Blog Archives - Optimum Student Support

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‘Pets Are Like That, I Guess, They Know How To Fix You Without Saying A Word’

It’s National Pet Month! A time to celebrate and share the benefits of animal companions. As well as providing us with entertainment and cuddles, animals are essential in improving physical and mental health, supporting wellbeing and enriching communities. Canine companions...

Which is The Better Pet – Cat or Dog?

A debate-worthy and controversial question, even personality-defining… ‘Are you a cat or dog person?’. 51% of the UK’s adult population are pet owners so this is a very common topic of discussion, even used as criteria on dating apps with...

Supporting Students with ASC in Higher Education

It’s World Autism Awareness Week! Pioneered by the National Autism Society, this is a week for raising awareness, breaking stereotypes, and participating in fundraisers, challenges and competitions. In the UK, about 1 in every 100 people are on the autistic...

Why Routine Is Important for Mental Health

Although spontaneity is one of the hallmarks of mental wellbeing, it is possible to have too much of the good thing. Aiming for a balance between winging it and having everything planned out is the winning recipe for wellbeing. What...

My Secret to a Free Serotonin Boost….I bought myself the ‘Sun’

Winter has come again; days are shorter, nights are colder, mornings are darker. Mood and weather often come hand in hand, especially for those who suffer with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that follows seasonal patterns. Most...

How exploring our creativity can help us find calm

From adult colouring books to art therapy, building robots, crafting, painting and the like, creativity can be a solace for so many. “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso From adult colouring books...

Life During the Covid 19 pandemic as HE Student

David's Personal Reflections on resilience, self-awareness, and growth First of all for the reader it’s important I state a few truths. I am a mature student doing a PhD, I have myself worked in mental health care, and, like all...

I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to receive specialist mentoring because of the wonderful personalised support that has helped me get through university

Some days I’ve been feeling down, but after my session I leave feeling infinitely better because it’s an outlet for whatever’s on my mind and my mentor’s warmth and enthusiasm is really uplifting.

Cansu T, Zoology Student

I have massively benefitted from the help that my mentor has offered

and she has really helped me be the best I can be during a crazy four years of uni!

Laura D - BA French & Spanish

With the help of my mentor I have done things I didn't think I'd be able to

like present a poster at a conference, and now, I am a PhD student and the happiest I've ever been.

Oliver B - Phd Student

I can’t stress enough how much Specialist Mentoring had a positive impact on my university experience

Mentoring taught me so much: how to manage my time better, how to revise efficiently, and most importantly, how to cope with my anxiety on a day-to-day basis. Specialist Mentoring made my university experience a positive one, and I don’t think I would be the person I am today without it.

Sara G - MA Sports Journalism