Togetherall is a FREE online resource where you can connect with a Counsellor, talk to peers, find helpful resources and take online courses to support your mental health.
Sign up with your University of Bolton email address to access the service for FREE.
You can access support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with Togetherall
Whether you want to speak to peers or a counsellor, there will be someone there every minute of every day. You can join a supportive online community that’s totally anonymous, take part in a group course and take self-assessments.
Togetherall is a safe and anonymous online space you can go to if you’re feeling down, struggling to cope or just want to talk to people who understand what you’re going through.
Lots of students find Togetherall helpful as you can continue exploring your feelings at your own pace, speak to others in similar situations and make use of many resources without a time pressure.
Joining is easy too – just go to togetherall.com (or click here!) and use your uni email address. You then pick an anonymous username which is how you’ll be known on the service.
Meet one of our Mental Health Advisors, Antonia Dewsbury, and learn why understanding Mental Health is so important.
Reading for pleasure has many benefits. Have a look at the video above from LEAP Online which details how it can support your wellbeing and educational attainment.
Want to borrow some books and don’t know where to start?
The University of Bolton Library has lots of great fiction titles from Booker Prize winners to Harry Potter! Check out the above infographic which displays some of our collection. Just ask a member of Library staff for more details. You can always visit your local Public Library too or use BorrowBox.
Find out more here
The Life Lounge provides access to services that can promote your wellbeing, through advice, guidance and therapeutic support.
We have been working hard to expand our services, so that you can also access support whilst at home too!
This event is held within our Online Resource page - which with lots of helpful information.
Take a look at the tabs at the top left hand side of the page: it breaks down current and relevant issues that you might experience, linking to a wide range of topics within Wellbeing and Mental Health. Within each page, we aim to add educational prompts, relevant websites, charities and places you can go for help, as well as self-help resources and guidance, which could be useful if you are finding it hard to reach out.
To keep you updated on key developments, we also joined Social Media!
Our posts aim to inspire and educate you, as well as help you stay up to date on our Wellbeing Services.
Instagram: wellbeinguniversitybolton
Twitter: @wellbeing_UoB
The Life Lounge is an ideal space to take a bit of time out from your day – you’re welcome to drop in at any time. It’s a quiet and relaxing space with mindful prompts and activities to help you to slow down and chill out. Through the Life Lounge, you can also access specialist services to support and promote your mental wellbeing.
The Life Lounge brings together specialist services, free for students to access, including:
The service is open to all current students studying at the University of Bolton and the service is completely free.
Part of developing our health literacy is about learning and understanding more about different health issues to increase our knowledge and awareness.
The MIND charity has a fantastic library of resources and mental health and wellbeing guides to help us increase our knowledge and understanding about different mental health issues. The more we know, the more we can help each other. The more we can prevent deterioration in out Mental Health an the more we can maintain our emotional wellbeing.
Get ready, use that inquisitive made and learn more. You never know when it may be useful to you.
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/
You can access support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with Togetherall
Whether you want to speak to peers or a counsellor, there will be someone there every minute of every day. You can join a supportive online community that’s totally anonymous, take part in a group course and take self-assessments.
Togetherall is a great source of support outside of normal office hours and means you can support when our services are closed, including evenings, weekends and outside of term.
Go to Togetherall.com to join with your uni email address – it takes 5 minutes and you have immediate access to support.
Togetherall has recently created some great advice and tips on 'Online Fatigue'
Is tech draining your energy? We’ve got five tips for dealing with online fatigue
Coping with the coronavirus pandemic has meant the world has moved even further towards the
digital space and left people spending hours in front of a screen working, socializing, shopping and
more. Whilst technology has enabled students to study from their homes and maintain contact with
friends and family, where physical interaction is limited, it has also increased tiredness and
disengagement due to the pressure of feeling like you have to be online at all times. This
phenomenon is known as ‘online fatigue’.
Online fatigue can have a negative impact on student mental health, heightening feelings of anxiety,
being overwhelmed and the ability to focus. Togetherall’s Clinical Director, Dr Tim Rogers, shares his
top tips on how to reset your relationship with technology.
1. Set app limits
Many of us don’t realise how much time we are actually spending online. Your device will likely be
able to tell you this, so take advantage. Monitor your activity and gradually reduce the time you
spend on each platform, especially across social media - set yourself time limits. For example, turn
off email notifications in the evening, or reduce social media use during mealtimes and before sleep.
If these features aren’t built into your device, there are plenty of services who can help, such as
Digital Wellbeing for Android.
2. Do one thing at the time
With the introduction of online teaching, it’s tempting to multi-task, but it’s important to resist the
urge. To perform at its best, the brain needs to concentrate on one task at a time. When studying or
listening to an online lecture, close any tabs or programmes that might distract you, like your inbox
or messaging, put your phone away, and stay present. We know it can be tempting, but remind
yourself that the message you received can wait a few minutes. You will be able to craft a better
response when you are not dividing your attention.
3. Be aware of social media
Comparison is the thief of joy, so try to follow social media accounts that are aligned with what is
important to you and foster positivity and motivation. It’s easy to feel inadequate and get a false
sense of ourselves when we are constantly comparing with the best selves of others. Remember that
no one’s life is perfect and what people show on social media is often a façade.
If you suffer from depression or anxiety, it’s good advice to think about whether to delete those
apps altogether for a while, especially for younger women, for whom social media can be most
damaging in terms of mental health.
If you need a safe space to connect with others and express how you are feeling, the Togetherall
community is available 24/7 and monitored round the clock by trained professionals.
4. Remember to take regular breaks from online work
If you find there are moments in your day that feel overwhelming, take a few minutes of reflection
and positive action, such as starting a Togetherall course which can help you reset and refocus.
It’s important to take regular breaks between tasks – at least five minutes every hour – to set your
energy levels and restore focus. During your break, try to step away from technology. Stand up and
walk around, drink a glass of water or try some breathing exercises to let go of stress.
5. Don’t forget the importance of exercise, nutrition and a good night sleep
It can feel good to work hard and push ourselves when things are tough, even if this requires
working extra hours to achieve top results. Rest and recovery, however, are paramount to
maintaining high performance, and this starts with a good night’s sleep. Diet also plays a key role in
maintaining a healthy body. Remember to drink plenty of water during the day to avoid dehydration
– your brain needs at least 2 litres of it per day - and follow a balanced and healthy diet to improve
your mood.
Activity is important for mental health as much as it’s for physical health. If you spend most of your
time sat on a chair, it’s important to engage in daily physical activity to improve posture and
strengthen the muscles. For most, any step up in physical activity will improve the mood, even if it is
five minutes to stand up and stretch or move around - try to climb the stairs!
Check out this handy graphic of 10 ways to care for your mental health, as suggested by the Mental Health Foundation. For more information on how to practice them in your daily life please visit their in-depth guide here.
