How to stay healthy at university, according to a GP ...Middle East

The return or start of university demands a lot of change, a lot of activity and a lot of organisation – meaning our wellbeing is not always our top priority. For the young people in our lives, it also means that they start, or go back to, independent living; no one to help with their washing, no one to solve their problems, and no one to give them a hug in a moment of need.

University can be amazing and can help foster a greater sense of independence – but it can also be stressful, lonely and a bit overwhelming. So, how can you support the young people in your life during this time? Here’s my guide to supporting them in all aspects of their lives.

Our living situation and environment really do impact how we feel; from physical safety to emotional security, to being able to sleep and study well and allowing us to have fun and thrive. The young person in your life might be staying at home and commuting into university locally, or staying on campus. Whatever the situation, what can you do to support them? That might be financial if it is possible, or it might be helping them to search for new flats, find flatmates, or a room in halls. If they are living away, can you take them there and settle them in? If they are staying at home, then perhaps you can give them a dedicated work area. Getting the right balance between them being at home still, but also being their own person is key.

Financial

It may be the first time that they have been responsible for applying for student loans, or for managing their money. Or they may just be learning. How can you equip them with the basic tools to do this responsibly? A lot of banks and building societies have simple apps or online banking tools, or even explainers for students – so have a look. Encourage them to design a simple budget for incomings and outgoings and look at the timelines for these payments.

You may want to support them with opening a savings account or you could encourage them to take advantage of student discounts. A discussion about whether a part-time job while they are studying might be helpful, and explore how this could further their career prospects.

Let them know that they can talk to you any time if they are worried about money or if they are getting into debt. You may want to explore if they eligible to apply for any bursaries or grants.

Get the basics of their health sorted before going. This includes registering with a local GP. It is also important to register with a dentist locally. Your GP can advise on the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four different strains of meningitis and septicaemia. Other important vaccines are the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, the HPV vaccine which protects against genital warts and cancers caused by the virus, and, for some students with certain long term health conditions, the flu vaccine. Talking about the need for contraception and practising safe sex is also important.

Keeping safe

Travel is part of student life – so encourage them to find out about buses, tubes, trains, and trams, or cycling and walking routes in their area. It is also really helpful to chat to them about personal safety. Make sure they have a plan for nights out with friends; how they will all get home safely, that no one will be left alone, and that they understand how alcohol can impact their safety.

Being at university means managing all aspects of your own life; that includes the basics like when to do a food shop, what and when to cook, how often to do washing etc. These things may seem obvious to you, but it can feel overwhelming. Try to have a non-judgemental chat, and perhaps suggest nominated days for when might be convenient for them to do these chores. And maybe you could practice some basic recipes with them maybe before they go.

Emotional

Establishing certainty

Everyone needs some structure in their life to give them a sense of expectation and continuity. Going to university can feel scary because after school, which followed a strict schedule, you can feel a bit lost. Encourage students to find out their timetable, then suggest they commit to some fun activities that give them a reason to leave their room.

One of the life skills that is the hardest to hone is our ability to manage change. There are many things that can be uncertain in student life; making friends, liking your course, time for yourself. If something doesn’t go according to plan, the best thing you can do as a parent or guardian is to let them know that you are always here to listen; that they can tell you anything, and that you won’t necessarily fix it all, but that you can support them to find some solutions.

Loneliness can be difficult to navigate (Photo: Getty)

Feeling lonely

Loneliness is something we think only affects older people, but the statistics show that young people are self-reporting feeling lonely at a significant level. Going to a new place and having less structure, or having to manage on your own can feel very lonely. Although students can be more connected now online than ever before, sometimes they miss out on authentic, meaningful face-to-face connection. Let them know that they can tell you they feel lonely, then make sure they know that it is a normal and appropriate feeling. Help them to identify why they feel lonely, and what they can do about it.

We think adulting is stressful, but student life is hard too, and often without the support structures that we have. Be empathetic and help them list what they find stressful, and what they can do to problem-solve. They might be struggling to manage their time. They may be being negative about themselves. Work through some useful stress management techniques like breathing, grounding or mindfulness.

Treating themselves

When you are working hard, juggling exams and study, worrying about future prospects and living on a budget, things can feel very heavy. Instead of always focusing on problem-solving, support them to treat themselves occasionally. That might be putting aside a small amount of money each month for a treat, taking a break, or surprising them with something fun.

Worry is different to problem-solving, in that worry just takes away our energy, rather than helping us. Help them reframe their thoughts into things they can control and things they can’t. Encourage them to get their worries onto paper to help them sleep, to feel in control, and to see what they need to work on.

Building self-esteem

It can be hard going to a new place with new people, with lots of expectations. If they are struggling with their course, or they haven’t found their tribe, this can impact their self-esteem. Encourage them, make sure you are complimenting them and celebrate their successes; it might be with a card or a text or a hug.

As a parent or carer, we want to fix everything. However, there is a fine line between supporting young people, and taking over – thereby making them dependent on you. Your job is to equip them with life skills. If a problem comes up, ask them questions rather than giving them all the answers, and support them to make the right choices, rather than suffocating them with what you think they “should” do.

Avoid comparison

One of the pitfalls of living in an online world is the tendency to compare yourself to everyone else. This is especially true when it comes to being popular, successful, and having the “perfect life”. If they talk to you about someone else who is doing really well, make sure they know how well they are doing, encourage them to make positive statements about themselves and encourage them to take time away from social media.

Exam stress, finals, and project deadlines are standard in university life. Working out a timetable for them, having regular breaks and having a social life are all essential.

Work

Be interested

Even if it is not a subject you know much about, make sure you show an interest. Keeping good lines of communication open will ensure that if they are struggling, they will tell you. Their course is a big part of their life so be enthusiastic about it.

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University life can be all encompassing – especially during finals. Help them identify any flash points in the term ahead; when might they need extra support and how can you help?

Support with challenges

Even though they are adults, they might need some guidance. Perhaps they have a problem with a tutor or deadline and are not confident enough to communicate it. Can you support them with how to manage this? This is an essential life skill.

During stressful periods, sometimes the best thing you can offer them is some time at home. It can be hard to focus and a change in environment can do wonders for stress levels. Plan a weekend back at home and give them some rest for those couple of days. We all like to feel looked after.

Future vision

One of the biggest pressures students feel is what they will do after university. It is never too early to chat to them about what their hopes are for the future; so help them come up with ideas about how to get there. This gives them hope and focus.

Social

It can be tempting for students to just keep coming home and seeing their existing friends, rather than take the courageous step of making new ones. However, it is essential, so encourage them to go out and try new things and take an interest in who they are meeting. Meaningful relationships are scientifically proven to benefit our wellbeing.

Family time

Sometimes only our family will do; make sure you plan some family time either at home or go to visit them. It is so important to keep up sibling relationships, to keep up with what their new lives look like, and to make sure they still feel part of home life.

You can’t beat those friends who have known you for years, so encourage them to keep up with friends from home too. Research shows the more friendship groups you have from different places, the better.

New adventures

University offers some amazing opportunities; make sure you encourage the young person in your life to make the most of them.

Time with themselves

University can be a really busy time; but it is also probably the first opportunity you have to form a true and unfiltered relationship with yourself – encourage your young person to spend time getting to know who they are. This will serve them for the rest of their lives.

Hence then, the article about how to stay healthy at university according to a gp was published today ( Friday 12/09/2025 - 08:01 AM ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.

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