Exciting activities with a focus on mental health
May is the UN’s official Mental Awareness Month, and student health together with the Student Union draws attention to it by inviting lectures, lunches, gatherings, training sessions and conversations about health.
During four weeks, the students are offered lectures from Suicide Zero, lectures on mindfulness and study techniques, free training sessions at ”Friskis & Svettis” and health bingo. The student unions in both Sundsvall and Östersund are engaged in the health weeks and have put together a solid programme together with student health.
–We're here because it’s an extremely important thing to talk about. Getting rid of stigma and daring to get people to talk about their mental health is a prerequisite for feeling good and ultimately succeeding in their studies, meeting other people and simply having a good life. If we can help in any way, we do so” says Emanuel Magnusson, the chairman of the student union in Östersund.
Erik Lund, President of the Student Union in Sundsvall, is on the same track.
–Students are in many ways a particularly vulnerable group, whereupon it is of the utmost importance to work with- and pay attention to the issue of mental health. A healthy life is in many ways a prerequisite for academic achievement. Students’ well-being is one of our main areas of work, so for the Student Union in Sundsvall, it is a matter of course to be involved in paying attention to this’’, he says.
In Östersund, students will be offered barbecues, breakfast and various lectures. Also in Sundsvall we offer a range of health-related activities with a special focus on the leisure aspect of mental well-being.
Student Health Care is available at both campus resorts and offers year-round tips and advice on studies and health. The goal is for all students to get through their studies and at the same time feel good. The Student Health Service has a priest, counselor and nurse and also offers courses, lectures and group activities free of charge for all students.