This Term Is a Challenging Time with Students Preparing for Exams, Losing the Routine Of

This term is a challenging time with students preparing for exams, losing the routine of lectures and with lots of unknowns about the future. It is natural at times of exams and transition to feel stressed, worried, anxious or low. If you are concerned about a student and are unsure about how to approach them, you might find it helpful to remember the CALMER acronym:

CALM - your ability to create calmness in yourself is important. Focus on your own breathing, posture and thinking; if you can remain calm yourself this will certainly help the student

APPROACH ASSERTIVELY – outline your concerns in a sensitive and straightforward manner, e.g. "I have noticed that you seem upset; I am concerned and would like to be able to help if I can"

LISTEN - if the student is willing to talk, focus your attention on them and try to bracket off your own judgements

MOTIVATE - recovery from even severe mental health difficulties is possible and support is available both within the University’s student support services and externally

ENCOURAGE – the student to access appropriate self-help or support

REMEMBER – you are not alone. If you are concerned about a student (or yourself) talk to someone about it. Also remember to maintain your own personal (or professional) boundaries by referring the student to appropriate support, details of which can be found below.

In the first instance a student may seek or require some reassurance or a listening ear. If you have concerns about the student’s wellbeing or you feel the student may not have the self-help strategies that they require to manage at this time then there is a range of support available:

1)In a non-emergency situation if you are unsure of who to signpost the student to please call Student Support on 02476 755770 within office hours.

2)If it is out-of-hours on campus call campus security on 024 7652 22083.

3)If a student is known to Student Support Services recommend that they contact their mental health co-ordinator ormentor to discuss the support options available to them. If they are not known but they have an enduring or complex mental health they can refer to the mental health co-ordinators.

4)The Students’ Union runs the Feel Good Campaign and are hosting a range of activities to maintain wellbeing including active relaxation sessions

5)The counselling service runs a range of workshops to support students with specific needs or concerns e.g. managing exam anxiety. There is a range of Self-Help resources and the list of Specific Issue help e-sheets offered by the Counselling Service.

6)They may also wish to register online for counselling.

7)If the student has concerns about their wellbeing they may access Wellbeing drop-ins, however please encourage them to check on the website for opening times.

8)Specifically for post-grad students the PG hub is offering dissertation station, a range of workshops and drop-in sessions to support post-grads.