Wellbeing Welcome.

We're excited to see new and returning students arrive on campus and the Wellbeing department teams will be available to answer questions about support, help with homesickness or loneliness, help you meet new friends and much more.

• Wednesday 14 September: 10am - 4pm; Founder's East 1
• Thursday 15 September: 10am - 4pm; Founder's East 1
• Friday 16 September: 10am - 4pm; Founder's East 1
• Saturday 17 September: 10am - 4pm; Wellbeing gazebo, Founder's Square
• Sunday 18 September: 10am - 4pm; Wellbeing gazebo, Founder's Square
• Monday 19 September: 10am - 4pm, Student Services Centre

Please do come and say hello and find out more about how we support you at Royal Holloway.

 Term 1 theme: Faith, Justice and History 

World Mental Health Day.

The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year.

The theme of 2022's World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is 'Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.

World Mental Health Day is also a chance to talk about mental health in general, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to talk about things and get help if you are struggling.

• Monday 10 October.
• 12:00pm  - 2:00pm.
• Davison foyer
• Led by Lucy, Head of Support & Guidance & Steve, Harassment & Wellbeing Adviser.

Our team will be available in the Davison foyer from 12pm - 2pm on World Mental Health Day to chat, answer questions and will have a range of goodies available for you to take away including our fabulous Wellbeing stress hearts and lollies! 

Reading changes everything: Reading strategies for disabled students.

• Monday 10 October.
• 2:00pm - 3:30pm.
• Online
• Led by Fiona, Academic Adviser.

Academic Adviser (Disability) Fiona will be leading a session for students registered with the Disability team looking at different ways of approaching reading and processing academic text; talking about the assistive technology that can help and providing suggestions on how to increase your reading speed and strategies for proof-reading work effectively.

Email disability@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place. This workshop is available to students who are registered with the Disability & Neurodiversity team.

The Big Read - Mental Health

• Thursday 13 October.
• 1:00pm - 2:00pm
• Windsor, Seminar room 0-03.
• Supported by Lucy, Head of Support & Guidance. 

Hear Phil Stamper, author of ‘The Gravity of Us’, answer our Wellbeing team's questions about the representation of mental health in the book; listen to Wellbeing's 'Top Tips' for starting university; and enjoy a talk about wellbeing from Lucy. 

Find out more here. 

Writing workshop – Academic Writing: Planning and Structuring your Essay.

• Monday 17 October.
• 2:00pm - 3:30pm.
• Online
• Led by Mona, Academic Adviser.

This workshop will help you to effectively break the process of essay wrting into manageable and clear chunks. Also, it will help you  decode and understand an assignment/essay question and structure your answers accordingly in a coherent way.

Email disability@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place. This workshop is available to students who are registered with the Disability & Neurodiversity team.

Let's Talk About Mental Health.

• Wednesday 19 October 
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm
• TBA,
• Led by Phil, Mental Health Practitioner.

Email mentalhealth@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place. 

Stress Awareness Day.

• Wednesday 2 November.
• 2:30pm  - 4:00pm
• Davison building 1-04.
• Led by our Wellbeing Advisers. 

Email wellbeing@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place.  

A Graduate visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing a course in the UK. If you’re interested in remaining in the UK post-graduation, be sure to attend this talk next week from Tom Pease, our resident expert on visas for the UK. Find the event in the Careers Portal, where you can book a spot on the event or just enter the MS Teams call on the day. Booking is not mandatory. 

• Monday 14 November 
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm
• Online
• Led by Tom, Head of International & Money Advice 

Anxiety Management Skills

• Wednesday 16 November.
• 2:00pm - 4:30pm.
• Windsor 0-02
• Led by Jane, Mental Health Practitioner. 

This workshop will help you understand what anxiety is and why we experience these feelings, physical sensations and behaviours. Identifying and exploring your own anxiety cycle and building a toolkit of some simple strategies that will support you to feel more in control and able to cope in times of stress or anxiety.

Email mentalhealth@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place.

Student Minds Look After Your Mate workshop

• Tuesday 22 November.
• 2:00pm - 4:30pm
• Large Boardroom, Founder's West
• Led by Susan (Disability Adviser) and Kate (Money & Funding Adviser)

This interactive Student Minds workshop aims to empower students to support friends experiencing mental health difficulties. The workshop will provide you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to support these individuals; whilst looking after your own mental health too.”

Students will receive a certificate on completion.

Please note that some of the workshop content may cause unwelcome and distressing memories or thoughts for some students. Please contact wellbeing@royalholloway.ac.uk if you would like to discuss whether this workshop is suitable for you.

Book your place via Eventbrite.  

White Ribbon Day 

• Friday 25 November.
• Time tbc
• Location tbc
• Led by Steve and Chris, Harassment & Wellbeing Advisers.

As a White Ribbon accredited university we’ll be marking White Ribbon day on 25th November 2022.  We’ll be marking our commitment to the campaign and to encourage our community to prevent violence against women and girls by addressing its root causes.  During the day we will maintain the preventative stance and encourage everyone, especially men, to make the White Ribbon Promise to never use, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.

Email wellbeing@royalholloway.ac.uk to find out more. 

Conquer Public Speaking.

• Thursday 1 December .
• 2:00pm  - 4:00pm
• Location tbc
• Led by Phil, Mental Health Practitioner.

Details to follow.

Email mentalhealth@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place.

Time management is life management.

Time management for students with specific learning difficulties and neurodiverse students only.

• Thursday 8 December.
• 2:00pm - 3:30pm.
• Online.
• Led by Jackie, Academic Adviser.

Academic Adviser (Specific Learning Difficulties) Jackie Knowles will be leading a session for students registered with the Disability team.  

• Are you struggling with finding time to  study ?
• Are you procrastinating around your deadlines?

Effective time management can help you achieve your goals with less stress and with better results.  During the session you will look at strategies that are customisable for  students with a Specific Learning Difficulty / neuorodiverse and be provided with some resources to help.

Email disability@royalholloway.ac.uk for more information and to book your place. This workshop is available to students who are registered with the Disability & Neurodiversity team.

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event where there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. It is all about starting conversations about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it. Every year, we want as many people as possible – individuals, communities, and governments – to think about the theme for the week and how it relates to their daily lives and work.

The theme for 2023 is anxiety. Watch this space for how we'll be getting our community involved.

Connect - Good relationships help our brains produce chemicals that make us happy.  They give us a sense of belonging and self-worth

• Make a playlist of your favourite songs andshare it with a friend.
• Join a club or a team to meet people with similar interests.
• Cook a meal together with friends or family

Physical activity is good for our minds and bodies, reducing stress and anxiety and boosting confidence.

• Where possible, take the stairs instead of the lift.
• Learn a new dance move.
• Have a good stretch.

Campus Walks 

We suggest you take advantage of our amazing short campus walks to take a break from the books and online resources and keep active

• The Meadow Walk - 1.5km, taking approx 15 minutes. 
• The Campus Circle Walk - 2.2km, taking approx 30 minutes. 
• The Tree Walk  - 1km, taking approx 10 minutes.
• The Bee Walk - 1.6km, taking approx 20 minutes.

Learning new things gives you new perspectives on the world around you and opens doors to new opportunities.  

• Do a puzzle, word search or Sudoku.
• Learn the numbers 1 to 10 in a different language.
• Take up a new hobby or project.

Acts of giving and kindness towards other people or in your community create positive feelings and a sense of reward.

• Complete a household chore that someone else might usually do.
• Do a random act of kindness today.
• Give a word of encouragement or a smile to brighten someone’s day.

Stopping to take in the present moment can give a more balanced outlook on life and help keeping us from worrying about the past or future. 

• Start a happiness jar – write down at least one thing every day that has made you happy and pop it in the jar.
• Look outside and notice any signs that the seasons are changing.
• Take note of one thing that makes you feel calm and relaxed and one that makes you feel excited.