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Patmarie Coleman is a Senior Counsellor, Student Support & Wellbeing at the University of Kent
Experiences & Expectations
Coming to University often represents a huge change in your life which provides opportunities for new challenging experiences. It might be the first time you have lived outside of your home, had to deal with finances and budgeting, moved away from your local area, mixed with a multicultural community and lived on your own or with housemates who have different life styles and expectations to you. In the context of living and studying in Kent you will find yourself within a community which is noticeably majority white and as a result you are likely to be experiencing everyday microaggressions (https://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/racial-microagressions-you-hear-on-a-daily-basis) Research has shown that the sociocultural challenges that black students experience have an impact on their academic achievements (UCC 2018).
In addition you might be the first one in your family to have come to university, you might feel the responsibility to be independent, to support your family practically/financially or to do well because others in your family/community have or have not done so. It might be therefore difficult to share experiences of feeling excluded and different. See links below for more information on black mental health, microaggression and black British history.
Over the past ten years there has been an increase in the number of students disclosing mental health conditions (NUS 2015). Psychological distress and mental health issues can range from low self-esteem to chronic mental health conditions like psychosis. Distress can impact your ability to complete your course and longer term, your ability to reach your full potential.
Being in an unfamiliar environment without your usual support systems can lead to distress. Being able to talk with others who will listen and support without judging you can be supportive to you finding a way through these experiences.
Support
Increasing your sense of belonging by seeking out others that you can see yourself reflected in or who share your culture can support your feelings of wellbeing and stability. Being with others who can empathize with you can help you to process and explore your experiences. Finding role models, peer mentors or student union societies such as the ACS African Caribbean Society, can be helpful. Increasing your awareness of Black British history can also support you in finding yourself reflected in history.
Research (BACP 2018) confirms that counselling decreases psychological distress in students. The University of Kent provides a wide range of support services. Research shows that culturally sensitive advice and support from staff is essential to black university student success (UCC 2018). The Counselling team is staffed by multi-ethnic and multicultural Counsellors who are professionally trained and experienced. They will listen and support you to work through the distress you are experiencing. Well being advisers are experienced in mental health advice and will help you look at how your mental health impacts your studies and provide practical advice.
Further information
https://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/wellbeing/student.html
Online resources -
Apps
https://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/accessibility/productivity/wellbeing.html
Self-help resource list
https://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/wellbeing/self-help.html
Info and links - Black mental health & history
Keith Dube talking about black mental health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC3BHZKA57s
The Black British Feeling – Nestor McGregor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB2IcH668xo
African Heritage Tour
https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/E5434ZBa/african-heritage-tours-in-eruope-1600-1815-2018
References
www.bacp.co.uk – ‘Looking After Our Students Mental Health’
‘Supporting Black British University Students’
https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/university-and-college-counselling/september-2018/supporting-black-british-university-students/
‘Microaggressions: More than Just Race’
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/microaggressions-in-everyday-life/201011/microaggressions-more-just-race -
Patmarie Coleman
Senior Counsellor, Student Support & Wellbeing
October 2018