In many ways, the pandemic exacerbated many students’ worst fears: loneliness, isolation, volatility in the job market, and countless others.
The effect that this has had on the collective mental health of the student community is prevalent and wide-reaching, and even now, many months after the end of the third lockdown, the impacts of the pandemic are being felt by many.
If your own student experience has been affected by the pandemic, it’s important to recognise the value of looking after your mental health.
Below are some common ways in which the pandemic has had a negative impact on student mental health and some possible solutions worth investigating.
Depression is an awful feeling and one that many people are slow to recognise and slower still to do something about.
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing are essential, so if you suspect that you or one of your friends is starting to show signs of depression, it’s important to reach out for help; you aren’t alone.
You could consider checking out the student health services that are available to you; even if you’re not totally sure about your mental health, it’s worth clarifying as it could stop the problem from becoming more serious.
Uni can be a stressful environment even without a pandemic looming on the horizon. The mental health impact that the accumulation of various negative feelings can have should be taken seriously.
Trying to cut down your stress levels may seem like a never-ending battle at first, but it’s completely achievable and vital to combatting anxiety and depression.
Making sure that you get the basics right is a must; that’s making sure you get enough sleep, maintain a good diet, and practice mindfulness.
You don’t have to tackle stress alone, not when there are some great GP online services available to help you out.
If you’re worried about your health during the pandemic, remember you can still wear a mask and observe social distancing.
Chronic stress is a serious health condition and needs to be treated as such, so speaking out is important, even when it’s difficult to do so.
Coping with a mental health crisis can be exhausting. It takes a real toll on your physical health after a while, so it’s vital you don’t overdo it.
The pandemic might seem like it’s never-ending at first, but this is far from the truth. It will come to an end, and you’ll be able to enjoy a future free from COVID.
Making time for yourself is a must in order to avoid suffering from exhaustion and burnout, as is eating a healthy and balanced diet.
It’s awfully easy to forget the basics as a student, especially when there’s so much going on around you.
Thankfully, there are plenty of steps you can take to put yourself first, and it all starts with a little self-care and a willingness to acknowledge the situation.
It takes courage to recognise when something is wrong and even more courage to confront it. Mental health support is available, and if you feel like you can’t ask for it, try and talk it through with a trusted friend; it can make all the difference.
Uni is tough. As a student, finding time for yourself amongst the chaos of the everyday can sometimes seem like an impossible feat, particularly if you’re already being constantly pressured to go out, deadlines are impending, and your bank balance is in the minus figures.
Everything can happen at once or slowly build up over time and start to chip away at your mental and physical health. Either way, a little self-care can go a long way toward making your experience at university much more enjoyable.
It’s widely accepted that much of student life is a bohemian, hedonistic affair, but it doesn’t need to be detrimental to your health, not when it costs so much to be there and there are so many amazing resources to take advantage of.
Here are some of the best reasons to put a bit more time into self-care; you might find it drastically enriches your overall health.
If you don’t take some time to look after yourself, the full benefits of going to university could pass you by.
Turning up to class with a brain-boiling headache, the post-beer fear, and an unexplainable feeling of shame that you can’t quite put your finger on is a sure-fire way to miss out on high-quality education.
Self-care can help you seize every opportunity around you, as you’ll find it easier to concentrate, think critically, and apply yourself to the learning environment.
For many, going out is, of course, part of being a student, but there’s no need to let it impair your ability to form more meaningful connections with others who want to learn.
Swap the dawn walk home for a coffee with a mate at lunchtime, or simply just stay in and get lost in your institution’s resources. Whatever you do, aiming for at least 7 hours of sleep (good sleep) can make all the difference.
Uni can be overwhelming, especially when deadlines start rolling in, so it’s worth practicing mindfulness to make sure you don’t get flustered by the situation ahead.
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment without seeing the bigger picture, a common pitfall that often leads many students into panic mode.
Taking some time to practice self-care can help you avoid this.
Why not start small and concentrate on your deep breathing? This can calm you down and help you get a perspective on things, even if you do it for just 30 seconds.
Mental health support is available, so please don’t be afraid to reach out via our website, our student health services are comprehensive and easy to access, and they’re here to be used.
If you have lower academic stress levels, you’ll start to enjoy the entirety of your course a lot more. Remember, you can always talk to your uni about the course if you feel like you need some extra support; you’re not alone, even when life feels lonely.
Self-care can help you reduce stress levels; that’s partly the point of it, after all, so why not dedicate some time to it?
Health anxiety can creep on unexpectedly at uni. It may manifest from a consistently bad diet, poor sleep schedule, increased alcohol intake, or plenty of other factors.
It’s important to contact your GP online services if you have any pressing worries or concerns, as this can be a straightforward way to get some direct medical insight and most likely, make you feel better too.
There’s no denying the mental health impact that uni life can have on students – it makes self-care more important than ever, and it’s never too late to start practicing.
Moles – small spots that appear on the skin – are extremely common. Most people have at least one or two on their bodies. Usually brown in colour, moles tend to sit on the skin forever without causing any issues.
That isn’t always the case, though. While you shouldn’t worry yourself over every mole or freckle, it’s important to know when you should seek help for a mole.
What do Moles Look Like?
Moles, just like humans, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small, some large. Some moles are flat, others are raised, and some people even find hair growing on them. They can appear anywhere on the body, from the face to the legs to the stomach.
When to Seek Help for a Mole
The worry concerning moles is the risk that it is melanoma. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the cells and is the deadliest of all skin cancers. It’s understandable, then, that people are concerned about the moles on their skin. While most are non-melanoma, if you do have one that is melanoma, it’s important to seek specialist treatment straight away.
While these signs won’t tell you for certain whether your mole is melanoma or not, if you experience any of them, get your mole checked out.
What you really need to look out for is changes in moles. A mole that looks the same as when you were a kid is likely nothing to worry over. One that is suddenly darker, a different shape, or bleeding could indicate an underlying problem.
Contact Your GP
It’s important not to stress yourself over a mole. If you experience any of the signs listed above, book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. At your appointment, you can expect your GP to inspect the mole and tell you whether or not further inspections are required.
If your GP is also concerned about a mole, you will then get it tested in a hospital by a specialist.
Concerns About Appearance
Most moles are benign. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy with their moles, though. Even if they cause you no physical harm, the appearance of your mole/s might cause you distress.
If that’s the case, there are options. While not usually covered by the NHS, you can seek cosmetic treatment to remove a mole if you don’t like how it looks. The cost of this treatment varies for each case.
Prevention
Keeping an eye on your moles is essential, but it’s not enough. Prevention methods will help reduce your chances of getting skin cancer. Here are some of the best prevention methods:
Moles are a normal part of the human body. If you notice any of the signs listed, though, or you’re concerned about its appearance, seek the help of your GP right away. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
When exam season rolls around, many students start to feel understandably anxious. Stress about upcoming exams and too many late-night study sessions isn’t good for the body or the brain, though. In fact, it can lead to insomnia.
Students need to know how to tackle insomnia, as it can severely impact their mental and physical health, as well as their performance on exams.
When exam season rolls around, many students start to feel understandably anxious. Stress about upcoming exams and too many late-night study sessions isn’t good for the body or the brain, though. In fact, it can lead to insomnia.
Students need to know how to tackle insomnia, as it can severely impact their mental and physical health, as well as their performance on exams.
Worried you might suffer from insomnia? Here are some of the most common signs:
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should consider that insomnia might be the culprit. Once you know you have insomnia, you can start addressing the issues and focusing on getting a better night’s sleep. Read on to learn how.
When you use your bed for anything other than sleep, your brain no longer associates it with those all-important zzzs. Don’t use your bed for anything other than sleep, and you’ll find you drop off much sooner. That means studying, scrolling on your phone, and watching TV!
Screens take up a large portion of modern lives. In fact, you likely need them to study for your exams. The time of day that you look at screens matters, though. Stare at your smartphone too close to bedtime, and the blue light will trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime. Find a non-screen-related hobby to do before bed, such as reading or meditating, and you’ll find you fall asleep easier.
Managing stress, especially during the exam period, is a challenge. Too much stress can lead to insomnia, though, which will only contribute to more anxieties. Try to manage your stress levels by taking breaks from studying, engaging in stress-relieving hobbies, and staying organised with your studies.
Consider how sleep-friendly your room is. If your bedroom is too warm, too bright, and too noisy when you’re trying to sleep, then it’s no wonder you’re having difficulty dropping off.
Aim for these three things: cool, dark, and quiet.
If you’re a student living amongst other students, the chances are that quiet is hard to come by. In this case, a white noise machine will help drown out the background noise.
If improving your sleep hygiene doesn’t work, and you’re still struggling to get enough sleep, it’s time to speak to your GP. Tell them your list of symptoms, and they will be able to get to the root of the issue to help you overcome it. That might involve medication, therapy, or new sleep techniques.
No one should have to live with insomnia. Make sure you get a handle on it over exam season so that you can perform well in your exams. If you can’t by yourself, your GP is there to help.
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We have 4 locations near you:
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Have you ever had a prescription that you needed to continue taking, so you had to visit the doctor each month to renew the prescription? This method can be frustrating and time-consuming, but there’s a better way to do this with repeat prescriptions. This is just one of the clinical services offered to student health services and other patients.
Here’s all you need to know.
When you need the same medication over and over and will be taking it for a long period of time, local doctors can provide you with a repeat prescription. This is essentially permission for you to receive the medication without needing an appointment with a doctor.
Repeat prescriptions are good until a certain date or for a certain number of refills. All the information will be added to the form you need to provide the pharmacist. In general, you won’t get a repeat prescription immediately, as your doctor needs to ensure you know how to take it and will want to monitor you as you get used to the medication. This is particularly important with medications that can have strong side effects.
Your doctor will often prescribe you the first month’s worth of medications, which you will take and check in with the doctor to ensure everything is going well. They will help you monitor any side effects and adjust the dosage if necessary. This is an important step, as you may need to change the dosage for the best results.
A good example of this would be a blood pressure medication or medication for diabetes.
These can have severe side effects if taken improperly, so a doctor will prescribe a certain amount, but keep an eye on you and how you react. Once you’ve taken enough to have an effect, the doctor will see what your levels are and can continue to check your blood sugar or pressure. Once the doctor is certain you are ready to take the medication with minimal monitoring, you’ll still want to check in if you notice any changes. However, the doctor can then fill out a form that says you have permission to refill the prescription as needed until a specific date.
You will be required to see a medical professional annually if you’re on repeat medication. This gives the doctor a chance to check that the medication is still working satisfactorily and you can relay any concerns. The doctor may adjust your dosage or change things slightly if needed, such as adding a new medication or removing one that you no longer need.
Everyone changes and it’s possible that your body is going to adjust to your medications in one way or another. Whether this means you will end up needing higher amounts or you’ll simply manage your health problems better with lower amounts, it requires adjusting things.
Over time, you may become resistant to some of the medications and need new ones, or there may be a whole new treatment option on the market. This is a good chance to talk to your doctor and find out if they have a better option for you to try. Of course, if you are switching meds, you will need to be monitored once more.
Not all medications can be put on a repeat prescription. For example, the birth control pill needs to be given for several months, then you will see your doctor again. Usually, you’ll be given a six month supply and then will have to see the doctor for a refill.
Your prescription sheet will have a green side and a white side. The white side is for repeat medication, while the green is for short courses of medication, such as antibiotics. You will keep the white side and bring it in every time you need to repeat the order, or show it to the online order form.
The type of medication that is prescribed on repeat can be anything you might take regularly and on an ongoing basis. For example:
– Blood thinners
– Antidepressants
– Anxiety medications
– Blood pressure medication
– Diabetic medication
If you have specific supplies that you need a prescription for, such as syringes or other needs, these may fall under a repeat prescription, as well. Talk to your doctor and be sure to include everything you need and are worried about. They should be able to help you out.
The following tips will help you manage your NHS repeat prescriptions so you can always make sure you have the medications that you need.
● Schedule an Annual Doctor’s Appointment
NHS repeat prescriptions require seeing a doctor each year to renew it all. This is something you should plan ahead and schedule to ensure you don’t miss it. This should just be automatically scheduled and you can continue to see the doctor every year.
● Manage Your Repeat Prescriptions Online
With NHS repeat prescriptions and online clinical services, you can download the app and manage everything there. You’ll find there are plenty of benefits to going online to handle it all. For example:
● Don’t lose your prescription:
You can upload it and keep all information in the app so you will never lose your prescription and won’t need to go back to the doctor.
● Save time:
Forget waiting in line for a prescription. You can do it all on the app and that means you will save quite a lot of time. You also have the option of seeing local doctors online so you can get a repeat prescription.
● Order online:
You won’t need to go to the pharmacy if you are going to get your prescription online. This means no waiting, you just pick up the medication when it’s ready or you may even have it delivered to you, depending on the method of delivery.
Overall, it is quite beneficial to have clinical services like this available to you on an app.
● Use a Reminder App
Do you have a tendency to forget your medication? It’s a good idea to use an app on your phone or even just the alarm to remind yourself when to take the medication. If you are on something that needs to be taken at the same time every day, this can be quite helpful.
You can also use the reminder app to let you know when you’re getting low on medication.
● Organise Your Pills
Do you take more than one pill? It can be easy to forget which one you took and when. If you frequently wonder if you’ve actually taken your medication for the day, try putting your pills into a medication organiser. This will show you at a glance what you’ve taken already for the day. It saves you the possibility of double dosing or accidentally skipping a dose.
● Create a Dosing Schedule Chart
It may also be helpful to create a simple chart where you can mark down which pills you’ve taken so far that day. The chart is particularly useful, because you can also take notes. This will let you note if a medication is causing any side effects, so you can talk to your doctor about it. You may also take down any information that relates to your condition so the doctor can discuss it with you at your next appointment.
● Create a Master List of Medications
If you have multiple medications to take, it is useful to track them. Make a list of all the medications so you can discuss them with the pharmacist or the doctor in order to ensure you have no overlaps. It’s always a good idea to have a full list of what you take so you can present it when needed.
● Remember to Order Your Prescription a Week Ahead
You don’t want to run out of medication ever, particularly if it’s for a life-threatening issue. Dropping your blood pressure medication, for example, could be deadly. To avoid having a moment where you forget to renew your prescription only to realise later that you have run out, be sure to remind yourself to order the prescription a week or so ahead of time. Every time it gets close to the end of the month, put in your repeat prescription and ensure you have enough medication on hand for the coming month.
Do you need to set up a repeat prescription? Are you interested in getting your NHS repeat prescription online? You can register to do just that on the NHS GP site.
These days, you have more options than ever for a medical consultation. You can have an in-person GP consultation or you can look for an online doctor consultation and clinical services. There are pros and cons to each, so it really depends on the situation as to whether one option is better than another.
More and more people are using online services now. We’ve become accustomed to working and living online, with the help of apps that make it possible to accomplish a lot. You don’t even need to step outside your home to do many things that we once assumed were outdoor activities. Now you can even carry on with a GP consultation from the comfort of your own home.
Walk-in clinics give you the option of seeing a doctor face to face, but there are good and bad things about this. If you are suffering from something not easily dealt with online, then this is a good alternative, but let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros
The positives of seeing a doctor in person include:
Cons
Of course, there is the opposite side of the coin, too. Here are some of the cons of going to see a doctor in person.
As you can see, there are good points and bad points to consider when deciding how you will talk to the doctor.
Seeing a doctor in person is not always the best option. There are definitely some good reasons to stay home, so let’s consider the pros and cons of online consultation.
Pros
The highlights of seeing a doctor online include:
Cons
Of course, there are some downsides to this method of getting clinical services. For example:
It really depends on your situation as to what is best for you. Look at the pros and cons for each and make your decision based on that. However, there are certainly some situations when you need to see the doctor in person and should either go to the walk-in clinic or to urgent care.
You need to see a doctor in person if you have:
– A possible broken bone
– A head injury
– An infection in your ear or throat
– Issues with your eyes
– A high temperature
– Stomach pain
– A burn or scald
– A skin infection
– A sprained joint
– Vomiting and diarrhoea
In each of these cases, it’s best to seek the care of a doctor, as they will need to check you over and take a closer look. These situations are not meant to be handled online and will benefit from the testing abilities of a clinic.
Most of the time, it will be quite obvious what requires external help from a person with medical experience. Bleeding, breaks, and other similar types of injuries will obviously need a doctor and cannot be seen online. However, if you’re not feeling well, or if your baby is having trouble with congestion, it’s simpler to talk to an online doctor.
You’ll first make your appointment online and should test your audio and video on the computer before the appointment. Usually, you’ll be able to see a doctor fairly quickly.
To prepare for the appointment, check your email. It will have instructions and you’ll need to fill out a form to let the doctor know what your problem is and what your symptoms are. You should write out a list of your symptoms and the frequency to have on hand while talking to the doctor.
You may be asked to weigh yourself or to take photos of the affected areas of your body to send to the doctor. Since they cannot see you or do exams, you’ll be required to provide the necessary information. This can be a little more difficult than visiting the doctor face to face, but it is usually easy enough to accomplish.
Most telehealth meetings don’t last a long time and will be to the point. The doctor will discuss your health issues with you and will either diagnose you or send you for more tests. In most cases, with simple issues, the doctor is able to determine what is wrong and give you a prescription or provide you with some advice on how to manage the illness or injury.
At the end of the call, you can ask any questions you may have and then sign off. There are so many benefits to being able to talk to a doctor remotely. For most people, it’s the preferred method of seeing a doctor these days.
With NHS appointment booking, you can easily set up your next online doctor consultation and have your appointment in the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of choices for you, but online is a good way to start. Book your appointment today.
Telehealth appointments have made it much simpler to see a doctor, but if you’re not used to talking on video, you may find the process awkward. Fortunately, it’s easy enough to prepare ahead of time. Before your appointment, you should do the following:
The first thing you should do before your visit is make note of what you will need to share. Make a list of symptoms you have and any questions you may want to ask. It’s helpful to keep track of things like how long you’ve had the symptoms and what intensity they are.
Have your medications on hand so you can tell the doctor what you are currently taking. It’s helpful to have everything in front of you so you can easily read off the labels, rather than relying on memory.
It’s a good idea to take down your weight if you have a scale in the house. This is something the doctor would usually check at the office and you can provide the necessary information if they need it. You may not be asked, but it’s helpful to have the weight should you be asked.
If you have a fever or are experiencing any symptoms where you feel ill, you should check your temperature just before the appointment. It’s a good idea to keep the thermometer near you so you can retake the temperature if requested.
You will likely receive an email that has instructions on how to get on the video call. It may include a form to fill out or this may be on the website. Either way, you’ll need to follow all the directions to ensure the visit is a success.
Choose a space where you won’t be distracted and where there is little or no background noise. It can be difficult to hear the doctor if there is too much noise around you and vice versa. Keep it quiet and calm to ensure you are able to understand everything.
You should be sure your camera is working and that you have good lighting wherever you plan to take the call. Most telehealth calls use video, so you will need to have a camera on the device you plan to use. It should be functional, and you will want to test your audio, too.
A video doctor’s appointment is rather simple and usually will go smoothly. Prepare ahead of time and you’ll find that it’s much easier.
Are you ready to talk to a doctor about your health issues? Contact NHS GP to schedule your appointment today.
