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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Exeter chapter.

The importance of mental health has really been stressed throughout the pandemic. Everyone has struggled at some point during these last few months, some more than others. This lockdown has reminded me how important it is to check in on your friends and how to be there when they are going through a difficult time.

When I was at school, some of my friends were dealing with very serious mental health problems. Each experience different taught me a lot, but the biggest lesson I learnt was that no matter how much you want to help your friends, you can’t help them until they want to help themselves. It was an awful realization that I couldn’t fix their problems and that I couldn’t make everything better. As a friend, all you want to do is help. So, from personal experience I have compiled a list of things I did to help my friends. Some things will work, some won’t. As long as you are there for them, you are already helping more than you can possibly imagine.

  1. Always look for the positive. If they’ve had a bad day, help them to think about what good things are coming for them that week, or even 3 good things that happened between the bad on that day. It could be as simple as waking up to sunshine or hearing a new bop on the radio. The little things really do make the world of difference to your day.
  2. Let them know that you’re always there to listen. Sometimes people just want to complain and its good to have someone who you know will listen. If there is an issue that you think you can help with, ask if they want your advice – they may just want to pour out their emotions.
  3. Create a fun activity you can do together on a regular basis. Whether it’s having a monthly trip to the cinema (obviously in non-Covid times), meeting up for a coffee every week or even Facetiming every other day, this little routine may help take their mind off other things and it’s always nice to have a catch up!
  4. Have a pamper day. Whether it is over facetime or not, sometimes an at home spa day is the perfect distraction. If doing this over facetime, why not arrange a time to call each other after having a long hot bath and getting into your pyjamas so you can have a facial at the same time despite being in different places.
  5. Just a simple hello text can really help. You don’t need to say ‘how are you’ if you think the answer is going to remind them that they’re not so great. Instead, ask if they’ve been watching anything good on Netflix or have any good music recommendations. It’s so easy and I can guarantee it will make them smile.

If you or a friends is struggling with mental health please speak to someone about it. There are ways to help and things will get better even if you, or they, don’t see that now. Speak to a trusted adult, go to a GP or speak to someone in welfare working at university. Just remember to stay positive and look for the good things every day.

Sophie is in her final year at the University of Exeter. She is the President, Editor in Chief, Social Secretary and Campus Correspondent for the Exeter Chapter of Her Campus (2021 - 2023). Sophie would love to work in the media, specifically marketing, when she graduates because of her love for reading and editing... in fact as you read this she is probably wishing that she was lying by a pool with a good book and an iced coffee!