Most of the students we meet at our pop-ups are not in crisis. They are just tired, or worried, or carrying something they cannot quite name. They stop at our table, pick up a leaflet, and sometimes — after a minute or two of talking about nothing in particular — they say something like: 'I've actually been struggling a bit lately.'
That sentence is harder to say than it looks. This guide is for everyone who has thought it but not yet said it out loud.
The first thing to understand is that you do not need to have the right words before you start. People often delay talking about their mental health because they feel they cannot explain it precisely enough, or they are worried they will sound dramatic, or they think their problems are not serious enough to mention. None of those concerns should stop you. 'I've been struggling' is enough to begin. You can fill in the details as you go, or not at all — a good listener will meet you where you are.
Choose the setting as much as you can. A walk rather than a sit-down conversation can make things easier for many people — there is less eye contact, more physical movement, and it feels less like an event. If you are talking to a friend, you might say: 'Can we go for a walk? There's something on my mind.' It does not need to be a big announcement.
If you are not ready to talk to someone you know, that is also fine. Anonymous and semi-anonymous options exist for exactly this reason. The Samaritans are available by phone and email around the clock. Student services at most colleges and universities offer confidential counselling sessions. Our own pop-ups are a zero-stakes starting point — no one is writing anything down, and there is no follow-up unless you want one.
When you do open up to someone — a friend, a family member, a tutor — try to be specific about what would help. 'I just need to vent' and 'I need advice' are very different requests, and saying which one you want saves both of you from a frustrating conversation. Most people genuinely want to help but guess wrong about what help looks like.
Finally, know that talking once does not mean you have solved it. Mental health is not a one-conversation fix. You might need to return to the same topic with the same person several times, or find different people for different aspects of what you are going through. That is normal, and it does not mean you are doing it wrong.
At Vibrant Health Advocates – Indigo, we believe that access to clear, friendly information is the first step toward better wellbeing. If you are not sure where to start, start with us. We will be near your campus, and we are always happy to talk.
