By Thérèse Moran a BA Honours in Education and PGCE NTU Alumni
Work hard, but take time to play hard with your friends maintaining your physical and mental health!
Research states that one in four of us will experience mental health issues in our life. I personally believe it is far greater. Reduced physiological health can cause mental health issues, and mental health issues can affect our physical health. In today’s society there are so many stresses on young people such as how one looks, succeeding academically, being in with the in crowd; but there are many other factors, for example bereavement, a dysfunctional family. However this is very individual to each person and therefore it is so important to talk about this and you should not feel ashamed or judge others. Mental health is an illness just the same as physical health.
As a nursing cadet in Sheffield when I was 17, I lost my father and this was a very traumatic time as I had just found out I had been accepted to student nurse training. My father was aware of this before he died and encouraged me to do this. I promised him I would. This made me into a stronger, more caring person and when things got tough. For example throughout exams, coursework and ward work, I would reflect back and think of his words saying it will all be worth it, and it was the day I got my results. I have had a wonderful career in nursing, but his words also inspired me to take it a step further and study education and teaching at NTU. I now have two careers that interrelate – my nursing and my teaching – which I have fitted in around bringing up my 5 sons.
I believe it is very important to talk about your mental health as you are not on your own, and with the help of others you can succeed. There is such a lot of help available these days at the university and outside agencies, whereas I received help more from family, friends and on the ward in those days, although everyone was so kind. Always believe in yourself.
Good luck with your studies at NTU. It is a great university!
Thérèse Carmel Moran (Tess)
Registered General Nurse
Bachelor of Arts Honours Education
Post Graduate Certificate in Education
Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills
Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Certificate in Leadership and Management
Assessor/Internal Verifier in Health Care
For help and advice whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Personal Pastoral Support at NTU (general worries and anxiety, homesickness, loneliness, a relationship breakup, or a bereavement)
Let’s Talk About Loss: Bereavement support for young people in Nottingham
Support from NTU
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Depression advice
Counselling
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Struggling at Uni? Go to Student Minds
10 Keys to happiness
This post is part of our regular NTU Alumni feature. Over the next few weeks we will be posting guest blogs written by our Alumni Fellows sharing their experiences and tips on their student journey while here at NTU.
If you are an NTU graduate and are interested in writing for us contact: alumni.fellows@ntu.ac.uk
You can find more information about our Alumni Fellowship volunteering programme via the alumni website
Healthy NTU 