The staff and students of CODE braved the freezing conditions and gathered indoors to raise awareness of University Mental Health Day 2018 an event run by Student Minds, which is the national campaign to focus efforts on promoting the mental health of people who live, work and study in Higher Education.
We would like to thank all our local health and wellbeing experts for their support on the day including Andrew and the Personal Trainers at PT7, Taurus Health & Fitness, Amanda Gale our relaxation therapist and Oliver & Nathan from Rent-A-Bike promoting the great outdoors! It was also great to welcome DMU Mental Health Inclusion Team also gave first hand advice to the many students in attendance – and the glowing performances from the DMU Choir Society and DMU Bollywood Dance Society all cheered on by the exotic vitamin packed mixes of the DMU Cocktail Society to ensure we were all shaken and not stirred. The team from DMU Laser tag were also there encouraging students to get together and blow off some steam on fun nights – and I am sure CODE Students will soon have an opportunity.
The big stars of the show were the lambs, goats, pigs and rabbits from a local mini farm who were the undoubted centres of attention as students patted and petted them as a great antidote to relieve pent up anxiety and stress. The event was a real success and helped signpost all the support available to the many students around the city where it is predicted that 1 in 4 will experience a mental health issue during the year and to the students at CODE who can access self-help leaflets online or book a confidential appointment with a member of the management team who can help point the in the right direction for professional support.