There is a lot to think about when you move to a new city or return for the new academic year. It can be exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming.
Thinking about your health may not be top of your priority list so we’ve made a quick guide to help you stay happy and healthy during your time at University.
Register with a GP
One of the first things you need to do is register with a GP in Liverpool to ensure you can access healthcare when you need to. You can register at your nearest practice or with our local student practice here. This will allow you to use the Student Health Service based on campus if you wish to. If you have previously received NHS treatment you can find your NHS number by using this tool.
Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date
To safeguard your health it is important that you check your vaccinations are up-to-date including your COVID-19 vaccination. Illnesses like measles, mumps, rubella and meningitis are rare but can be serious. University students are recommended to receive both the MMR and Meningitis ACWY vaccines. You can find more information about recommended vaccines on our webpages.
Reducing the spread of infection
Our latest COVID-19 safety measures, which reflect national and local guidance, are intended to minimise any disruption while supporting the full range of teaching and research activities taking place on campus:
- If you and members of your household are well, you are not expected to adhere to strict social distancing rules or wear a face covering on campus, although you may of course continue to wear a face covering if you prefer to do so. We still strongly encourage wearing a face covering in any congested, enclosed spaces.
- If you are unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. high temperature or persistent cough; see full list here) and/or have received a positive COVID-19 test, you should stay away from campus and from others (where possible) for five days to reduce the risk of passing on the infection. In most cases you should return after five days if you feel well enough and do not have a temperature.
- If someone in your household has COVID-19, there is a high risk you will become infected too – however, this may take up to 10 days. Therefore, you may continue to come onto campus but we request that you maintain social distancing and wear a face covering during this period to limit the risk of infecting others. If you become unwell during this time please adhere to the guidance above.
The University will also continue to take a number of steps to help protect all students and staff while on campus, including the provision of hand sanitiser stations across campus and continuing with enhanced cleaning regimes.
You may also have heard about monkeypox which is a rare illness caused by the monkeypox virus. It can affect anyone, and while the risk to UK population remains low, people are being asked to be alert to any new rashes or lesions. You can find out more about signs and symptoms on our Student News pages.
Take care of your mental wellbeing
Being at University is an exciting phase of your life, but you may also find it challenging. If that is the case, remember that it’s not just you who is experiencing this, and you don’t need to struggle on your own. We have a number of free and confidential services and resources to support students.
Our Wellbeing Advice and Guidance team are based in the Alsop Building on University Square. The team provides confidential, non-judgemental one-to-one support, information, advice and guidance about a range of personal and social issues. Please get in touch for advice on anything that is worrying you at any time during your studies.
You can book in for a face-to-face session on campus or, if you prefer, you can talk to the team via a video or telephone call from wherever you feel most comfortable. Appointments are available Monday to Friday, with daily drop-in sessions – Book a slot with an adviser.
The team also run courses and workshops to provide you with ideas about different ways to manage and improve your mental and physical wellbeing.
Wellbeing Advice and Guidance are part of the wider Student Services team, which also includes our Counselling Service, Mental Health Advisory Services, Money, Disability, and International Advice and Guidance. For more information click here.
Please be aware that our wellbeing and counselling services are not an emergency service. In the event of an emergency please contact the emergency services on 999.
Health Assured
Health Assured offer students a free, confidential advice line, with help available to talk through any problem, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Qualified counsellors and advisors understand the pressures of student life, and are there to help anyone who needs it. Sometimes, simply talking through your issues with someone, in the moment, can be a great relief.
Call the 24/7 helpline for free: 0800 028 3766.
Keep active
Being active is not only great for your physical health, but also for your mental wellbeing. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that what you do with your body can have a big effect on your mind. It is thought, for example, that the chemical changes in your brain brought on by physical activity can help to positively change your mood.
You don’t have to be super sporty or committed to working out in the gym every day to be active – the trick is to find an activity that works for you and build it into your everyday life so it becomes your normal.
You could try:
- Walking all or part of your commute to university – why not head to the next bus stop instead of the closest one or get off one stop early?
- Couch to 5K– this is a free running plan for absolute beginners. It involves running 3 days per week and a different plan for each week to help build your strength and endurance
- Take the stairs instead of the lift
- Be a tourist again – whether you are new to Liverpool or not, there will almost certainly be some attractions you haven’t visited yet! Getting out and about is an easy way to get active, and you can do some really enjoyable things at the same time.
- Get some mates together and go for a walk around one of Liverpool’s parks once a week – You are never far from a park in Liverpool!
- Cycling – why not try a city cycling tour or get together with some friends for a Sunday cycling session? If you don’t have a bike check out the City Bike offer for students.