Mental Health at University
My name is Amie, and I live with depression and anxiety. It sounds simple when you say it out loud, but in reality, ‘depression and anxiety’ is such a broad label that it barely scratches the surface. Those words can describe hundreds of different experiences, symptoms, and behaviours; so many that it can feel impossible for people to truly understand what you’re going through, or for you to even relate to others who share the same diagnosis.
You’re not alone
So let me start with this: if you’re reading this and you’re struggling too, whether your battle looks like mine or is completely different, you are not alone. I know how hard it is to believe that when your mind is loud and heavy, but it’s true. Even on the days it feels like no one could possibly understand, there are people dealing with their own quiet battles right alongside you.
By far the hardest part of discussing mental illness is how much it differs depending on the person. My depression could be worlds away from someone else; but that doesn’t make it any more or less meaningful. For me, my mental health presents very quietly, often hitting me in waves when I’m alone, or showing up in my relationships. When change happens in my life, I find it very difficult to be leave the past for the present, often pulling back badness into my life to get back that sense of familiarity; so, when I moved to university you can imagine how daunting it was.
Starting University
When I first started university, I never felt satisfied – not with myself, not with the connections I was trying to build, not with the version of “uni life” I thought I was supposed to be living. I spent so much time overcompensating when making friends, trying to earn loyalty through gifts, favours, and by constantly putting everyone else’s needs above my own. In my mind, the raw me was never going to be enough.
Studying, forming genuine relationships, and simply allowing myself to be happy always took a backseat. I was too busy trying to prove my worth to even notice how much pressure I was putting on myself. Looking back now, I can see it for what it was – my anxiety whispering lies and convincing me that I had to perform for people to stay.
Don’t feel ashamed of struggling
Never be ashamed of struggling with your mental health or finding university harder than you expected. You are not broken for feeling overwhelmed, you are human.There will always be people who will love you, support you, and walk beside you through the difficult stretches. And yes, it can be incredibly hard to figure out who those people are when everything is new and unfamiliar. But trust that clarity comes with time.
For someone like me, living with depression and anxiety, things can feel impossible. It can twist ordinary challenges into mountains, and everyday tasks into things that feel like they might break you. And I won’t sugarcoat it: living with depression and anxiety at university is hard. But it is far from impossible. In fact, it’s more manageable, and more hopeful, than I ever expected.
Support at UON
Here at the University of Northampton, I’ve found a level of support that I never realised I needed.
My problems haven’t magically disappeared; mental health doesn’t work like that. But with the help of societies, the mental health and wellbeing team, my lecturers, my friends, and the many different communities UON offers, those problems don’t echo as loudly as they once did. They don’t consume every corner of my day anymore.
Be patient with yourself
So please, be patient with yourself. Be patient with the process of settling in, with the chaos, with the unknowns. And allow yourself to dive headfirst into everything university has to offer, you might be surprised by how much light you find along the way.
Most importantly, don’t ever believe that your mental health defines you. It doesn’t. The only thing that truly defines who you are is your heart.
If you feel you need help, please reach out:
UON Counsellors: counsellors@northampton.ac.uk
UON Mental Health Advisers: mha@northampton.ac.uk
Mind: 0300 102 1234 (9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday)
Samaritans: 24/7 support
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (4.30 pm-10 pm every day)
CALM: 0800 58 58 58 (5 pm-midnight every day)
At UON, there is plenty of support available ranging from financial difficulty support to mental health and wellbeing support. Please reach out if you need help.
