Can you just give an overview of Student Minds and what it aims to do?

Student Minds is a student-run mental health charity, and we aim to bridge that gap between students and the mental health resources that the university provides, as they are not always visible or accessible. As we all know, Cambridge is very stressful and overwhelming. We want to be that place that students can go to if they feel as though they’re a little bit confused or unsure about where to seek help from in terms of their mental health.

What drew you to the society in the first place?

I was on the committee last year, but I was just writing blogs. I hadn’t come across a society in Cambridge that specifically looks at student mental health, and this was really important to me because of my own struggles.

Can you tell Varsity about some of the key initiatives or events the society organises to promote mental health awareness?

A really popular Student Minds event is puppy therapy. It’s usually done in collaboration with The Cambridge Union. This year we’re trying to do more calming arts and crafts, socials, yoga, book swaps, the kind of thing that you can go to and switch off while participating. I’m really passionate about making different movements a priority this year such as Movember, men’s mental health, and also the welfare of students from minority ethnic backgrounds, just because I think they’re overlooked.

“Telling someone might seem really scary, but the payoff is really big”

What are your hopes for the future of mental health support at Cambridge?

I think currently, because Cambridge is such an academic and competitive environment, it can be very difficult to be open about struggling. But what I’d like the university to do, from their side, is to let students know that they’re allowed to struggle, and they’re allowed to have days where they’re not feeling on top of things, and that that isn’t detrimental to their success or how they’re going to do in the future. 

If you could speak to someone who is reading this article and suffering with their mental health in silence, what advice would you give?

I think my biggest advice is that telling someone might seem really scary, but the payoff is really big. First of all, I’d recommend that they speak to their college welfare team. I think the fact that they’re strangers to us is actually quite helpful. When you’re thinking about vocalising your problems, telling them to a stranger doesn’t really feel like you’re saying them at all.

When I say my thoughts and feelings out loud I realise that they’re actually not that anxiety inducing, and they’re not as big as I’ve made them in my head. Carrying all these emotions, feelings, and thoughts is really tiring, and it’s really it can be a burden to a person.

How crucial are safe spaces, such as Student Minds, for young people?

I think they’re very crucial. Community is really important. We are constantly being fed this narrative about hyper individualism when in actuality, when it comes down to it, you need people around you to thrive. Having a safe space where you feel like you can come to an event, or even just a person, and be open and vulnerable with them is so important.

It doesn’t even have to be just Student Minds, I think you can find this space anywhere, such as sports teams, political societies, anything outside of your degree. The thing to take away from this article is the importance of talking and being open about your feelings and problems with a community you feel safe with.