Mental health & wellbeing

A women wearing a blue dress, listening to a student in a pink jumper, listening to student.

Mental health and wellbeing is a priority for all our students.  Your mental health matters, and it is important to take care of yourself during your studies. In this section you will find guidance on how to look after your mental health, build resilience and develop ways to cope through challenges.

Top tips for managing stress, anxiety and challenging times

Life as a student and a musician can be challenging at times, so we have put together these top tips to help you manage this.

Take a moment to stop and acknowledge how you are feeling
Notice what thoughts you are having. Are they helpful? Can you reframe them? Find out more about reframing unhelpful thoughts here.
Identify what triggers your stress, so you can avoid it, if possible, or reduce the impact
Be kind to yourself and seek support if needed
Focus on what you can control, solutions and problem solving
Remember if things don’t go to plan, that’s ok - you can try again
Learn ways to cope with things out of your control - focus on your emotional wellbeing and try some of these self-help techniques
Learn ways to manage performance anxiety on the BAPAM website
Try square breathing, to help you feel calmer
Try this grounding technique to help you through stressful moments
Try Mindfulness exercises (mind.org.uk)
Try colouring for mindfulness

Top tips to boost your mental health and wellbeing

Exercise – it is important to be active, not just for your physical health but also for your mental health. Aim for 30 minutes a day.
Sleep – good sleep can improve your mood and is vital for our health and wellbeing. Try to develop healthy sleeping habits. Find out more on the NHS website here.
Relax and recharge – make time for rest and relaxation and do things you enjoy
Eat healthily – eat a balanced diet, and try to avoid/limit alcohol and drugs
Foster positive relationships – having a good support network, and in turn, being there for others, is important
Manage your time – effective time management and planning can help you feel more in control and less stressed. Find out more on the Student Space website here.

Support for your mental health and wellbeing at the RCM

Our experienced Student Services team is available to all RCM students, offering informal advice, useful information, a free in-house counselling service, wellbeing activities (such as free yoga and meditation sessions) and wellbeing resources.

There is also a team of trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs), who are a point of contact if you are experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. They are not therapists or psychiatrists, but they can give you initial support and signpost you to appropriate help if required.

All RCM students can access TogetherAll, a free 24/7 online service that provides advice and support for those dealing with low mood, anxiety and other mental health issues.

Top tips for developing resilience

Things don’t always go to plan in life, and sometimes we are faced with challenges. These tips will help you to feel better equipped to cope with difficult times and bounce back from them.

Believe in yourself – you won’t always get things right but recognise your worth, your strengths, your achievements and your capabilities. Be kind to yourself and be your own champion!
Find perspective – the reality is that sometimes things don’t go to plan, but remember that not every stressor is the end of the world
Learn from experiences – we usually learn more when things go wrong, than when things go right. Consider what lessons you have learnt, think about what you might do differently in the future and how you can develop and grow.
Accept what you can and can’t control – focus on the things you can control, and the positive steps you can take
Get support – reach out for support if you need it

Find out more about bouncing back from life’s challenges on the NHS Every Mind Matters website.

External resources

Music Minds Matter - offers support for anxiety, performance anxiety and depression, and has a 24/7 helpline - 0808 802 8008.
Student Minds - the UK’s Student Mental Health Charity have lots of information, advice and resources on their webpages, including their Student Space pages where you will find advice and information to help guide you through student life.
Tonic Rider Zines – Tonic Music have created a series of free to download Zines for music industry professionals covering a range of topics to support your mental health and wellbeing.
NHS Every Mind Matters – advice and guidance from the NHS on ways to boost your mental health and wellbeing.
BAPAM - British Association of Performing Arts Medicine – BAPAM provide specialist health and wellbeing services to performing arts professionals.
Give us a shout – offering helpful resources and a 24/7 text service for advice and support for your mental health and wellbeing. Text “SHOUT” to 85258.
London Nightline – an anonymous listening and information service run by students for students, open from 6pm to 8am every night during term-time. Call (+44)207 631 0101 or email listening@nightline.org.uk