From the 9th to the 15th May, it’s Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK and this year’s theme is loneliness. Here at Leeds Arts Union, we are passionate about mental health and wellbeing, especially when it comes to students. Loneliness is both a cause and effect of poor mental health, which is why we have put together a short guide to loneliness and ways to combat it.
University life can sometimes become isolating, which is often a challenging feeling to overcome.
As young people, we are fed this idea that within university there is always something we should be getting involved in, whether that’s going out with your friends or joining societies etc. But in reality, it is completely unsustainable to always be so busy; there are times when we need to recharge our social batteries in order to fully rest and show up as the best versions of ourselves.
Living within University can be difficult to navigate, not to mention the way that drinking culture is portrayed in mainstream media. It is perfectly normal to have a quiet night in with only yourself, some snacks and a film! Feelings of loneliness and boredom can creep in during quieter periods in the academic year and it is completely okay to feel this way.
But to help keep these feelings from becoming overwhelming, here are a few ways to tackle loneliness:
Reach out to old friends from home, reconnect with the people that bring you a sense of security and comfort
Sign up to societies/social activities within university to meet other like minded people, you never know you might make a friend for life!
Organise a movie night with friends online or in person
Find a study buddy that you can go to the library with to do work together
Seek out events around the city that may be of interest to you, like Leeds Independent Life or via the What’s On Page on the Student Union Website
Speak to a friend, tutor or person that you feel comfortable with about how you’ve been feeling or seek advice from relevant people/support.
