We understand that getting a GP (general practitioner) appointment can feel like A LOT of effort, especially if you haven’t had the chance to register with the University Health Centre yet. Sometimes, this can make Chat-GP-T an appealing option, but we want to make sure you get legitimate information from reputable sources.
So, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you and asked local GP – Dr Mark Isherwood – what the most common health questions they get asked by students this time of the year, and importantly, what they advise doing.
First things first though, if you haven’t already, get registered with a doctor’s surgery! We have guidance on how to do this here.
Now, over to Dr Mark…
I’ve been feeling anxious, overwhelmed or low. How do I know when to seek help?
University can be an amazing experience, but let’s be honest, there’s also a lot to juggle between managing your studies, finances, relationships and everything else that comes with looking after yourself.
First, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s perfectly normal to have periods when you’re feeling stressed, anxious or a bit low. But I find a lot of students asking me how are they supposed to know when it’s time to ask for help?
Well, if you’re already wondering whether you should seek help, that’s often a pretty good reason to have a conversation with someone. I’d particularly encourage you to seek support if things are starting to affect your everyday life.
This can look like:
- Missing lectures, struggling to meet deadlines or finding that your academic work is suffering.
- Withdrawing from friends, not going out as much, or the people close to you have started expressing concern.
- Changes in sleep and eating habits – you might find yourself sleeping badly, sleeping excessively, eating much more or much less than usual, or struggling to concentrate.
Sometimes people develop ways of coping that actually make things worse. Perhaps you’re staying up all night gaming to escape your worries, drinking more than usual, or using recreational drugs to switch off. The trouble is that these things can start to have consequences of their own, which then add to the original problem.
And one thing I particularly want to emphasise, if you’re having thoughts of harming yourself, feeling that other people would be better off without you, or wondering whether you’d be better off not being alive, please seek help promptly by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option.
If you feel you might act on thoughts of harming yourself, or you’re in immediate danger, call 999 or attend A&E. You don’t have to wait until things reach crisis point. Talking to a friend, family member or somebody you trust is a really good first step.
UWE also provides free, confidential mental health support through the Wisdom app, where you can speak to a qualified counsellor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Simply download the Wisdom app and enter the UWE student access code MHA261053.
You can also arrange an appointment with UWE’s Wellbeing Service, or speak to your GP.
The important thing is that you don’t have to struggle through it on your own.