Top Tips for Your Mental Health

For music students, higher education can be an exhilarating, intimidating and sometimes stressful experience.

From moving to a new location, navigating new responsibilities, to enjoying increased freedoms – this time can be overwhelming, to say the least.

We have put together a few tips to stay on top of your mental health while studying at ICMP, and to take into your life as a graduate.

Have a read and get in touch if there are any more you think we should include...

Prepare for term before you start!

• Once you have been permitted, ensure you can access your university email, online portal, any learning materials from professors, and any “to-do” tasks to prepare for the start of term.
   
• The Student Dashboard will become a hugely important asset in accessing up-to-date school information, accessing emails, calendars, facility booking, the student help-desk and more. Try to familiarise yourself with it as soon as you can, and keep checking as your studies progress!

Research any available resources.

• University can be fun and exciting, but with so many competing priorities it can also be stressful.
• Universities have services to help you every step of the way, know your academic and health and wellbeing resources and contacts to help you feel well and do well in case you need them.

At ICMP, key student contacts include:

o   Call 111 for non-medical support for mental health (or visit NHS Every Mind Matters - urgent support).

o   Call 999 for life threatening emergencies / request an ambulance.

o   Visit MyICMP Student Wellbeing or email studentwellbeing@icmp.ac.uk to contact our Student Wellbeing Team.

o   Call 116 123 / Text “SHOUT” to 85258 / email jo@samaritans.org.uk / visit samaritans.org for Samaritans’ mental health helpline.

o   Visit Togetherall’s online community. This is available 24/7, 365 days a year and is FREE for all ICMP students. 

Take each day as it comes

Every new beginning is different. This applies to your first year of uni or your last semester.

Regardless of the semester ahead, take your studies just one day at a time. You don’t need to have everything figured out right now.

Make the best decision for you at the time with the information you have.

Remember - you are not alone!

Whether you’re feeling excited or nervous, there are always people out there who can relate to your experience and how you’re feeling.

Opening-up can be the first step to accessing support when faced with uncertainty. 

Practice relaxation techniques and postive affirmations

Deep breathing, muscle relaxation and visualisation can help calm the mind and body when experiencing anxiety. 

If you do get negative thoughts, then it can be useful to identify and challenge them. 

By doing so, you can aim to replace them with positive affirmations and realistic thinking.