Depression & Low Mood

 

Everyone goes through periods of low mood, and it is natural to have changes in our mood. Low mood can become detrimental to our life when it is persistent over an extended period. This can be diagnosed as depression, which different people experience in diverse ways.

Often students will report having little to no motivation, they struggle to get out of bed or do basic tasks, there is a general sense of apathy or hopelessness towards their day. It can be particularly difficult at university due to a lack of an established support system.

The NHS – Inform site has fillable self-help resources that can be helpful to understand your cycle of depression, how to plan enjoyable activities and how to problem solve difficult situations.

It is important to make an appointment with the GP service to discuss how you are feeling and treatment options.

What support do we offer? 

Student Services can help you understand the thoughts, feelings and behaviours around your depression. We have a network of mental health coordinators, cognitive behaviour therapists, counsellors, and wellbeing advisors to help you manage your depression.

Alternative Internal Support

You can access self-help through various University channels such as:

  • ShelfHelp, which provides eBooks or physical copies which can help you understand and manage depression.
  • SilverCloud, which provides various modules to work through at your own pace to help understand and manage depression with cognitive behavioural therapy techniques.
  • TogetherAll - a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing. (This service will no longer be available from February 2023. After this, we recommend that students reach out to SHOUT).

External Support

If you would like to access some self-help materials here are a list of alternative support resources.