Wellbeing

Staying mentally and physically healthy is important to ensure you get the most out of your PhD experience and take advantage of opportunities offered to you.

Mental health is something we all have, and which fluctuates naturally. The World Health Organisation defines mental health as ‘a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community’. Good mental health is achieving this state most of the time, and self-care is an important aspect of maintaining good mental health.

Some tips for improving your mental health include:

• Spend time in nature
• Connect with others
• Look after your physical health
• Try to get enough sleep

As well as this, your wellbeing as PGRs can benefit from specific practices as highlighted in the infographic below.

Further resources can be found below.

It is also important to have a work-life balance that works for you. For some people, this may be a typical 9-5 workday, whereas for others they may work better in the morning, or in the evening. Some with disabilities may find it more difficult to work a traditional work day, and those with caring responsibilities may have their work day dictated to them around these responsibilities. There should be open, clear communication between you and your supervisors to ensure that you are on the same page when it comes to your work day and that expectations are met on both sides.

Please note that, as a PGR, you are entitled to annual leave too. Total entitlement will be different at each partner institution, but the UKRI Terms & Conditions states “reasonable paid holidays, a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of eight weeks per year to include public holidays is recommended and should be allowed for by Supervisors (pro rata for part time students)”.

If you are finding things difficult, please ask for help. Whilst sensitive to issues that may arise during a studentship, SUPER does not have the necessary expertise or resources to provide dedicated health and wellbeing support. The first point of contact if you are concerned about your health and wellbeing is your host institution, who have dedicated resources and professional services.* Use the links below to access these and find further information for each of the SUPER DTP partner institutions:

• Edinburgh Napier University
• Heriot-Watt University
• University of Aberdeen
• University of the Highlands and Islands
• University of St Andrews
• University of Stirling
• University of Strathclyde
• University of the West of Scotland

*If you or someone you know needs help for a mental health crisis you should get immediate expert advice and assessment. A crisis could include attempted suicide, serious self-harm or harm to others, or situations where you feel you lack a sense of self-control, personal responsibility, or safety. In an emergency, call 999.

If you are unable to study effectively due to your mental or physical health (including disability or chronic illness), you are entitled to paid medical leave. The UKRI Terms & Conditions states that you can take “up to 28 weeks in a rolling 12-month period”. This is in addition to special leave, otherwise known as compassionate leave, and family leave. Please reach out to the SUPER team if you need help clarifying your entitlements should your circumstances change. 

To support normalising mental health and wellbeing, and because peer support is an important source of good mental health, funds provided by NERC have allowed SUPER to support 49 First Aid for Mental Health qualifications at SCQF level 5. The role of a First Aider is to listen, reassure, support self-help and signpost to the relevant professional services if needed. PGRs and staff are available to speak to across our partner institutions. If you would like to contact a First Aider, please see our contact list.