Enhancing Student Wellbeing in University Accommodation – What's Available?

While student life is packed with exciting experiences such as social events, societies, exploring new environments, cities and nightlife, many students struggle with loneliness. If you struggle with physical or mental health difficulties in higher education, there is support available. Financial worries, social pressure, sleep deprivation, home sickness, conflicts in a friendship group or academic stress can impact you both emotionally and physically.

Transitioning to university life can be challenging and knowing you have a supportive living environment can help you feel at ease about the move.

Additional support from your accommodation providers is also invaluable for students with pre-existing health conditions or mental health diagnoses. We aim to make it easier for everyone to seek the support they need.

The student mental health support from accommodation environments varies drastically from location to location. However, university support services are freely available to all students. Explore some of your options for mental and physical wellbeing support from your university:

·        24/7 accommodation security and on-site wardens: If you’re concerned about your safety or a medical emergency, you can speak to a member of staff at your nearest university community building.

·        Personal tutor: Your assigned personal tutor is available to support you with anything from personal or financial worries to academic work, or even your future past higher education.

·        Student-only health services: Book and manage appointments remotely. Benefit from student mental health support and sexual health clinics.

·        Other wellbeing services: Universities offer 24/7 helplines, ongoing careers advice, workshops, society meetings and community wellbeing events as tools to help you cope with the challenges of moving to university.

Student mental health support services are crucial for ensuring everyone has immediate and ongoing support if they need it. On-campus wellbeing and mental health services make it simple for students to seek out help while they’re local. Although, more can be done to support students’ mental health and early intervention at home, if you don’t live close to campus. Disabilities or pre-existing conditions make it more difficult to access support services – private accommodation can have valuable wellness options for all university students.

Private accommodation has various benefits for students including excellent amenities, security, comfort, privacy, and tailored wellness services. You can choose a shared living space, an en-suite or a studio apartment, depending on whether you prefer living socially or on your own.  Mansion Student has properties in many popular student locations, including Leeds, Durham, Coventry and Nottingham.

Being able to reach out to wellbeing services locally, reduces the barriers involved in seeking support. Our services help make your university experience as positive as possible. Explore the benefits of private accommodation compared to uni halls.

·        24/7 on-site staff, security and CCTV

·        Wellness programs, social events and community-building activities

·        Excellent amenities, including social spaces, study spaces, cinema rooms or lounge rooms

·        24/7 concierge service, first-aid, and mental health-trained support teams

·        Wellness facilities

Our facilities have been designed with student welfare in mind. Visit wellness facilities such as yoga rooms, fitness studios, and gyms to boost your endorphins and improve your overall health. Our study rooms provide the perfect, quiet and tidy space to focus on your work while getting a change of scene. It also gives you the opportunity to interact with like-minded peers. Alternatively, spend social time with other residents and build connections in a safe environment – our social spaces range from games rooms, cinemas to rooftop terraces. Get in touch with our dedicated on-site accommodation staff who can help with anything from giving directions to getting you in touch with a trained mental health volunteer.

Should you need more hands-on mental health support, the hospitality team at Mansion Student will be able to provide further support to you. Our aim is to make it as simple as possible to get the support you need. We’re partnered with the mental health charities – Student Minds and Young Minds because we understand the impact of mental health difficulties.

Save the Student Minds and Young Minds helpline contact details in case you need confidential mental health support from a trained professional. You can email or join a live chat if you don’t feel comfortable talking.

Student Minds Helpline: 08088084994

Young Minds Helpline: 08088025544

Learn more about our wellness support

Having student mental health support in place for when you first move away from home is essential since so many of us struggle with the changes. Knowing what to expect from your student accommodation buildings can help you make sure you have everything you need on your doorstep. Ask the following six questions relating to support services before choosing university accommodation?

1.        Does the accommodation have on-site social spaces where you can interact with other residents, such as bars, games rooms, lounges etc.?

2.        Does the accommodation have 24/7 on-site staff, security and/or hospitality staff to help you out if you need something?

3.        Is there free access to wellness facilities, such as gyms or fitness studios, to boost your overall health and wellbeing?

4.        Does the accommodation offer quiet spaces to study or decompress, so you don’t spend as much time in isolation?

5.        Are there mental health-trained personnel, on-site or remotely-accessible, to support you in a time of need?

6.        Does your accommodation host social events or community-building activities?

Mansion Student aims to provide a welcoming environment for all residents, encouraging mindful practices, socialising and collaborative study. Our partnership with mental health charities helps ensure you have access to wellbeing support when you need it. We can also help you arrange professional counselling through the NHS if you decide on clinical intervention.

Read about the amenities at private student accommodation

Which universities have the best available student support?

The University of Sheffield and the University of Nottingham have excellent dedicated student-only health services where students can book and manage appointments, and request prescriptions etc,. Getting mental health support can be more straightforward via a University Health Service because they have on-site counsellors and therapists. Intenational students can use the NHS if they’ve paid the IHS surcharge as part of their Visa application or if they are exempt from paying the fee.

What type of mental health support can I expect from universities?

Wellness workshops, community-building activities and social events are the primary ways that students support one another at university. However, if you’re struggling with specific or ongoing psychological difficulties, you can request professional treatment via the NHS.