Pay onlineStudent Well-being
"Health is created and lived by people within the settings of their everyday life; where they learn, work, play and love." (WHO, 1986 - Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion).
"A healthy university aspires to create a learning environment and organisational culture that enhances the health, well-being and sustainability of its' community and enables people to achieve their full potential."
Positively Teesside
Here at Teesside we want you to be the best that you can be, whilst having the best time that you can have.
For advice and inspirational ideas click on the Positively Teesside link below, you can also check out our new mindfulness at Teesside University page on Facebook - search for Mindfulness at Teesside University.
Five ways to well-being
These are five evidence based ways to help you improve your mental wellbeing and we have endeavored to incorporate them into the services and activities we offer. Try to integrate them into your daily life, think of them as your five-a-day of mental wellbeing.
1. Connect with the people around you.
With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
2. Be active go for a walk or run.
Step outside, cycle, play a game, gardening, dance. Exercise makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy and which suits your level of mobility and fitness.
3. Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger.
Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you.
4. Keep Learning.
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.
5. Take Notice.
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences help you appreciate what matters to you.
We can provide support and advice on health issues and we offer services to improve your well-being.
Health promotion events
Throughout the year, a number of health promotion events and campaigns will be held in the Well-being Centre and around campus:
- meningitis awareness
- sexual health awareness and chlamydia screening sessions
- drug and alcohol awareness
- stop smoking campaigns
- Festival of Wellbeing.
Light therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (also available for staff)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that affects an estimated half a million people during September to April, in particular December, January and February.
It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain due to lack of sunlight in the winter months. Symptoms include tiredness, mood changes, overeating, depression and lethargy. The use of light therapy may be effective in up to 85% of cases. Light therapy is given by the use of a special light box which emits a much stronger light than ordinary light bulbs.
A smaller number of light boxes are available to hire. You must have a diagnosis for SAD or told by your GP you may benefit from light therapy.
Contact studentwellbeing@tees.ac.uk to find out more.
Complementary therapies (also available to staff)
The Well-being Centre offers a variety of low-cost, complementary therapies, delivered by self-employed complementary practitioners to students and staff. Practitioners promote the view that complementary therapies are valuable in that, they may contribute to the management of some health conditions and support a sense of well-being, alongside and in support of conventional medicine.
The University recognises the importance of offering everyone opportunities to explore a range of accessible self-care treatments in a relaxing and private environment.
Please note that while the University welcomes complementary practitioners to the campus and supports greater access to a range of wellbeing services, we are not in a position to verify the effectiveness of such treatments. However, we do follow a stringent system of recruitment for new practitioners and seek to promote choice and encourage individuals to make informed decisions regarding the management of their individual health needs.
Complementary Therapy price list (word - 1mb)