Let’s Look After Our Students

Let’s look after our students, because they have had a real bum deal in recent years. First they got their university tuition fees taken away, so that now people on low incomes, find it harder to claw themselves out of poverty. Next, they had to be isolated from families.

Often students have to live in damp housing with dodgy landlords, and on graduating, will be the generation that has to deal with climate change issues. It’s no wonder that many students are stressed, depressed and broke. Some even drop out of courses.

Also read Stuff Students Should Know (a handy book on how to make a meal, plan a budget, proof read an essay, write a CV, plan a revision timetable and arm you with skills for the real world). Student Hacks is another book of 130 hints, to make life easier. From how to listen to lectures in half the time, to stop beer bottles toppling over in the fridge!

1. Stay Happy While You Study is by clinical psychologist Lauren Callaghan, who says a bit of self-care is in order. Yes your studies and social life are important, but also plan ahead and navigate your way through unique pressures, to feel better, and get better results. Also read Stay Organised.
2. Stay Financially Healthy While You Study is by the founder of Blackbullion, the digital financial educational platform. Vivi Friedgut explores budgeting and money and offers practical tips and useful exercise to keep you out of dead.
3. Stay Balanced While You Study is by mental health specialist Dr Dominique Thompson, who explores issues around leaving home, exam stress, socialising, safety, sex and drugs.
4. Student Wellbeing: Depression is a book to help prevent the ticking timebomb. The news is often reporting on students with depression that did not receive the help they needed, sometimes committing suicide. Includes tips from students with depression. Also read Anxiety at College.
5. Student Wellbeing: Staying Safe and Well covers students as they prepare for university, and find their way. Ideal for sixth formers planning to go to unit, as well as first year students. Includes things students wished they had known.
6. Live Well, Learn Well is packed with 90 practical ideas to help students progress. Abigail Mann offers tips on classroom management, classroom layout, praise and rewards to help students of all ages. Her other book Live Well, Teach Well offers another 90 ideas, a happy teacher means happy students.