Although you may wish to stay informed, it is important to be aware of your limits.
Distressing events around the world, such as the recent escalation in cross-border attacks in Lebanon, Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza, can have a big effect on our mental health. It is absolutely natural to feel anxious and frightened, and to feel that events are out of our control. You may be feeling disturbed by the images you have seen on the news. You may be feeling worried about the safety of loved ones. If you have lived through similar events yourself, the current crisis may be bringing up some very traumatic memories.
Staff in Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) are here to support you during these unsettling times and are running ‘War, Conflict and World Disasters Emotional Support Drop-ins’ in Keynes College (in the Red Room) every Monday from 12:00-13:00.
SSW have also put together the following tips and advice:
Try to be intentional in how you are consuming news, avoid long ‘scrolling through’ sessions
- Take a break from watching the news – consider checking in at certain times of the day only.
- Mute or turn off news notifications on your phone.
- Mute or unfollow social media accounts if you are feeling overwhelmed, or limit your news intake to once or twice a day.
Make time for people, activities and actions that are positive for your wellbeing
What helps will be different for each person, but here are a few ideas;
- Connect with friends and family members.
- Go for a walk in the fresh air.
- Listen to a podcast.
- Listen to some soothing or inspiring music.
- Write out your thoughts and feelings in a journal.
- Go to the gym.
- Grab a coffee with a friend.
- Connect with nature.
- Try to have a regular sleep pattern.
- Try to eat healthily which will help when you are feeling emotionally depleted.
- Listen to some guided meditations as these can really help as a distraction from racing thoughts.
Focus as much as you can on hope
Amidst all the horrors of war, there are also reports of wonderful acts of courage, bravery and compassion. The majority of people are committed to peace, with global efforts to support victims of war reflecting this.
Student Support and Wellbeing – professional support at university
Did you know that Kent has a professional support service of over 100 specialist staff? We’re here to support you with mental health, disabilities, and neurodiversity such as specific learning difficulties or autism, through 1:1 support as well as peer support groups and events. Here’s a video of top mental health tips from our mental health team. To book an appointment with the team email kentSSW@kent.ac.uk or if you are at Medway MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk
Emergency support
If you feel you need urgent support from our team from Monday to Friday 9:00 – 17:00, please phone on 01227 826573 for the Canterbury campus or 01634 888474 for Medway or email KentSSW@kent.ac.uk or MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk and ask for urgent mental health support.
Out of hours support from Spectrum Life and other providers
Feel like you really need to talk to someone but the Student Support offices are closed? Check out the Emergency Support page with details on online and telephone support available round the clock, such as our partners Spectrum Life, who you can call in the evenings and at weekends on 0800 0318227 and pressing option 1. Spectrum also has an amazing online app that is available for free for all University of Kent students. See instructions on how to access the app and you can do guided mediation or use the online virtual exercise groups.