Just moved to the UK? And already feeling homesick or lonely? Well, we understand how difficult it can get to experience everything alone for the first time. So, take our words and don’t be so hard on yourself because what you are feeling is pretty common. Every year thousands of international students come to the  UK and face this issue until they get used to the environment. Feeling homesick or lonely is a pretty common thing, but this can degrade your mental health, leading to stress.

Don’t you worry as we have got to the perfect pill to cure what you might be feeling. In this particular blog, we are going to cover the top mental health tips for students who are new to the UK. Still worried that stress might be ruining your mental health? Keep on reading to find the tips to beat stress. Afterall, this is what Uninist does for students in the UK, from finding student accommodation to providing students mental health tips, we have it all!

What Are the Mental Health Tips for Students in UK?

Coming to the UK means you are going to be against a lot of new experiences, some may be fun, some may be stressful. Here are the top mental health tips for students in UK:

• Prepare for transition stress 
• Build a support system 
• Have healthy routines 
• Manage academic pressure 
• Stay mindful and practice self compassion 
• Utilities university and external support services 
• Regulate finance to reduce stress 
• Have social and community participation 
• Learn stress management strategies 
• Use technology wisely 

Well do not worry we never end our blog with half information and leave students hanging. So, let’s discuss each and every tip in a little more detail.

Prepare for Transition Stress

• When you move to the UK you will experience and see new things which you may have not seen before so it can come as a cultural shock to some people. Homesickness, cultural change, etc happens to everyone when they move to some new country.
• The best way to deal with transition stress is to acknowledge the feeling of anxiety, loneliness or being overwhelmed in this case.
• Do research ahead like know your campus layout, student support services, local transport, and city norms to reduce the stress.

Build a Support System 

• The friends, classmates, roommates in your student rooms act as the support system. You should also join societies, student groups, or clubs in which you have interest. Same interests help in building friendships more quickly and easily.
• Reach out to university welfare or counselling services if you think you are in need of them.
• Even though your family might not be close to you, keeping in touch with family and friends back home can help in keeping your mental health sane. Regular calls or messages help with homesickness.

Have Healthy Routines

• Another great way which can help in keeping your mental health good is establishing good habits like working out, good sleep schedule, etc. avoid excessive screen time immediately before sleeping.
• Diet also plays a crucial role in your mental health well-being and maintaining a balanced diet is very important as nutritious food helps both body and mind.
• Use study break techniques like the Pomodoro method in which you have to study for a fixed interval, then take short breaks, then repeat to avoid burning out.

Manage Academic Pressure

• What degrades a person’s mental health the most is academic pressure, especially students. So, the best way to regulate stress and maintain mental health well-being is to plan ahead, like create a term calendar marking deadlines, assignment submission, exams to avoid last-minute cramming.
• Use university academic support like tutors, writing centres, study groups, etc to improve study skills and reduce anxiety.
• Learn to prioritize tasks and work accordingly.

Stay Mindful and Practice Self Compassion

• Meditation and mindfulness have a more serious impact on mental health than people realise. Breathing exercise helps in reducing anxiety in moments of stress.
• Accept imperfection because a lot of people are trying to be perfectionist, early failures or mistakes are part of growth.
• Recognise overwhelming thoughts and try to keep them in control as some things are in your control and some things are not, so it’s better to keep things that are in control rather than trying to control things which are out of your control.

Utilities University and External Support Services

• Many UK universities offer mental health and wellbeing teams, counselling, peer support, safe spaces, etc. Use the support system to your benefit.
• In case things worsen like persisten depression, anxiety attacts, suicidal thoughts then seek help from GP or NHS mental heath services.
• Contact the mental health support helpline number which is 0800 58 58 58 or message via WhatsApp in case you need help.

Regulate Finance to Reduce Stress

• Finance is another thing that can stress international students in UK as the tuition fees are already high and the cost of living can also burden the students. So, budget carefully and try not to waste money.
• You can also seek guidance for budgeting tips from the internet, university or charities as they offer financial advice for students.
• Make sure to avoid high-interest short-term lending if you are taking any debt.

Have Social and Community Participation

• Participate in fresher’s week, clubs, societies, religious or cultural groups if you are a fresher student in UK as these are good avenues to meet others and build a sense of belonging.
• Seek out mentorship or buddy systems as many UK universities assign mentors/new student buddies to help students navigate through campus, academic norms, and social life.
• You can also volunteer to help others and build a connection which gives you a chance of networking.

Learn Stress Management Strategies

• Develop stress management tools for example journaling, creative hobbies, listening to music, mindfulness apps, etc. Also, adopt stress management strategies.
• Using relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery can help in regulating mental health well-being.
• When worries like assessments, assignments, homesickness arise then write them down as often externalising helps in reducing mental burden.

Use Technology Wisely

• You can also use digital tools/apps for meditation, sleep tracking, and mental health journaling.
• Set limits to avoid doom-scrolling, excessive news or social media exposure, especially when you are feeling anxious.
• You can also join online peer support forums or trusted sources and make sure that the resource is credible and trust-worthy.

Conclusion

Starting your college life in a different country is a big thing. However, homesickness, loneliness, academic pressure, etc can make it difficult and stressful, resulting in degrading your mental health. So, it is important to take care of your mental health. Joining clubs, societies, forums, and help groups can help in reducing stress.

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