Hello everyone!
My name is Jodie, I am a first year Occupational Therapy student and a student representative for the course. I would love to be the voice and support for all students at the University of Derby as the Mental Health Awareness Officer.
Why I would like to be a Mental Health Awareness Officer for the University of Derby…
Positive mental health has become a passion of mine, and your experiences and ideas matter to me. Beginning a new chapter in your life can pose a whole range of emotions and feelings, and it is important we remember that it is natural to have different feelings and emotions to others. We all experience major life changes and transitions as it is part of being human, and becoming a student at university is one of the commonalities we share. I believe it is important to embrace and celebrate the fact we are all individual and unique, that we all have a distinct character and identity which makes us who we are!
I would like to know your thoughts and feelings, so together we can make a positive change!
Through regular interactions and discussions with many students from my cohort, and although the list is not exhaustive, I have found the following areas pose the main challenges and feelings of worry, confusion, frustration, stress, and anxiety amongst students.
- Deadlines of assignments and expectations of more than one assignment due in the same week
- Childcare and family commitments
- Self-worth - lacking self-confidence
- Interaction with Wellbeing services
- Work-life balance - the effective management of studying and other commitments
- Overload of mixed module learning - long hours in university, self-led study, e-learning and pre-work
- Discrepancies in the delivery of workshops
- Inconsistencies with support from PAT’s
- Financial circumstances
If you wish to speak with me about your thoughts and feelings, I will be clear that I may have a level of understanding and appreciation of where you are at, or where you are coming from; however, I will never patronise you and tell you that I understand as I could never stand in someone else’s shoes and know your individual circumstances, thoughts and feelings, I can only have an idea. Please hear that I am here to listen to and support you in whatever way I possibly can.
As a Mental Health Awareness Officer, I aspire and endeavour to…
- Organise campaigns encouraging emotional expression through a range of expressive activities, including writing, poems, paintings, photography, collages, music and much more! Supressing emotions can be harmful, like a volcano you can be at risk of erupting and exploding from bottling it all up. I believe sharing a problem is a problem reduced and that problems are best solved in smaller pieces. This could be done in a way which you feel comfortable, whether this be through discussion or expression.
- Listen to your ideas and feedback so that we can cooperate to make our university a memorable positive experience and a place where mental health is valued and heard. I would like to think at some point we may get recognised for great things!
- To work in collaboration with the Union of Students to both acknowledge and discuss mental health. Creative and interesting activities will be devised to reflect this and promote dialogue and empathy.
- Accommodate sessions and workshops to provide support and discussion. These will include and provide effective information on and an overview of a range of mental health conditions. The focus will be on educating and gaining an understanding of individual’s experiences. This has the potential to ensure you have increased confidence in; knowing the signs and symptoms, understanding the causes, the diagnosis process, and the management and treatment of mental health conditions. This could be beneficial for you, your family, and your friends.
Note to self:
- Do not measure your progress using someone else’s ruler!
- Ensure occupational balance through self-care, productivity, and leisure!
- Surround yourself with positivity - people, environments, and occupations!
- Establish the alignment of these concepts: doing, being, belonging and becoming!
Please vote for me as your Mental Health Awareness Officer!
I would really like to be the person who you feel comfortable sharing your concerns and successes with, I am an approachable and friendly person who will hear and support you. I thank you for taking the time to read my manifesto.
Warm wishes,
Jodie :)