Student life and mental health
Explains how you can look after your mental health as a student, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.
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What happens when I finish my course?
Preparing for graduation and moving on after studying can be both exciting and daunting. You may be thinking about your future career or about the support you will want after completing your course. It's a good idea to think about the steps you can take to help you manage the move out of studying and look after your mental health.
This page covers:
- Preparing for life after your course
- Maintaining your support network
- Arranging your healthcare
- Transitioning into working life
Save the Student also has a helpful list of things to consider as you prepare to leave university.
How do I decide what to do next?
- If you're studying a course that could lead onto a specific career, relevant societies will have information about career options in your field.
- Make use of your university or college careers service. This is a great place to help you start thinking about what you might like to do when you finish studying.
- The National Careers Service (England) or Careers Wales and UCAS have advice and information on planning a career.
Maintaining your support network
When you graduate, it's likely that the support networks you have may no longer be as easily available. If you're moving away from the place where you studied, it might be worth thinking about the support that's available in the new place where you'll be living.
- Stay in touch with course mates – everyone finds this transition tricky, and hearing from an old friend can be reassuring.
- Try online support – you can access this wherever you move to. See our pages on online mental health support for more information.
- Speak your local Mind to find out more about the support in your new area.
Arranging your healthcare
If you're moving away from where you have been studying, you'll need to plan how the move might affect any support you currently receive. This could be from your GP or an NHS service.
- Visit your current GP and think about the process of transferring your care to a new GP.
- Find out where you can register with a new GP.
- If you're in touch with your community mental health team (CMHT) or crisis team, let them know that you're moving. Find out how you can access the support you want in your new home.
Transitioning into working life
If you're starting work or returning to a job after your course, it's important to think about how you'll manage your mental health in this new environment.
- Read our information about talking to your manager about your mental health.
- See our pages on being mentally healthy at work for more information too.
Work, just like studying can take different forms. Part-time, full-time, freelance, there are many options to find something that works for you.
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This information was published in March 2023. We will revise it in 2026.
References and bibliography available on request.
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