Wednesday 08-10-2025 - 09:00

Hey everyone, my name’s George, I’m your Wellbeing Officer here at Manchester Met.

This Friday (10 October) is World Mental Health Day, and I want it to be a reminder to ask yourself – Am I actually doing okay?

 

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Your mental health matters every day

University life is about so much more than what happens in your lecture theatre. Whether its dealing with your Northern train getting cancelled last minute (trust me, I’ve been there), your landlord in Fallowfield being an absolute pain, or simply being miles and miles away from home in a new city – all of these things can take a toll on your mental health. When that happens, it can easily then start to affect what goes on inside your lecture theatre too.

Your mental health matters every single day, not just on a national awareness day you’re your feed is filled with social media posts and articles like this one. So, whether you’re feeling burnt out, lonely, anxious or are just simply not feeling your usual self – please know that you are not alone.

 

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Where to get help

Here are just a few services whom you can reach out to at Man Met if you are struggling:

• MMU Counselling, Mental Health & Wellbeing Service: For one-to-one appointments with a counsellor. I really benefited from using this service last academic year when I had no one else to talk to.

You can contact them via email or giving them a call on 0161 247 3493

 

• The Union's Advice Centre:: Here to help you with anything from academic issues, housing, finance – you name it. They're here to support you, not to judge you.  

You can contact them via email or giving them a call on 0161 247 6533

 

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My own struggle with mental health 

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned since starting this role in July, it’s that you don’t need to have everything together all the time. Nobody does – and that’s okay.

Right now, I’m still figuring out my own work-life balance. This is my first full-time job since graduating, and I’ve had to learn when to stop working, how to switch off, and how to make more time for family and friends – the hard way. I would be thinking about work none stop, and even in the times I should be having a lunch break, I would be working instead. But I noticed that I have been struggling and reached out to my colleagues and family for help.

But support doesn’t just start with seeking professional help – it starts with us. Sometimes a simple message to your friend on Snapchat saying, “Are you okay?” can make more of a difference than you might realise. Your mate who seems completely fine, might be the one quietly struggling. So, check in with your friends, listen to them, and remind them they’re not alone. Share what you’re both going through – because you never really know what someone might be carrying.

 

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This is why my main campaign this year will be to shine a light on men’s mental health. Putting a spotlight where it hasn’t been before.

As the first male Wellbeing Officer at Man Met since 2020, I want to use my platform to break down these barriers, reduce the stigma around this issue and start having real conversations. We will be working with organisations like Movember, to create spaces where male students can open up, connect and get men talking about mental health.

 

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You don't have to do it all alone

Lastly, whether you’re reading this from Birely Halls, the library on Oxford Road, or even sat in the Students’ Union – take a moment for yourself. Go to that event that you were looking at on Instagram, try that new takeaway that’s just opened, text that friend back and ask how they’re really doing.

You don’t need to have everything together all the time. None of us do. But remember – you should never struggle alone💛

- George Charlton, Wellbeing Officer.