Podcast #28: New Beginnings

Feli, a MindMate Ambassador, speaks to Shannon and Megan from Leeds Mind about entering new environments and experiencing change, from moving to secondary school to their experience of university.

The podcast is mainly split into 4 questions, I will use these questions as timestamps:

• 0.00-1.52:Intro
• 1.52-7.45:How did you find your move, when going to different education levels?
• 7.45-15.25:What factors do you think affect a persons reaction to change?
• 15.25-23:42:Do you feel like the changes that you went through in secondary school or in college have helped you grow into the person you are today?
• 23:42-28:31:What advice would you give your younger self when experiencing these changes
• 28:31-29.33:Outro and what resources will be included

SHANNON’S 6 S

Do you need
→sleep
→sustenance-do I need to eat?
→sanitation-do I need to brush my teeth, have a shower?
→socialisation-do I need to speak to a friend?
→sunshine-do I need to go outside?
→stimulation-am I bored, do I need to do something to keep myself busy?

REFERENCES

Stubbs, J., Dorjee, D., Nash, P., & Foulkes, L. (2023). Students’ perceptions of studying A-levels: factors facilitating and frustrating positive learning experiences. *Journal of Further and Higher Education*, *48*(1), 70–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2023.2258807

Lange, A. M. C., Stapley, E., Merrick, H., & Hayes, D. (2024). Supporting Children Transitioning to Secondary School: A Qualitative Investigation into Families’ Experiences of a Novel Online Intervention. *British Journal of Educational Studies*, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2024.2336505

Lorijn, S.J., Zwier, D., Laninga-Wijnen, L. *et al.* A New School, a Fresh Start? Change and Stability in Peer Relationships and Academic Performance in the Transition from Primary to Secondary School. *J. Youth Adolescence* **53**, 1987–2001 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-01991-y

**RESOURCES**

Mindmate page with lots of links to brilliant support services surrounding worry about college or university!

• Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, with many resources from cost of living to exam stress, a part of **Studentminds** with extra advice around student life →including support for students who may face additional challenges with mental health at university!
• Tips for mental health support when entering uni from YoungMinds
• Childline page about returning back to school
• Emily mentioned Leeds Mind that have support free services for 10-25 year olds in Leeds that are struggling with their mental health because of very difficult, frightening or distressing experiences. They offer 1-to-1 support and group mental health support