How Students Can Implement Mental Health HygIene

Let's Discuss Student Mental Health
And Why It's So Important

College students tend to cram in work, clubs, coursework, and sports into their days. A consistently busy schedule can make finding time for themselves a thing of the past. 
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It may be hard for busy students to hear, but there’s no doubt they could each benefit from a mental health day. 

How Students Can Create Healthy Habits

With more digital opportunities to connect available, students have filled their schedules with more than they can handle. Here’s what students need to know about managing their mental health and why it’s so important to take a day to rest.

Taking care of mental health is just as important as fostering physical health. There are over 7 million adults who suffer from comorbidities or have two or more disorders co-currently. For example, there are 20 million adults with substance use disorders, and roughly 38 percent of them also have a mental illness. 

The reality of comorbidities reveal just how important it is for students to create a positive relationship with both their mental and physical health.  
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Students should aim to cultivate relationships with themselves by scheduling time to do so just as they schedule time to attend meetings, courses, and events.

Here Are Some Tips That Can Help: 

• Create a plan of when to talk to your trusted family and friends. When you have a habit in place of reaching out to your support system on a regular basis, it can make managing your responsibilities so much easier. 
• Seeking support is not a sign of weakness, but a natural process everyone needs from time to time.
• Remember you can only do so much. It's okay to take breaks or save your work for a time you afeeling inspired. Keep in mind that rest is important!

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Build one fun activity into your schedule every day. 

When you’re able to set time aside to do what you love, you’ll automatically have something to look forward to. 

​This will help keep your spirits high when the late night study sessions never seem to end. 

If you’re thinking that you’ll be so much happier and healthy while you’re in university abroad or away from home, you might be right. But, don’t believe that your poor mental health tendencies won’t follow you across the pond. 
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It’s true, studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but your mental health hygiene shouldn’t stop at customs. If you’re worried about how to manage, we recommend researching your university's resources, meeting with your UDA Support Officer, and setting up a consistent time to chat with your family and friends at home.

If you’re interested in learning more about how UDA can support your academic and career goals, we're here to help.

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