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Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. The Advice and Counselling Service, Equality Diversity and Inclusion and Student and Academic Services have put together some advice, tips and resources on promoting good mental health as well as sharing events going on on campus this week. 

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The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 is loneliness which affects millions of people across the UK. Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, the week is in its 22nd year. Across the country, people will be reflecting on loneliness and how it impacts our mental health. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. 

Events and Activities

The Queen Mary Students’ Union will be running a variety of wellbeing events aimed at students as part of their Study Well campaign. Events will be added to the Students' Union’s events listings throughout the week, so keep checking back for new ways to get involved. 

Study Well events

  • Photo competition from Monday 9 May - the photo competition invites all Queen Mary students to reflect on isolation and connectedness. Submit your own photo and get the chance to win exclusive prizes.
  • Wellbeing Day on Tuesday 10 May, 11am - 4pm - here's your chance to try out different events including meditation, breathing and sound healing, crafting, and massages. Book sessions early to avoid disappointment.
  • Online wellbeing workshop: Simple ways to destress and recentre on Tuesday 10 May between 1.30-2.30pm. In the midst of the most anxiety filled time in the year, exam season, you need to be able to manage your stress. This workshop will give you simple and effective tools to do this and create balance within.
  • Art Sessions in Library Square: Pinch Pots and Sculpture Making Wednesday 11 May 12noon to 3pm in Library Square. Work with clay to sculpt pinch pots and to make your own sculptures. This is a relaxed and open safe space for all students, you don’t need to have any previous experience to join.
  • Running Group – Wednesday 11 May 12.30-1.30pm, Library Square. Do you enjoy running but are finding it hard to fit into your schedule during exam season? Join us on Wednesdays to take a break from your desk and get out on a run. With physical activity being proven to help improve mood and exam performance it's the perfect opportunity to get outside.
  • Get Active Wellbeing Walk Wednesday 11 May 12.30-1.30pm, Library Square. 
  • Peaceful PiYo, Friday 13 May, 8am - 8:45am, Online session combining the muscle-sculpting, core firming benefits of Pilates, with the strength and flexibility benefits of Yoga, PiYo is set to make you sweat! 

Other events this Mental Health Awareness week

Cooking Session Friday 13 May 11am-12 noon, online

Cooking can be therapeutic, it rewards you mentally and emotionally, and nourishes you physically. Jay is back with another of her cookery demos. This time she’ll be making fresh mint and mango chutney, with plain paratha. The session will be held on Teams and will be recorded for anyone who is interested, but unable to attend. Click here to join the meeting. 

Resources at Queen Mary

  • Togetherall – Togetherall is an online mental health platform that is available to all Queen Mary students for free. Students can access a range of courses to complete in their own time, on subjects such as managing stress, improving sleep and increasing productivity. They can also talk to others in the online community to share experiences and give and receive support.
  • Advice and Counselling Service Blog on loneliness.
  • Mindfulness colouring sheets are available in the foyer of the Mile End library.
  • The Buddy Scheme – As a returning Queen Mary student, your past experiences and knowledge can be invaluable for new students. As a peer mentor, you will offer guidance, friendship, support and practical advice to a group of first-year students in your school. Applications to become a mentor are now open.
  • St Benets Chaplaincy - The chaplain, Ella Sharples, is available to talk with, for help and advice, to share your experiences and offer a listening ear. For one to one support contact us by emailing e.sharples@qmul.ac.uk or you can phone/message Ella on 07740 547689.

Mental Health Awareness Week - books, articles and podcasts on loneliness

Books and articles

  • The Lido by Libby Page - Explores the loneliness of moving to a big city and the frustration of finding your feet.
  • Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Someone Who’s Been There by Cheryl Strayed – A book that makes you realise that lots of people struggle with various different things in life and that you are never alone.
  • Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto - Two tales about mothers, transsexuality, bereavement, kitchens, love, and tragedy in contemporary Japan.
  • The surprising truth about loneliness
  • How to deal with loneliness
  • Look At Me by Anita Brookner – In this book Brookner portrays loneliness without any soft edges.
  • The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway - A story about being alone and being strong, and about hidden achievements and overcoming challenges that nobody else witnesses.
  • Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler – A novel that captures the strange, isolating loneliness of having just moved to a new city. 
  • Divine Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by John O’Donohue - Looks at the beauty in life as a way of pulling you out of your loneliness and reconnecting you to the sense of ‘oneness’.

 

Podcasts and programmes about loneliness

Other ways to get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week

  • During Mental Health Awareness Week use the hashtag #IveBeenThere to share experiences of loneliness to support others and give the campaign momentum.
  • Sign up to walk, run or job as part of our 80 Miles in May challenge and share your photos using #80MilesinMay and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.
  • Join an Inner Space free webinar. Register here.
  • Check out Zero Suicide Alliance Training– a free online training sessions to give you the skills and confidence to talk to someone you’re worried about. 
  • Join Mental Health UK’s webinar on how to support younger colleagues build connections in the workplace. Register here.
  • Attend Mind's mental health awareness training.
  • Feeling lonely? Join Mind UK’s free online community Clic.

 

 

 

 

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