This week (10-16 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week with the theme of nature.

Why nature?

During long months of the pandemic, millions of us turned to nature. Research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic showed going for walks outside was one of our top coping strategies and 45% of us reported being in green spaces had been vital for our mental health. Wider studies also found that during lockdowns, people not only spent more time in nature but were noticing it more.

What you can do

During Mental Health Awareness Week, here are some suggestions to help you connect more deeply with nature:

• Take time to experience nature: can you find at least ten minutes each day to go outside and surround yourself with nature? If you go past a green space in your daily routine, try slowing down and really noticing what you see.
• Look, listen and share: as you notice the natural world around you, you could take a photo, video or sound recording and share with others to remind them to slow down and look more closely? You can use the hashtags #ConnectWithNature #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and look these up on social media if you are stuck indoors and need a nature boost from others.
• Express what connecting with nature means to you: as you find new ways to connect with nature in your local environment, you could describe this experience in words, or writing, or art – perhaps you can create something that reminds you of the calm nature can bring to keep or give as a gift.

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit the Mental Health Awareness website or join the conversation on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

What’s on at Kent?

During this week and the Summer Term there are lots of events you can join to connect with others and support your wellbeing, including:

• Weekly Student mindfulness sessions led by counsellor and mindfulness teacher Lorraine
• ‘Understanding your bereavement- holding on, letting go’ workshop (11 May)
• ‘Ecotherapy’ workshop (12 May)
• ‘Finding friends and coping with loneliness at university’ workshop (19 May)
• ‘6 ways to wellbeing’ workshop (19 May)
• ‘Practical ways to better sleep’ workshop (21 May)
• ‘Coping with anxiety and stress’ workshop (26 May)
• ‘Stress management’ workshop (26 May)
• ‘Five weeks to self-confidence’ (5 sessions starting 2 June)

See more events to support your wellbeing.

How to get help if you’re struggling?

If you feel as though you could benefit from extra support mental health support from the University, you can access services from the Counselling team, check out the self-help resource list or see our Emergency Support.

Remember, our Student Support and Wellbeing Team operate during the Summer Term and vacation period so you can access support when you need it.

As the exam term gets closer, remember that we are on hand to help with staying calm, improving your study technique and careers workshops to help you secure work opportunities.

Help us improve our Covid-19 testing service – chance to win £50 Amazon voucher

Take the short online survey about Covid-19 symptom-free testing on campus for the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher.

Take the survey now

Events for you to try this week:

• Video interview skills on Tuesday 27 April, 14.00-15.00
• Stress Management Workshop on Wednesday 28 April, 14.00-16.00
• Talk about your skills on Thursday 29 April, 11.00-12.00
• How good is your LinkedIn profile? On Friday 30 April, 12.00-13.00

Browse all events

Have you read this?

• Book an online appointment with the Student Learning Advisory Service
• Returning your library books
• Finalists – the National Student Survey closes on Friday 30 April
• Did you come to Kent via Clearing? Share your experience
• Online exams – including past papers, support and guidance
• Exam Calm events and support to help you feel prepared and relaxed for exams
• Revision tips from current students

Browse all student support

Keep an eye on:

• Student Guide
• Our Instagram stories
• University emails

Let us know what you think of these updates by emailing communications@kent.ac.uk

Did you come to Kent via Clearing? Would you like to share your story with others?

The University is putting together short films of Clearing students to help others in the same position this summer. All filming we be carried out remotely.

Complete the quick sign up form to get involved. 

Most of us are spending more time online than usual during the pandemic. Scammers are taking advantage of this.

The pandemic also provides scammers with opportunities to exploit our desire to protect ourselves and those around us, for example by selling counterfeit face masks or hand sanitisers.

Tips to avoid being scammed

1.Only purchase goods and services from legitimate retailers and take a moment to think before parting with money or personal information.

2.Learn how to spot a fake email. Some red flags are if an email is about an order you didn’t make or if it’s asking for money or vouchers, even if it is from someone you know. Their account may have been hijacked.

3.Do not assume everyone is genuine. It is OK to reject, refuse or ignore requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. We have recently been made aware of scam phone calls to Kent students. The scammers pretend to be the Crown Prosecution Service, informing residents they have around £1000 in income tax debts. This is a scam and any official documents of owed money from HRMC or Government body would be sent in letter directly to you and would not be handled by phone.

4.Don’t fall for quick cash schemes. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is! These are often scams and can be examples of money laundering. If someone offers you money for transferring money between bank accounts, you could become a money mule which is a criminal offence.

5.Be suspicious of requests for money up front. If someone claims to represent a charity, ask them for ID. If someone attempts to pressurise you into accepting a service they are unlikely to be genuine. Check with your family and friends before accepting offers of help if you are unsure.

Think you might have been scammed?

If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank. You can also contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133, or you can report a scam by calling Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.