Annabelle is a second year Film and English undergraduate student at the University of Bristol. Annabelle is a member of the Wellbeing Network, one of several networks organised by Bristol’s Student Union which act as a channel for students’ wellbeing needs; informing strategies, facilitating action on policy and running campaigns. She recently worked on a Mind Your Head campaign, a month-long series of events and talks to encourage positive wellbeing practices, destigmatise discussions about mental health and reduce stress on campus. Annabelle has also worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Special Educational Needs department of a secondary school, accommodating students with specific learning needs and acting as a mentor for students struggling with the stresses of secondary education. Annabelle attended the previous Open Forum conference 'Improving Student Mental Health Outcomes' for her university and wrote a report which will be used by the School of Arts to inform their approach to mental health and improve services; following her attendance, she was interviewed for a documentary made externally of the University regarding student mental health in Bristol.
Despite starting university with the intention of obtaining a career in Publishing, personal experiences have resulted in Annabelle taking action to improve current attitudes and methods for dealing with issues surrounding mental health. She is now hoping to pursue a career in the mental health sector following her studies, completing research into student mental health and working alongside universities to improve their strategies; although she is not certain as yet what shape this will take.
