Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Mental Health Awareness Week in 2023 (15 - 19 May) is focused around the theme of ‘anxiety’, as East Sussex College continues to offer wellbeing support to staff and students.

Mental Health Awareness Week, now in its 23rd year, runs from 15-21 May and is hosted by the charity, Mental Health Foundation. This year’s theme is ‘anxiety’.

Across the UK, people are encouraged to get involved by sharing their experience of anxiety and the things that can help with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety. As part of the campaign, the Mental Health Foundation will be publishing guidance on how we can manage and improve feelings of anxiety and prevent them from developing into a more serious mental health problem.

During Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, East Sussex College is hosting a variety of engaging activities for students and staff alike to get involved in.

East Sussex College strives to support all students and staff, not just on Mental Health Awareness Week, but all year round. In 2022, the College became a Mental Health Committed Employer by signing up to the Workplace Mental Health Charter. In doing so, the College pledges to raise awareness within the workplace on the importance of mental health.

What can you do to cope with feelings of anxiety? Click here to find the most helpful tips from the experts at Mental Health Foundation.

The College also provides some useful wellbeing resources to support staff and students with their mental health and anything that may be troubling them during their time at the College. These include the following links:

• www.healthinmind.org.uk/resources
• www.allsortsyouth.org.uk/resources
• togetherall.com/en-gb/resources/
• www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications
• www.studentminds.org.uk/resources.html
• www.nhs.uk/mental-health/

Alexa Charnley, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Mental Health Foundation, said, “We all experience anxiety but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. However, there are things we can do to manage feelings of anxiety and stop them becoming overwhelming. For example, breathing exercises, physical activity, speaking to a trusted friend, or keeping a diary. You can find more information and guidance on our website mentalhealth.org.uk.

“This Mental Health Awareness Week we’re encouraging everyone to get involved by sharing their experiences of anxiety and the things that help with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety. We hope people all over the UK will take part and help us to normalise conversations about anxiety and mental health. We hope the week helps people to feel more confident in talking about anxiety and how it affects them. Most importantly, we hope people understand more about what they can do to manage anxiety and what other support is available.”

Did you know? The College also has a team of Wellbeing and Safeguarding specialists to support students throughout their time as an ESC student: www.escg.ac.uk/support/student-wellbeing/.