Run for wellbeing

A charity working to help young people look after their mental wellbeing has launched a free guide to help students recognise the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The launch of the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust guide forms part of the charity's Run for Wellbeing initiative, which highlights the benefits of exercise for mental wellbeing and asks people to share personal stories of how exercise has helped them with their mental health on social media using the #RunForWellbeing hashtag.

The trust was set up shortly after 28-year-old Charlie Waller died by suicide in 1997 after suffering with depression. Its CEO Clare Stafford said the charity was increasingly receiving reports of students struggling with their mental health. 'Our charity's mission is to equip young people with the tools they need to take care of their mental health, and to encourage them to seek help if they are depressed or experiencing other mental health issues.'

The new guide, available to download for free, contains advice on what students can do if they are finding it hard to concentrate or are having trouble sleeping and emphasises that anxiety and depression are common. It also encourages students to be open about how they are feeling, to talk about their problems and to access support through their GP or university.

To find out more see tinyurl.com/s2m42pr and also see the studentsagainstdepression.org website – funded by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.