Are You Putting the Well in Wellbeing?

Student mental health and wellbeing is a responsibility for us all.  

Source: Canta / Olivia Welsh. 

Wellbeing is about more than only life satisfaction and joy, but rather the sense of meaning and purpose we experience. The commitment to positive and sustainable wellbeing is hugely important to Aotearoa in general, with The Mental Health Foundation for example committing itself to helping New Zealanders find a state of ‘good’ mental health through providing a range of tools and support.   

This is also done through education and frameworks, like the widely utilised Five Ways to Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Whā - a wellbeing model developed by Sir Mason Durie in 1984 to describe health and wellbeing as a wharenui (communal house of the Māori people of Aotearoa). 

For university students, wellbeing is crucial, especially in the context of academic life. Being able to juggle academic expectations and a positive outlook on the present and future, can be a big ask for anybody just trying to get through the day.  

Having assignments due, projects to complete, and exams to sit can be the focus of any student to the point of neglecting other aspects of wellbeing. This could be through forgetting to eat, not drinking enough water, or going to bed late at night consistently throughout the week.  

“An obvious stressful situation is the day an assignment is due,” Alec (they/them), a current University of Canterbury student, said.  

“As a health student most of my assignments are focused on how to improve others’ wellbeing, so I’ve managed to incorporate some of these strategies.” 

As well as juggling academics, it’s been noted that some of the most common challenges faced by students encompass themes surrounding finances and being able to navigate support systems not just when you require them, but prior.  

Megan Nelis, a Wellbeing Specialist, commented on the challenge of loneliness, and how this can be one of the frustrating barriers to overcome in student life. 

“Adapting to the first time out of home, new routine, perhaps new location, and full responsibility and autonomy for your own life in a large campus environment may be daunting and hard to navigate. If you also study remote or are not on campus often, this can decrease your natural chances of connecting with others,” Nelis said.  

Being able to feel a sense of belonging is key, therefore, being able to overcome the sensations of loneliness on a holistic level is needed to thrive.  

Another common challenge that of identity. As a result of moving on from high school, and perhaps being separated from whānau and childhood friends for the first time, it can be hard to know who you are, what you want for yourself in the future, and how to get there. 

“Big philosophical questions we may feel pressured to find the answer for at university, which while not the case can still remain an overwhelming feeling,” Nelis said.  

There is always going to be information regarding what wellbeing is, and why you may be having a difficult time keeping things afloat.  

Being able to recognise when you’re not doing your best is the first step. Wellbeing extends beyond mental health to keeping your physical and social health in check, through going to the gym. Engaging in student clubs is just as important as managing mental health. 

“Drop in energy levels, mood, normal eating patterns, emotional fluctuations, or other things changing that are out of the norm? This might be your body giving you a sign that it’s starting to not cope,” Nelis said. 

Students at UC have access to a range of wellbeing resources and services, including talking with the Student Care team, and activities like a Grief Support Group and a Rainbow Café meetup running this semester. 

“There is a wide range of people and expertise available at the University of Canterbury to offer students support, health and guidance… Services that support student wellbeing are promoted throughout the year, both by the teams and through direct emails to students, social media, and the digital screens around campus,” a University of Canterbury spokesperson told Canta. 

Statistics from the most recent UCount survey found that 74% of students reported being satisfied with Student Care advice and events. Consistently, feedback is received by UC’s Student Wellbeing team from the Kaiwhakatere Oranga | Wellbeing Navigators which allows generating ideas for new initiatives.  

“With wellbeing and coping there is not ‘one size fits all’, or even most people. My advice for all is to get your coping tools sorted early and top them off regularly. If you thrive off routine, lock it down…Avoid the copy and paste or following the ‘wellbeing’ trends” – find what works for you,” Nelis said. 

“At the end of the day, no matter how big or small your struggle is, was, or may be – please do not belittle it or avoid accessing help.” 

Wellbeing might be an automatic priority for you as a student, where you’ve set yourself up for success from the start by creating long-lasting routines and habits for life. It might not be, and that is entirely okay. 

“University study isn’t always easy – it’s a time of significant learning and challenging yourself to get through all the assessments and academic requirements. But you don’t need to do it alone; there is an extensive support network at UC set up to help students succeed and feel well,” said the UC spokesperson.  

“We advise students to be kind to themselves and each other.” 

As the year slowly but surely begins to end, it can be easy to let ourselves fall into unhelpful patterns because we do not know any better, or maybe are afraid to seek support.  

Who knows, we might just be tired and looking forward to a few months without a deadline, but it’s by giving things a go that we discover strategies that will help us thrive as students. 

“Some strategies that I use to manage my wellbeing are making sure I take breaks to watch an episode of the show I’m watching, have a study session with friends and also go to the gym at least once a week to make sure I move more than walking from my car to the library,” said Alec, on how they feel their best. 

Just know that whatever is thrown at you, whether it be related to your qualification, or a personal barrier that needs overcoming, you’re not alone.