As part of our ‘Back to Uni’ week, I am taking a look at one of HC Durham’s favourite societies; Heads up Durham. From the Royals to our own Rugby boys, everyone is talking about mental health. Although we are more informed about it than ever, there still is a long way to go in making sure that our academic success is not prioritized over our mental and physical wellbeing. Whether you are a fresher coming out of your gap year, or a third year getting started on your diss, adjusting to Uni life can be very stressful. If this is the case for you, Heads Up Durham is here to the rescue!
Formed in 2015, Heads Up Durham is all about finding new ways of raising the awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues. They focus specfically on signposting and helping students who are in need of guidance. As most members of the society are Nightline trained, they are able to assist students who are coping with stressful issues and direct them to the correct places where they could get help.
They have even received a Notable Mention from Mind Charity last year for their effective campaigns on topics such as eating disorders, men’s mental health and suicide awareness. I especially loved their Best Night In campaign which focused on creating a safe space every week for those who do not want to go clubbing but still want to socialise. These nights are great for things like crafts, cookie decorating, therapeutic colouring and a good hearty chat in the DSU. Anybody can attend as long as you find out the date and time of each event through their Facebook page and sign up! If you are lucky, you might even catch one of the partnered events they do. For example, the penultimate Best Night In of last year was a collaboration with Soap& Glory in which mocktails were made to celebrate the end of exams. At the end, they surprised the participants with goody bags to help them pamper themselves after all the stress of exams.
If you would like to take part, I would recommend that you find their stall at the Fresher’s Fair and sign up to their mailing list. Also, don’t forget to like their Facebook page to receive all their event and blog updates!
https://mydonate.bt.com/teams/durhamstudentminds
Image Credits:
https://www.facebook.com/durhamheadsup/
https://www.facebook.com/durhamheadsup/
Taken by the author