All students will experience difficulties with
at least one unit offered by Computer Science and Software Engineering -
no unit is super easy or super hard for all students -
so please take care of yourself.
Your health matters!
Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester,
including eating well,
getting enough sleep, and taking time to exercise and relax.
This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.
If you or anyone you know experiences academic-related stress,
difficult life events,
or feelings like anxiety or depression,
I strongly encourage you to seek support.
Consider reaching out to a friend, family member, or UWA staff.
UWA's Student Life
offers a number of very helpful support services,
and an important part of your experience at UWA is learning how to ask for help -
asking sooner rather than later is important.
I'm one of over 40 nationally accredited
Mental Health First Aid Officers
(MHFAOs) appointed by UWA to
assist students wanting someone to talk to about their mental health.
MHFAOs are an informal, confidential peer support offering initial contacts,
assistance & referrals.
Importantly, MHFAOs are not a substitute for professional support services
such as those offered by your GP, or trained psychologists.
In contrast to physical First Aid, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the
help offered to someone developing a mental health problem, experiencing
a worsening of an existing mental illness, or a mental health crisis.
MHFA is given until appropriate professional help is received or the
crisis resolves - possibly ranging from minutes to weeks.
I appreciate that you may feel uncomfortable approaching me because you
know me through other roles so, if necessary,
I strongly encourage you to contact
UWA's student mental health services
or other members of
UWA's MHFAO network.
[email protected], Rm 2.20 CSSE building
February 2023.
