MENTAL HEALTH: SMELL THE ROSES

At Push, we tell it like it is. That means we say it's okay to get help if you feel overwhelmed, and your mental and physical health are suffering.

Dr Nihara Kruase, a consultant clinical psychologist highlights government funded research (ONS, UCL, NHS data) that found 1/4 girls and 1/10 boys have emotional problems including loneliness, self-hatred and feeling unloved. 

If this sounds a little too familiar, don't panic. We're all in this together. ​

Becoming aware of the way you feel (and letting others know) should never come second to your studies, but we get that that's easier said than done. If you feel you can relate, the first step is to breathe, take a moment to acknowledge your situation, and find out where to go for help.
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So who do you talk to? Well, family and friends can provide a great support network, but independent experts might be best. 

Push recommends the following people to contact for confidential and impartial advice:

• Anxiety UK
• Depression Alliance
• Mental Health Foundation
• No Panic
• PAPYRUS
• Samaritans
• Student Minds
• Young Minds

And if you'd like our two (or five) cents as well...

1. Passion & self-realisation are key. Understanding what you enjoy (or being brave enough to step into the unknown) is crucial. It helps develop resilience and self-confidence in everything you do, as well as generating a relaxed state of mind each day.
   
   
2. Know you want from life. We cannot stress how important this is. Take some time out for yourself and reevaluate this each day. Turn your phone off, put your headphones away, detach from social media. Go for a walk and take control in knowing you can get whatever you want from your own life.
   
   
3. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks of you or the way you like to express yourself, dress or define yourself. You're you, and the world needs that individuality. There are 8.5 billion people on the planet, and if we were all the same, it would be boring.
   
   Relish in the difference.
   
   
4. Confidence comes from being true to yourself. Do you think the most historically inspiring people cared what others thought of their ideas, image or dreams? We doubt Ghandi, Nelson Mandela or Emmeline Pankhurst did. They focused on their passions, and zoned out those who said they should conform.
   
   (We should also point out those three icons didn't have a thing called social media during their lifetimes...)
   
   
5. Social media isn't always great. It's proven to increase anxiety, self-esteem and depression in young people. Sure, it's important for your confidence to have an online presence – LinkedIn is best – but it's crucial to worry less about how others portray themselves online.
   
   Focus on developing an online presence which isn't just about your physical image, but your knowledge, skills and experiences. It's way better to be desirable to the employers you want to work for, than the 1,000s of online 'friends' you'll never actually meet or know.

For more advice on learning to be the best you you can be, and how to take back control, head over to our advice on what to do next. 

Stop and smell the roses. Honestly, it's all going to be fine. 
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