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Student Life

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

How can I cope with the student lifestyle? 

Student life is full of new and exciting experiences and there is often lots going on. It is important to take the time to look after yourself to help you cope with the changes in lifestyle. Some areas that you could focus on are: 

  • Managing stress 
  • Looking after your physical health 
  • Coping in an alcohol or drugs culture 

For more ideas, check out HKBU’s pages on transitioning to university life, new academic expectations, and HKU’s effective learning and successful adjustment.

Managing stress 

You might feel like there is a lot of pressure to do well academically, as well as pressure to be sociable. In particular, mature students often say that they feel particularly under stress if they are struggling financially and they have invested money in the course as part of a career change, which can create extra pressure to do well. 

Try to build up strategies to manage stress before it gets too much, so it’s easier to respond to additional pressure, for example, around exam times. 

  • Try out some mindfulness exercises. There is a lot of evidence to suggest these can be really helpful, especially for managing stress. Take a look at our mindfulness pages for more information. 
  • Try using a planner. This can help to keep track of deadlines and key commitments and organise your study. 
  • Take time out to relax. Getting away from your desk, even for short periods of time, can help keep you calm. 
  • Keep an eye on social commitments to avoid overloading your schedule around deadlines and exams. 
  • Try online support and apps. There are lots of apps and websites available that can help you to manage your stress levels, such as those offering a daily meditation or mindfulness practice. 

See our pages on managing stress for more information, or the Coolminds blog, to hear how other students have managed stress. 

Looking after your physical health 

Looking after your physical health will help you stay healthy and maintain concentration to study well. 

  • Get good sleep. If you’re tired, your worries can get blown out of proportion. Getting into a regular sleep routine can help you stay on top of university life. See our pages on coping with sleep problems for more information. 
  • Eat a healthy diet. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet can help you feel well and think clearly. See our pages on food and mood for more tips. 
  • Exercise regularly. Keeping active can help you improve your mental health. Even gentle exercise, like yoga or swimming, can help you relax and manage stress. See our pages on physical activity for more information. 

“Tiredness is one of the biggest problems with the student lifestyle and it can contribute significantly to my mood. I feel more emotional and less capable when I am tired.” 

You may face additional struggles looking after your diet and exercise if you have eating problems or a diagnosed eating disorder. 

Coping in an alcohol or drugs culture 

While alcohol is often associated with the student lifestyle, you don’t have to drink if you don’t want to. Students’ Unions and student-led groups offer a range of social events and activities that are alcohol free. Remember: 

  • Alcohol can worsen depression and cause other health problems. 
  • Try to ensure you have some days without drinking. 
  • Be careful if you are taking medication, as it’s usually recommended not to drink or to limit the amount you do drink, while taking it. 
  • Having a friend around when you are out, or establishing a buddy system, can help to keep you safe when you are drinking or engaged in drug use. 
  • Don’t accept drinks from someone you don’t know and always keep your drinks with you to help avoid your drink being spiked (with drugs or alcohol). Take a look here for further information about drink spiking and what to do if you think your drink has been spiked.

For more information about alcohol, have a look at the Governmental page on alcohol and health, Tung Wah, Hospital Authority, for information on alcohol support services, and the KELY Support toolkit.

Illegal drugs can also have a serious impact on your mental health. See our pages on recreational drugs for more information, or visit the Drug Office drug database for information.

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What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more! 

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

How can I cope with the student lifestyle?

How can I cope with the student lifestyle? 

Student life is full of new and exciting experiences and there is often lots going on. It is important to take the time to look after yourself to help you cope with the changes in lifestyle. Some areas that you could focus on are: 

  • Managing stress 
  • Looking after your physical health 
  • Coping in an alcohol or drugs culture 

For more ideas, check out HKBU’s pages on transitioning to university life, new academic expectations, and HKU’s effective learning and successful adjustment.

Managing stress 

You might feel like there is a lot of pressure to do well academically, as well as pressure to be sociable. In particular, mature students often say that they feel particularly under stress if they are struggling financially and they have invested money in the course as part of a career change, which can create extra pressure to do well. 

Try to build up strategies to manage stress before it gets too much, so it's easier to respond to additional pressure, for example, around exam times. 

  • Try out some mindfulness exercises. There is a lot of evidence to suggest these can be really helpful, especially for managing stress. Take a look at our mindfulness pages for more information. 
  • Try using a planner. This can help to keep track of deadlines and key commitments and organise your study. 
  • Take time out to relax. Getting away from your desk, even for short periods of time, can help keep you calm. 
  • Keep an eye on social commitments to avoid overloading your schedule around deadlines and exams. 
  • Try online support and apps. There are lots of apps and websites available that can help you to manage your stress levels, such as those offering a daily meditation or mindfulness practice. 

See our pages on managing stress for more information, or the Coolminds blog, to hear how other students have managed stress. 

Looking after your physical health 

Looking after your physical health will help you stay healthy and maintain concentration to study well. 

  • Get good sleep. If you're tired, your worries can get blown out of proportion. Getting into a regular sleep routine can help you stay on top of university life. See our pages on coping with sleep problems for more information. 
  • Eat a healthy diet. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet can help you feel well and think clearly. See our pages on food and mood for more tips. 
  • Exercise regularly. Keeping active can help you improve your mental health. Even gentle exercise, like yoga or swimming, can help you relax and manage stress. See our pages on physical activity for more information. 

“Tiredness is one of the biggest problems with the student lifestyle and it can contribute significantly to my mood. I feel more emotional and less capable when I am tired.” 

You may face additional struggles looking after your diet and exercise if you have eating problems or a diagnosed eating disorder. 

Coping in an alcohol or drugs culture 

While alcohol is often associated with the student lifestyle, you don't have to drink if you don't want to. Students' Unions and student-led groups offer a range of social events and activities that are alcohol free. Remember: 

  • Alcohol can worsen depression and cause other health problems. 
  • Try to ensure you have some days without drinking. 
  • Be careful if you are taking medication, as it's usually recommended not to drink or to limit the amount you do drink, while taking it. 
  • Having a friend around when you are out, or establishing a buddy system, can help to keep you safe when you are drinking or engaged in drug use. 
  • Don't accept drinks from someone you don't know and always keep your drinks with you to help avoid your drink being spiked (with drugs or alcohol). Take a look here for further information about drink spiking and what to do if you think your drink has been spiked.

For more information about alcohol, have a look at the Governmental page on alcohol and health, Tung Wah, Hospital Authority, for information on alcohol support services, and the KELY Support toolkit.

Illegal drugs can also have a serious impact on your mental health. See our pages on recreational drugs for more information, or visit the Drug Office drug database for information.