Cut the stigma.

First of all just like to apologise for the absence of a post last week but been busy due to exams.

Did you now that 1 in 4 people will experience some form on mental health issue in the course of a year. Surprising right? That's minimum of one person per flat in my halls. The more I talk to people about the topic, the more it seems like this statistic is far too low. However I do worry that I'm thinking it's much more prevalent due to experiencing problems with mental health in the past. It's evident from the statistics I mentioned that mental health its much more common than everyone realises, and those statistics can surely only be measuring people who have searched for help / medical attention. What about the people who are going under the radar and not in the frame of mind to be able to seek assistance? 

I've been trying to think of ways that I can better support these people as well as make a positive change. Of course I'm there for my friends and I like to think I'm fairly supportive and approachable about the subject, however I worry that for people who don't have friends as close to them or don't know anyone who's been in a similar situation that the whole subject is far too taboo and threatening to be able to have a truly helpful conversation. University especially it seems is very easy to isolate yourself if you don't want to or feel like you can't be around people, when sometimes you're unable to see how quickly this can turn into a cycle of decline as opposed to making things better. Mental health can often stop you seeing and understanding what's going on around you accurately and is incredibly difficult to live with. 

I want people to cut the taboo. 

This doesn't mean talking about it for the sake of it or not taking it seriously. People need to realise that this IS an issue. 

This means learning about mental health and wanting to understand what people are going through to find the best ways to help people through these difficult times. I'm fairly convinced that the pressures and changes concerning university definitely attribute to what I believe is an increase in mental health problems amongst young people. Remember 1 in 4, these people are your friends and your family. Try to help cut the taboo surrounding mental health issues with me. Go on-line and research a condition, look on some message boards to start learning what people are going through. Let a friend know that you're there for them and can talk to you frankly. But most importantly don't act like it's something to be ashamed of. By this I don't mean shout it from the rooftops it's still and illness and something many people prefer to be private, but when it's discussed enter into the conversation with support and understanding. Because that is the first step that is needed most of all.

Support and Understanding. 

Please leave any comments below :)

"The only way to have a friend is to be one"

My grandmother has always been incredibly proud of me. When her friend asked if I'd cope okay going to uni a year later, as my friends had all gone the year before she replied "Robin would make friends if she was captured by a tribe of human cannibals". 

Now I wouldn't necessarily agree with this but I'd like to think I'm pretty good with people and I've made some great friends. 

Making friends was easily my biggest worry about university, I mean who wants to live in a new town completely alone? I certainly didn't want that to ruin uni for me. Hearing from some other people at uni I have really lucked in with my flatmates this year. At home I'm part of a family of 5 and don't even remember the last time I returned to an empty house. 4/5 of my current flatmates are living together next year (including me) which seems a rare thing according to what most people have told me, some flats just do not talk. I can't imagine feeling at all happy not trying to talk with those you live with.

Of course there are people, not that I don't get along with, that I'm not exactly mates with but that's just life isn't it. I've gone the route of just being utterly normal, as if I already knew everyone as well as I do my hometown friends. I want to be able to be myself around people and this way anyone who I want to be mates with is already accepting of who I am. 

It all just feels a little bit tricky, like some people have gone in with a game plan. This could just be that I haven't actually needed to make friends for so long. Thoughts anyone? Or questions? 

What is it with first year?

So I'm in my first year of uni. I came to uni a year late whereas all my friends went straight into it and the hype was unbelievable I mean, you'd think the uni was paying them the way first year was raved about and why not right? Moving out. Doing your own thing away from your parents. Freedom! Personally I've been raised in a very liberal family and non of this has really been a big thing for me. If anything so far my first year hasn't had any of this, just a lot of worrying about making a good impression and getting my work done. 

I think that the way I interact with my family and friends, side note I adore them all, combined with this first year hype has slightly hindered my experience in comparison with my fellow students. It's all about going out and having a laugh which yeah I get but at the same time it feels so much like everyone has been given this "freedom" and now their actual level of maturity and their perception of their own maturity just don't match. They're trying too hard. I mean yeah I know I said I'm worrying about making a good impression but I'm not letting that hinder me just being me and having a good time. 

I'm more than open to the idea that it's all just me but is anyone else getting this impression too? A year in age is nothing proportionally but is that what it is? I don't want to be one of those people that constantly goes first year means nothing just need a pass because that's not what this is really about, more peoples attitudes to the whole idea of student living and effectively growing up. I'm in this student life bubble and it just makes it a bit difficult for everyone I think to look at things from just a normal adult perception. I myself am struggling. We don't need to grow up this fast surely?

I just don't really understand what it is with first year yet. 

So if any of you have been thinking the same way or maybe disagree completely then comment below, great to hear some insight :)

I'm nice I promise ...

PEOPLE OF THE INTERNET. After the surprisingly weird success of 2 blogs I started up for college work you've inspired me to start up a new blog. I've missed airing my views redundantly on the Internet and Twitter character limit can't quite fulfil my needs.

So I was learning about English lit and then Film. "What am I learning about now?!" I hear you cry, university. I'm learning how to accept that any adolescence I have has a time limit, soon I'll have to be a proper adult. Watch out here to see how I'm coping and hit me up with your experiences too. We can both despair in our quickly fading childhood nonchelance.

See you soon ✋