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Positive Minds

Please note that due to Covid-19, we're currently not running this peer support course

Positive Minds

​Our Positive Minds peer support course has been designed to give students the skills they need to keep low mood at bay. The six week, confidential course has been developed using material from Students Against Depression which provides award-winning information and self-help resources for depression. 

The course is run by our trained peer support facilitators who are students just like you. Our student peer support facilitators offer a safe, supportive environment where you can talk freely without fear of judgement. 

When low mood hangs around, it can feel easy to end up in a downward spiral. Whilst the course itself is not a substitute for professional help, the strategies discussed in Positive Minds offer a starting point for what you can do to prevent chronic stress or low mood from persisting or getting worse. By supporting you to make positive changes in your daily life, Positive Minds helps students to build strategies to maintain a positive mood throughout university.

"It is an amazing feeling, sitting in a room where people are sharing things they have never shared with anyone. When others say they have felt that way too or experienced the same thing, there's a sense of relief and acceptance. It is the most empowering thing I have ever experienced"
- Positive minds facilitator

The course
Positive Minds is suitable for most students and covers a different topic each week. The topics provide the basis of the sessions, but there is flexibility to tailor the discussions to your experiences. Here are the topics that will be covered:

Week 1 - Building a Support Network

Week 2 - Active Stress Management 
Week 3 - Mornings and Sleep
Week 4 - Reflections, Food and Mood
Week 5 - Activity, Exercise and Relaxation
Week 6  - Positive Socialising ​​​
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Taking depression seriously
Positive Minds has been designed for university students with mild depression or individuals who have experienced depression before and would like to take steps now to prevent future episodes of depression.

The course is not suitable for individuals with more severe depression and is not a substitute for professional treatment. Depression can be a serious illness and it is always advisable to seek professional support if you think you may be depressed, or if you are or have recently been feeling suicidal.

We suggest that you answer the following questions, which are taken from the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire - a questionnaire used to identify depression:
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If you select "more than half the days" or "nearly every day" for more than 4 of the questions, this course may not be the most suitable for you and you may benefit from more specialist support. Sometimes students come back to attending a group after accessing medical advice from their GP​.

We would strongly encourage you to book an appointment with your university counsellor or your local GP. For further suggestions on where you might access support, please visit our Support Pages.
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Student Minds is registered with Companies House, 07493445
Student Minds is a Charity registered in England and Wales, 1142783
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  • Find Support
    • Support for me >
      • Our Peer Support Programmes >
        • Thrive
        • Our confidentiality commitment
        • Support for specific difficulties
      • Support at your university and further
      • University staff-run workshops
    • Support for a friend >
      • Starting a conversation
      • Looking after yourself
    • Support for parents
    • Help through Coronavirus >
      • Coronavirus - Looking After Your Mental Health
      • Coronavirus - Student resources >
        • Assessments and exams from home ​
        • Managing digital communication
      • Student Space FAQs
    • Resources >
      • Men’s Mental Health
      • The Wellbeing Thesis
      • Transitions >
        • Transition into University
        • Know Before You Go
        • Transitions for staff
      • Starting University
      • Exam stress
      • LGBTQ+
      • Looking after your mental wellbeing
      • Year Abroad
      • Student finance
      • Support through a family health crisis
  • About
    • What we do >
      • Our impact
    • Our team >
      • Trustees
      • Clinical Advisors
      • Student Advisors
    • Our supporters
  • Get Involved
    • Student volunteering >
      • Charter Student Resources
      • University Mental Health Day
      • Write for us
      • Peer support groups >
        • Apply to be a peer support facilitator
        • Set up a peer support group
    • University staff >
      • Mental Health in Sport >
        • Mental Health in Sport Online
      • Look After Your Mate >
        • Look After Your Mate Online
      • Setting up a peer support group >
        • Students Minds peer support set up
        • Peer support Train the Trainer
    • Charter
    • Students’ Unions >
      • Mentally Healthy SUs Framework
      • Introduction to Student Mental Health Online
      • Look After Your Members Online
      • Campaigning and Creating Positive Change
    • Accommodation Providers
    • Research
  • News and Publications
    • Latest news
    • Research and publications >
      • International Students
      • Supporting Male Student Mental Health
      • Co-producing Mental Health Initiatives With Student Volunteers
      • Podcasting About Mental Health
      • Student Mental Health in a Pandemic >
        • Life in a pandemic: Wave II findings
        • Life in a Pandemic
      • Supporting Students with Eating Disorders
      • Co-producing mental health strategies with students
      • The Role of an Academic
      • LGBTQ+ Research​
      • Student Voices
      • Graduate Wellbeing
      • Student Living
      • Grand Challenges
      • University Peer Support
      • University Challenge
      • Looking After a Mate
      • Summary of HEFCE’s Report
    • Materials and resources
  • Support Us
    • Donate >
      • Online shopping
      • Payroll giving
    • Fundraise >
      • Step into Spring
      • Virtual Fundraising
      • Plan Your Own Event
      • RAGs and Student Societies
      • Celebrate with Student Minds
      • Challenge Events
      • Paying in money
      • Fundraising Resources
    • Corporate Partners