London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

This year's World Mental Health Day 2024 theme is ‘workplace mental health’. Sometimes, the line between studying and work (especially if you are a PhD student) is a bit blurry! Regardless, your mental health matters. 

Here are seven things that could help your mental health whilst you are studying or working at LSHTM. 

1 - Explore outdoor areas in London 

Now my favourite thing to do on the weekend is go to some green spaces. Even if the months are getting colder, I find that putting on my thick coat, grabbing a coffee with my headphones and looking around outside really does help. Especially when you move to a new and massive city like London, it is great to find time to return to nature. 

My recommendations of the best places to go include: 

Hampstead Heath

• If you are in the north London area, this beautiful massive park has a pergola in it, a stately home and a couple of ponds to swim in (if you are wanting to brave the cold!) From LSHTM, you can take the Northern line to get there.
• A route I like is walking at Golders Green tube station, walking through Golders Hill Park, looking at the deer, walking through the pergola, all the way to Hampstead and enjoying a well-earned beer or hot chocolate!

Richmond Park

This is London's largest royal park, and is internationally renowned for its wildlife conservation. This park has free roaming deer you can spot, and with its grassland, hills and woods of around 2,360 acres, you could spend a Saturday walking around here!

Some other great parks in London include: 

• Visit any of the other seven London Royal Parks.

2 - Explore things to do in London

As the city goes, London has quite a lot of things to do. Places to try new food, explore culture and take time for yourself. 

Firstly, get yourself a student art pass. For £10, for a year you get access to over 100 museums, galleries, and historic houses, in and out of London. Some wonderful places to explore with this include:

• The top 10 museums they recommend in October.

• Enjoy an afternoon harp and cake recital to online coffee talks.

Second: The Royal Institution! Membership is free for the first year, and gives you access to lots of great talks, recordings, and events. I managed to get into a live podcast recording with Brian Cox and Judy Dench!

3 - Change your area of study 

Of course, here at LSHTM you are here to study too. Although the fabulous Pumphandle Social area has opened to offer lots of study space, sometimes for my mental health I find moving spaces to study gives me a fresh set of eyes. Around LSHTM, some great places to study include the Senate House Library for which you can get a free library card! 

Elsewhere, you have got the Wellcome Collection: not only a great (FREE) museum to check out with some cool science exhibits, but also on the top floor houses a wonderful library with comfy seats to study in.

Other places include: 

• The British Library – about a 15-minute walk from LSHTM.

• The Building Centre – down the street from LSHTM, a perfect coffee and place to study.

• The Brunswick Centre has some lovely coffee shops to study in.

4 - Get active

We all know that a bit of exercise, whether outdoors or in, really does help our brains, and gives us a break from our studying. Whether that be from lots of walking, classes or gym sessions, near LSHTM you can: 

• Join the YMCA gym: with swimming pools and gym sessions. Take sometimes after a long lecture and release those endorphins!

• There are many more gyms around the area also, with some great student deals.

• Get a free class pass for a month and try some fancy classes!

• Try and find group sports, like football, to not only make some new friends, but get active.

5 - Designate time not to study

Something I have found important to do whilst studying is separate my study time and outside my study time. As students, we can get wrapped up in working 24/7 to try and keep up. Yes, this can be important, but it is important to ensure you have time not to work. Spend time  after work away from your studies and away from your laptop to give your brain a rest.

6 - Network at LSHTM, Pentacell 

A support network is key when being a student. It is tricky starting a new course, at a new university and mostly likely a new country. It's really helpful to make course friends, in and out of your study area, or even across universities by joining societies.

Pentacell is a School-wide activity to strengthen the School community, increase wellbeing and forward our goal of improving global health. PhD students and LSHTM alumni can join Pentacell to connect and support fellow students. The Pentacell scheme runs across most MSc programmes for current students.

7 - Be kind to yourself

Finally, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. Your studies at LSHTM will be intense, but so rewarding. It's important to recognise how well you are doing, that everyone works at a different pace, and your studies are there for you to make the most of!

If you have questions or want advice, please reach out! 

• Contact Millie via our contact student ambassador page.
• Find out more about the Student Support Services at LSHTM.
• Find out more about the Pentacell Scheme at LSHTM.