

These will comprise a resource which will be delivered to international students pre-arrival but will be available to all students to access.

Some students come from cultures where mental health is not recognised, acknowledged or is stigmatised, and they may be reluctant to use Support Services.  We aim to provide students with support at an early stage and equip them to use resources and seek support when they recognise they are struggling to cope.

If you remember only one thing remember this: if you feel anxious or that something is not right, tell someone about it, take time out for yourself and if things don’t get better contact us!