A safe space for all

This group is intended to be a place where members can reflect on their mental health and wellbeing, with emphasis on the Black student experience. The goal is to create a safe space where students can connect and support each other by offering advice, understanding and alternative perspectives. Group members can share and explore their experiences, along with coping skills and strategies whilst building a community of support that we hope will continue outside of the group.

Each session will be led by our facilitators with different themes over the course of the weekly sessions. Examples of themes are;

• Taking care of your mental health
• Managing anxiety and depression
  
• Student life and culture
  
• Living independently
  
• Managing racial trauma/experiences of racism
  
• Academic expectations
  
• Stigma and barriers to accessing services
  
• Cultural expectations
  
• Generational trauma and conflict
  
• Social isolation.
  

The sessions are for 1 ½ hours each week, for six weeks, and we ask students to make a commitment to see the process through, attending all sessions if possible. Sessions dates are to TBC.

The group will be facilitated by UoN counsellors who are of African and Caribbean heritage and have experience working with a range of individuals from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Our counsellors have a special interest in race and identity and are keen to make counselling and wellbeing support more accessible to Black students.

Those that want to enrol on the group will need to attend a short appointment with a facilitator to explore needs and expectations from joining the group, ask any questions and decide together on whether to join the group.

Please direct all enquiries to BR-UCSWorkshops@nottingham.ac.uk