October marks Mental Health Month and this year’s theme is ‘let’s talk about it’.
This theme is all about the importance of connecting with others and having meaningful conversations to support your wellbeing.
We’ve put together 7 different ways you can feel empowered to openly discuss mental health, find reassurance and seek support on campus.
Attend social events
From casual meet ups to club gatherings, ActivateUTS events are a great way to connect with like-minded students and make some new friends.
ActivateUTS also have a team of Wellbeing Reps which run programs and events throughout the year such as origami workshops, tea brewing classes and rock painting. These events are designed to help brighten your day and to point you in the right direction if you need some guidance.
Type it out
All UTS students have free access to an online wellbeing and mental health peer support network via the TalkCampus app.
TalkCampus lets you:
Access peer support instantly and around the clock
Connect with other students from across the world
Anonymously share how you’re feeling in a safe and supportive environment
Join a community and support others
You can download the TalkCampus app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
Share a meal with mates
Take a break from the books and enjoy a conversation over a delicious meal. The Bluebird Brekkie and Night Owl Noodles are run by the Students’ Association, and they serve free, nutritious meals for you during the session.
Bluebird is available in the Tower Building Foyer every Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00am – 10:00am.
Night Owl is available in the Tower Building Foyer every Tuesday and Thursday, 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
Confide with an ally
The UTS Ally Network is a group of empathetic people who are allies of students identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex or queer (LGBTIQA+).
Anyone can contact a UTS Ally to ask them about LGBTIQA+ inclusion, get support or to say hello.
UTS Allies can be found in all faculties and units across campus.
Connect with your faith
The UTS Multi-Faith Chaplaincy offers free and confidential support according to your needs and requirements.
UTS chaplains can help if you are going through a variety of challenges and problems including homesickness, bereavement, loneliness and spirituality.
They offer individual or group spiritual counselling, support, prayer and meditation groups, religious education and workshops on a variety of topics.
Make a connection that counts
Whether you’re looking for a tutor, conversation buddy, or industry professional to answer career-related questions, UTS offers a number of different programs to help you make meaningful connections.
The First BASE Program offers personalised support to undergraduate students who are starting university for the first time and have recently graduated from high school.
For international students, the HELPS Buddy Program matches you with students, staff, and local community volunteers for conversation practice to help improve your listening, pronunciation and fluency in an informal way.
The Professional Mentoring Platform introduces mentees to mentors based on similar interests, aspirations, and affiliations without the long-term commitment.
Speak to a professional
UTS offers a confidential counselling service to help with a wide range of personal and psychological difficulties.
Services available include individual and couples counselling, group work and workshops.
The counselling service has also developed a range of self-help guides to assist you in helping yourself.
Let’s talk about it this mental health month!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or explore more support options that might be a better fit for you and your needs.
If you or someone close to you is in distress or immediate danger, please dial 000.