By Suraiya Comunello, CMO, Nido Living
A reported 50% of students in Spain, 25% in UK and 14% of students in the Netherlands are experiencing mental health challenges, and over 14% of young adults in Portugal consider their mental health status to be bad or very bad.
Stats like these can make for disturbing reading, particularly by those who are struggling with negative feelings themselves. Each person is different and thus is likely to consider their feelings differently too. Whilst it’s clear that post-pandemic, feelings of negativity amongst this demographic have risen and should not be ignored, we – as a society and an individual – are in danger of overthinking when there could be more simple approaches much closer to home to maintain good mental health.
This European Mental Health Week, student accommodation platform Nido Living is shining a light on simplicity to help people discover what works for themselves.
Nido has been working with Dr Tara Quinn (CPsychol, AFBPsS) as part of an ongoing pioneering industry wellbeing partnership to provide students with a range of guidance and tools to promote positive mental health, and to cope with the challenges. Importantly, the guidance and tools promote individual choice that students can adapt for themselves with a focus on not overthinking and instead normalising feelings.
Dr Quinn explains: “Feelings of anxiety are completely normal. The student cohort are often away from home for the first time in their lives and some, according to our research and feedback, are feeling the pressure of achieving more than ever thanks to rising costs. It’s important that we help our students understand and recognise how they are feeling without the need to conform to societal pressures that ‘anxiety isn’t ok’ and that something must be done to feel less anxious. It’s much better that someone recognises their feelings of anxiety and thinks about how to deal with it, than to panic and seek the wrong advice for them personally. Each person is an individual and no one knows themselves better – that’s why we are suggesting that students take some time to think about how they are feeling, what they want and, perhaps most importantly, what they don’t want this Mental Health Week. For example, a student may not want to be asked constantly if they are ok and what they are doing about their stress levels, this may induce more anxiety and that’s a valid ‘what I don’t want’ acknowledgement. Similarly, someone may simply want to rest, eat and take some time out.”
With 99% of young adults aged 16-25 using social media daily, it’s a concern that students, in particular, are turning to social media to find coping mechanisms and advice which may mean they are ignoring their innermost feelings as a result.
Dr Quinn explains: “Social media is often used by young adults in their downtime, and it can even be a real habit by many. However, it can actually be very unhelpful to people trying to find positive wellbeing or dealing with a mental health challenge as the ‘advice’ posted is often conflicting or can categorise a feeling into something that it really isn’t. While positive mantras or affirmations can be helpful, they can also make some people feel like they aren’t doing something right. We all know social media paints a picture the user wants to promote and, in doing so, can exacerbate negative feelings of someone who is struggling.”
Instead, Nido Living recommends doing small things to protect mental health and support positivity from taking a few minutes out to just think about things gently, rather than focus on a big move to solve the perceived problem quickly.
Dr Quinn adds: When we are experiencing big emotions, body sensations or tricky thoughts – we can easily become overwhelmed. It can be difficult to think rationally about how we want to respond. We can find ourselves thrown into problem solving mode. Instead, we can try to move towards accepting that we face adversity/challenges in life and that we do have ways that we can cope. It can be helpful to think of moving towards an acceptance-based model – accepting and making room for emotions, thoughts and body sensations, and recognising that we also have ways of coping inside of us. We don’t always need external help for this. With this in mind, this mental health week we want to shine a light on this and remind people that feelings are valid and empower people to decide how to cope themselves, rather than being told what’s right or wrong. That’s why the time out for thinking is so helpful.”
In line with this, Nido has provided a number of suggested questions that students may choose to ask themselves in order to connect with their feelings, needs and coping mechanisms.
Nido is an award-winning provider of student-led accommodation across Europe with communities across Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK. Its wellbeing partnership has won several accolades with 97% of students recognising that Nido ‘cares about their wellbeing’.
