Carrot Magazine interviews two women in Clerkenwell who are tackling mental illness among university students. With plans to start a walk and talk service for students looking for an unconventional way to seek help for their mental health struggles.

What is Student Blessings?

Student Blessings is launching as a business to help students struggling with their mental health. Students who reach out would be paired with an anonymous person such as a counsellor, graduate or a peer trained in active listening.

“We are raising awareness of the fact that 1/3 university students in England need mental health support. Even though these numbers are so high, there is still so much stigma around mental health,” says India, a psychology graduate from Sheffield University.

The ‘Walk and Talk’ therapy, which they hope to start by the end of next year, will be complemented by PDF resources with activities to help students while they wait for support.

How did Student Blessings come about?

The project came about from personal difficulties in accessing mental health support.

“I had depression in first year, so I signed up for support and the wait was seven weeks long. There was no support whilst on the waiting list,” says India.

“There is a lot of talk about lots of things in place, but when you actually follow up and go through the counselling services, there is not a lot of support,” she adds.

Plans for Student Blessings

The pair is conducting market research for the project, Student Blessings will launch their business in collaboration with London universities. They hope to expand to incorporate universities, students, and counselors nationwide as 23% of university students surveyed by the Office of National Statistics said their mental health had worsened since the start of the autumn term, according to The Guardian.

Student Blessings are also providing support through their  instagram – @studentblessings – where they give tips on taking care of mental health, and their website, where India has shared her own story of struggling with mental illness. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXj3sr7sflk/

The pair hope to launch Student Blessings by the end of 2022, and expand the support to universities nationwide.