The benefits of being open by Mubariz Mujtaba

There are many things I wish I knew before university. I wish I knew it was alright to not be “okay” and that it is okay to share how you’re feeling rather than keep it bottled up.

I wish I had known it was healthier to talk to people and that it would help me deal with my issues rather than locking them away and hoping they would disappear.

I wish I had known it was okay to go and seek medical advice because the brain is an organ like any other and it does also suffer from illnesses, rather than thinking it was nothing and that I was being silly.

University has taught me that mental health issues can be quite common and they are nothing to be ashamed of. I have learnt it is okay to seek advice, both medical, pastoral and academic when you are struggling and the importance of being open and honest to get the best support you can.

I wish I knew that it’s okay to sometimes be demanding and to push for the best thing for you. For me, this was lecture capture and I refused to take no for an answer because I knew it was the best solution to my problem. Through this, I have realised that while it may be hard to push for what you need, it is something you can do and should do so that you can get the support you need.