The importance of good mental health is more widely understood than ever before. However, it can be hard to know where to begin when it comes to self-care. We wanted to share a handful of ways that students can take positive steps to look after their mental health in testing times.
Written by Editorial Team. Published 10 May 2022. Last updated 11 May 2026.
<果冻传媒视频直播>Tips for improving your mental health as a studentAs a student your mental health could be affected by a number of factors. These could include things like exam stress, money issues, lack of sleep, diet, exercise and relationships. Below we share some practical mental health tips for university students and discuss how small changes can make a difference to your mental health and wellbeing.
Meditation apps
Meditation and mindfulness apps are one way you can take a few moments to focus on yourself and take a break from busy student life. It can be a challenge to begin with, but there are apps which can all help you to train your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts, and many are free, or have free features. Some of those we recommend include:
- – Designed by the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably
Deep Breathing
If you want to work up to meditation, start with slow, deep breathing exercises. Most people tend to breathe in a more shallow and rapid way, or hold their breath, when they’re feeling anxious.
Place one hand on your stomach, just above your belly button. Keep breathing steadily and try to concentrate on making each breath a little bit deeper. Draw it down into the bottom of your lungs. Inflating your lungs fully pushes the diaphragm muscle down, causing your stomach to push outwards. If you manage to do this, the hand on your tummy should lift slightly. Don’t worry if you don’t get it right away, stick with it and you’ll soon feel the benefits.
Meditation and breathing exercises are proven to reduce stress, assist in reducing anxiety, lengthen the attention span and improve sleep.
Sleep
Poor sleep has been linked to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. say ‘neuroimaging and neurochemistry studies suggest that a good night's sleep helps foster both mental and emotional resilience, while chronic sleep disruptions set the stage for negative thinking and emotional vulnerability.’
Between socialising and studying, it’s easy to find yourself burning the candle at both ends and losing out on sleep. However, when it comes to learning, memory and mental resilience, rest is vital. Not everyone needs eight hours sleep, but it’s a good target to aim for and don’t forget to put those screens away before bedtime. The blue light emitted from phones, tablets and laptops has a negative impact on the quality of your sleep, so resist checking your social media or emails in bed.
Get active
Lulls in mental health can leave you feeling sluggish and less inclined to exercise, but it’s important to try and keep yourself moving.
"Any type of exercise is useful, as long as it suits you and you do enough of it," says Dr Alan Cohen, a GP with a special interest in mental health from the NHS. "Exercise should be something you enjoy; otherwise, it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly."
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and releases endorphins, our body's own antidepressant. It also releases other neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which lift mood.
If you want to take it easy just go for a walk or if you’re having a day when you don’t want to leave the house, try an online routine – there are thousands available on YouTube.
Student support services
You’ll find most universities have a range of student support available for their students and The University of Law is no different. We have mental health and wellbeing advisors on hand to help you with whatever you might be struggling with.
We also have the app which provides a wide range of ideas, resources and strategies to help you create healthy habits, enhance your wellbeing and monitor your progress. The app gives you access to ongoing support and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including details of support available on campus and in the local community.
If you’re not studying with us you can find out more about freely available counselling and therapy on the .
Together All
is a digital mental health support service which is completely anonymous and is the only online mental health service with 24/7 clinical moderation. No matter where you are in the world, or what time of day (or night) it is, you can log in and get help in less than five minutes. Together All provide a number of different services including peer support, self-guided exploration and online therapy.
Together All is free for our students but is also available to anyone for a monthly subscription fee. Information on how to register with Together All can be found on the Counselling Service page on ELITE in the Health and Wellbeing section.
Eat well
Eating foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, protein and fatty acids is key to keeping your brain in good working order and therefore improving mental health. Eat regularly throughout the day to maintain a constant blood sugar level and avoid those dreaded sugar crashes. Aim for five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, limit your alcohol (as it has a depressant effect on the brain so can result in a rapid worsening of your mood) and make sure you keep hydrated.
We all need a treat now and then, but if your mood is low improving your diet is a quick and easy area to make improvements.
Samaritans
If you need immediate help and don’t know where to turn, then The Samaritans are available to talk to you 24 hours of the day and 365 days of the year. Call 116 123 from any phone or visit for more information.
