Supporting students: Mental Health Journeys

Julitta

Age: 18

Course of Study: Nutrition and Food Science

Your relationship to student: Flatmate

Personal info:

Julitta is 18 and has moved into halls with five other people. This is her first time living away from home and she has come to university straight from high school.

Health:

Problems with anxiety, confidence issues, depression from an early age and recently has experienced problems with eating.

Issue student presents to you:

Julitta is your flatmate and recently you have started to notice that she seems over-tired and isn’t eating much in the flat. You are all new students and don’t know each other very well but you are concerned. Julitta goes to see her family most weekends so you don’t spend much time together. You aren’t sure how to start the conversation with her.

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Number of participants
How do you respond to Julitta?
- You ask Julitta if she would like to do something this weekend rather than going home. You aren’t sure what you would do together but thought it was worth a try.
- You ask Julitta if she is feeling tired as you’ve noticed she’s been staying up late.

Impact
Going home is an important routine for Julitta so she is reluctant to miss out. She tells you she definitely can’t make Friday afternoon. You manage to make a compromise of meeting up on Saturday afternoon. Julitta seems a bit nervous but agrees on a time.
Option 1 summary
What next?
- You aren’t sure what Julitta likes to do so suggest heading to the student association bar - there might be other people there who you can hang out with. It is usually pretty busy on a Saturday!
- Once you meet up on Saturday you suggest going for lunch at a new place that has opened in town- they are doing free ice cream with a student card.
Impact
Julitta has been staying up late and not sleeping- being asked outright was quite challenging for her but it has given her the opportunity to share how she is feeling with you. She explains she has been finding it tough to make it in to lectures and is becoming worried about course work
Option 2 summary
What next?
- You suggest that maybe Julitta takes some time way from using her phone- you know how distracting it can be!
- You offer to help Julitta with some of her course work

Impact
Julitta seems very nervous about the idea of going to the bar- but you head along anyway. When you get there the bar is really busy and Julitta seems panicked. She takes you into the toilets and explains that she has problems with anxiety
Option 1-1 summary
And then?
- You don’t know how to best approach the subject of anxiety and don’t want to say the wrong thing- you tell Julitta she should speak to the advice centre at uni but hiding in the toilets isn’t going to help!
- You tell Julitta there is nothing to be anxious about at the bar- being worried about being here is silly. Everyone is just having a relaxed weekend.
Impact
Julitta agrees to go with you but doesn’t want ice cream. She doesn’t really want any food once you arrive so you feel a bit awkward ordering and eating in front of her. You get quite upset at the thought of Julitta avoiding food.
Option 1-2 summary
And then?
- You tell Julitta you are worried she doesn’t eat enough- she is looking really thin and it can’t be good for her. You want to help her.
- You try and hide the fact you are upset and offer Julitta some of your food telling her how nice it is. Who doesn’t want free ice cream! Julitta is clearly uncomfortable with you offering her the food.
Impact
Julitta knew she was spending a lot of time on her phone being unproductive but wasn’t aware other people had noticed. She feels a bit embarrassed but admits she is really lacking balance at the moment.
Option 2-1 summary
And then?
- You suggest getting out the house together and doing something new!
- You suggest website that helps block Facebook on your computer while you are trying to do work- it really worked for you.
Impact
Julitta really appreciates the offer but doesn’t feel comfortable getting help from you, she lacks confidence which is a main issue. Getting in touch with an academic advisor might be a better option. Julitta explains she just doesn’t have any motivation.
Option 2-2 summary
And then?
- You tell Julitta that going home every weekend might not be helping- maybe she should stay in the flat this time!
- You are always busy at weekends and feel that it makes you more productive- you tell Julitta that she should get more momentum with some weekend activities.

Impact
Julitta seems really disappointed that you don’t understand what is going on for her. She knows that hiding in the toilets won’t help but hadn’t really thought of speaking to an academic advisor about things.
Option 1-1-1 summary
Result
Seeing Julita’s disappointment in your reaction gives you a good steer on where to go next- you apologise for your initial comments but explain you aren’t familiar with anxiety- you suggest leaving the bar until Julitta feels better.
Impact
Things that make people anxious may seem silly to someone external- it is important to remember that the issue is very real and often very difficult or frightening for them. Acknowledging this is a good place to start when supporting someone with anxiety.
Option 1-1-2 summary
Result
Julitta feels terrible as you head out back into the main bar. She knows that the feelings of anxiety are coming from nowhere but they don’t go away. She heads off.
Impact
It is natural to be worried about the signs of an eating disorder but letting Julitta see your initial emotional response might add to any negative feelings she has about the problems with eating.
Option 1-2-1 summary
Result
Julitta shuts off the conversation and tells you she doesn’t know what you are talking about.
Impact
While trying to force food on someone who doesn’t want to eat will not help- noticing that this makes Julitta feel uncomfortable is important.
Option 1-2-2 summary
Result
You ask Julitta if everything is okay and if there is anything she would like to talk about. You are no expert but you want to listen.
Impact
Julitta explains that she finds it tough sometimes going to new places- she experiences anxiety and really lacks confidence sometimes. You recently read an article about anxiety on the university website and so understand a bit better how to react.
Option 2-1-1 summary
Result
You tell Julitta it is ok feel that way sometimes- lots of people do.
Impact
Sharing tips and hints like this can be really helpful. Letting Julitta know that she is not alone in feeling distracted or unmotivated can also help.
Option 2-1-2 summary
Result
You do a bit of research for Julitta about the options she has for feeling more productive.
Impact
Going home is an important routine for Julitta so it isn’t something she would really like to give up. Challenging things that Julitta does to keep herself well might not always be helpful- different things work for different people and for Julitta her family is important.
Option 2-2-1 summary
And then?
- You ask Julitta to come to a meeting of the society you have joined- it should be a good way to meet new people.
- You ask Julitta to tell you why she goes home all the time.
Impact
Different things work for different people- for Julitta the idea of filling her time with lots of commitments is tough. She explains to you that she has things she does at the weekend including attending a therapy appointment on a Friday afternoon.
Option 2-2-2 summary
And then?
- You can’t help it but you ask her why she is in therapy- isn’t that for people who are a bit mental?
- You ask her if she is also on medication.

Conclusion
It is okay not to be an expert on different mental health issues. What is important if you are hoping to offer support to someone is that you can show empathy and listen to what they are telling you. Sometimes you could be the first person that they have opened up to. Taking a minute to thank them for sharing how they are feeling and explaining your lack of confidence in the area can set the scene and gives you time to respond in a measured way. There are also other issues going on for Julitta that you have not yet been able to explore – try another scenario.
Conclusion: 1-1-1-1
Conclusion
Taking a course like Mental Health First Aid can be a really useful way to learn more about different mental health conditions and how to support someone who is experiencing them. Reading up on the Think Positive website about support options or finding out quick facts about the conditions will help too. There are also other issues going on for Julitta that you have not yet been able to explore – try another scenario.
Conclusion 1-1-2-1
Conclusion
A key way to help someone who has problems with their eating is to talk to them- ask if things are okay and if there is anything that they think would help. Avoid talking about body size and shape- this can be uncomfortable for some people. If you are unsure about speaking to someone who has problems with eating then you can get find information on the B-eat website.
Conclusion: 1-2-1-1
Conclusion
You’ve done well in reaching out to Julitta but it is good to be able to recognise that you sometimes need to get extra help from a doctor or other professional. And that you can’t fix things immediately. Eating disorders are a complicated mental illness which will take time to begin recovery from. Reaching out for additional support will make a positive difference, as will encouraging Julitta to explore self-management options. You can find out more about self-management using our resource here. If you are unsure about speaking to someone who has problems with eating then you can get find information on the B-eat website.
Conclusion: 1-2-2-1
Conclusion
Responding warmly and openly to Julitta’s experience of anxiety is important. Being there for her to chat to and listening non-judgementally will be a great help for her. Taking time to get to know what is going on for Jullita means that you are soon able to ask her about the problems you have noticed with her eating and direct her towards the Transitions project from eating disorder charity B-eat. Their website has lots of info about how to support people who are experiencing problems and an online support service for people with eating disorders too!
Conclusion: 2-1-1-1
Conclusion
You find lots of resources about sleep hygiene and the impact that sleep can have on your mental health. You share these with Julitta but also think back to a time when you weren’t sleeping well and realise you have experienced similar issues. You are really glad that you have started the conversation with Julitta and hope that you can support each other now you know more about what you are dealing with. As you work on building your relationship, you may find you feel more confident to ask her about the problems you have noticed with her eating. You can find information on how to have these conversations on eating disorder charity B-eat’s website.
Conclusion: 2-1-2-1
Conclusion
Julitta comes along to the next meeting with you, but lacks confidence to get fully involved for now. Finding a new sense of community and being part of a club or society while studying can be a great way to make the experience better but for some people issues with anxiety and confidence will make this a difficult or less enjoyable experience. What works for you might not work for someone else. Paying attention to this is important. As you work on building your relationship, you may find you feel more confident to ask her about the problems you have noticed with her eating. You can find information on how to have these conversations on eating disorder charity B-eat’s website.
Conclusion: 2-2-1-1
Conclusion
Taking time to listen to Julitta and let her explain what things are important to her and what impact other things may have on her wellbeing will be important if you want to offer support to Julitta. It is okay to not have answers to the things Julitta tells you- being there to listen is the most important thing you can do. As you work on building your relationship, you may find you feel more confident to ask her about the problems you have noticed with her eating. You can find information on how to have these conversations on eating disorder charity B-eat’s website.
Conclusion: 2-2-1-2
Conclusion
Using phrases like “a bit mental” can be really challenging for someone who is experiencing mental health issues. Everyone has mental health and anyone can develop an illness- in fact 1 in four people in the UK will experience a symptom of mental illness this year. Judging people’s treatment options increases the stigma of mental illness and prevents people accessing support quickly. Taking time to find out more about the impact of stigma and discrimination will help you to be more sensitive to the experience of others. Taking a course like mental health first aid could also be useful. You can also find information on talking about mental illness and eating disorders on eating disorder charity B-eat’s website. This might help you broach the subject of eating disorders with Julitta as you build your relationship.
Conclusion: 2-2-2-1
Conclusion
Some people take medication to manage their mental health and others don’t. Treatment options that people use are personal and if someone has chosen to share this with you then it is important to respond with respect. It is natural to want to know more if this is a new concept to you but remember that Julitta shouldn’t feel judged. If you are curious then reading online about mental health support could be a good idea. Finding out more about the ways to support someone with mental health issues is more positive than asking probing questions they might not feel comfortable answering. You can also find information on talking about mental illness and eating disorders on eating disorder charity B-eat’s website. This might help you broach the subject of eating disorders with Julitta as you build your relationship.
Conclusion: 2-2-2-2
Thank you for guiding Julitta through this session.

Click the 'Finish Journey' button below to see the decisions and impacts you made, these will also be emailed to you with a link to this support tool.
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For support and advice on how to support someone with an eating disorder visit the B-eat website: www.b-eat.co.uk

NUS Scotland’s Think Positive Self-Management resource is a useful document to help students identify ways to support their own mental health and to enable staff to support them too. You can find the resource here: www.thinkpositive.scot/resources