News: Supporting World Mental Health Day
It’s World Mental Health Day today! (10th October) To help raise awareness, Nottingham College’s Wellbeing team have put together a table of activities for staff and students, including Tai Chi, Yoga, Meditation, Boxing, and even a ‘Laugh Yourself Happy’ session.
We caught up with 18-year-old Emma Askey, who is in her second year of the 3D Design and Architecture course. She has been battling with mental health since she was just 10 years old. After being bullied at school she started to self-harm and at the age of 16 she was diagnosed with chronic depression.
“Because I was so young I didn’t understand why I was feeling this way or if it was just normal, so I kept it all in and didn’t tell anyone about it. It wasn’t until I got to secondary school when my self-harm had been going on for a few years that I finally tried to get help. After seeing the district nurse at school I was put in touch with a counsellor who I have been seeing ever since.
“Now I feel so much better. Starting College has been like a fresh start and the staff here are so supportive, especially my Achievement Coach James who is always around to talk to if I’m struggling with my work or if I need some advice. Having somebody there to speak to takes away the worry which really helps.
I think it’s great that the College is doing things to raise awareness about mental health because, although it’s much more accepted in society now, it’s still one of those quiet subjects that people don’t fully understand and therefore avoid speaking about it. For me the hardest part was to open up to people, but as soon as I did, things started to improve, and now I’m doing well. I love College and my course, and I can finally look forward to my future and not be afraid of it.
— Emma Askey
Hear what Wellbeing Manager Laura Archer and Tai chi instructor Anthony Godfrey have to say:
There’s still time to go along to one of the activities, the timetable can be found on the College Staff and Student Intranet.
Published on:
- 10th October 2018 (12:00 AM)
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