Healthy Minds – Khushi and Sally's experience
Khushi and Sally were both referred to the Healthy Minds programme in early 2023. They sat down with us to discuss how the programme has helped them, the enjoyment of the new small group workshops, and how they are getting to know and support each other.
Quick links:
Meet Sally and Khushi
Khushi, currently completing her postgraduate degree, and Sally, currently an undergraduate, have been participants on the programme for two months. They were quick to praise how the programme has supported their development in a short amount of time and helped them to step out of their comfort zone.
K: “Oh my God, I love it, to be fair. I really do because I don't think I would have, but it's just a program that helps me to actually show up.”
S: “I like that after you got that a little bit of that confidence, you know how to use the gym a bit more. So when I walk in, I'm not as scared of it all. And like learning, having like a little bit of connection with [my instructors] and with Khushi as well is it's nice to feel like you're not alone. And the consistency is great. It is really good and learning all the new exercises and putting them to practice as well. I'm feeling stronger and mentally better.”
K: “I feel more confident in starting. When I came, I remember my first day I had a meeting with [my instructor] and I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. And she was just being very sweet. I have my own insecurities, and she was like, ‘everyone who comes here has their own insecurities’. You just need to show up, and with time, you will get confident. I need to go put in the work. And that's like the most important thing.”
Social inclusion workshops
A new introduction to the programme this year has been Small Group Workshops. These are limited to four participants and are pre-planned sessions used to encourage participants to meet other individuals in a similar situation to themselves, be able to learn from their peers, and facilitate new relationships. These social interactions are backed by numerous papers in supporting an individual’s wellbeing and something that has been a priority in expanding the Healthy Minds programme.
S: “I was interested in these workshops when they were mentioned. Any opportunity to try something. And also I kind of wanted to meet some new people that are kind of in the same situation so that we could be together.
K: “Exactly. To understand each other's trauma.”
Interviewer: “So, how important do you think these social interactions are to your mental health?”
S: “The biggest. 10 out of 10! When you come into these kind of programs obviously it's quite isolating to have to get to that point, if that makes sense, quite scary. And to meet other people that are in that same kind of boat or even just a similar one, it helps with that a bit.
K: “Yeah, it's the same for me. Just meeting everyone and being in the same community. It’s so supportive and kind. It's just so important for me, because I feel anxious going out or from my house sometimes. And here, there are so many people, but you just come in and you have your own music on. You don't care about anyone else. You are just doing your workout and everyone is like being kind to you.”
S: “They’re a perfect addition to the programme. It's keeping me engaged with my training and I feel stronger and more confident. It's not too much. It's not too little. It's just like I think it's great. It's a great compliment to it.”
K: “Yeah, I think so too. The workshops are just amazing. You know, it gives me more options. You have to go for it. It's just in your mind. More like it’s a stepping stone. So there’s not such a big jump between the next aspects of the programme…
…It’s very easy to just convince your mind of something like, you don't wanna be somewhere, you’re not actually not feeling it, maybe it won't be helpful for me. But once you actually find out what it is about and how it helps, it’s great. You know, if I text Sally and be like ‘Hey, are you coming today?’, that will motivate me to come too.”
‘This is way less scary than I thought’
I: “Are the workshops supporting your 1-2-1 sessions with your instructor?”
K: “For me, I learned new things from [Workshop Instructor] to [Personal Instructor]. Doing exercises I never did before. I just love it, it's completely new. But both very helpful.”
S: “Yeah, I'd say definitely learned a lot of new things. Like there's a lot of exercises I've kind of wanted to try, didn't know how to do it, and definitely wouldn't have had the confidence to try it out. And just having [Instructor] to guide me through it. And now I can do it.”
K: “[Instructor] is amazing, he's just so sweet and so kind. The first time I saw it I thought it will be like a big group with an instructor who will tell me what to do and I won't be able to do too much. But he was just very sweet and very understanding. And he will focus on each one of us and ask us if we are doing fine. It’s just like the way he talks and everything shows how he is able to understand how important mental health is and how not to make them very anxious, as they already are. So it's just very important for me.
S: “Yeah, he definitely makes us feel very comfortable. And he’s obviously very important in this kind of programme. It was a bit scary being like, gonna go to a new session with brand new people and a new instructor. But he was a nice person and that settled my nerves. And I was like I'm more of a cardio girl. I didn’t really think I could handle all that, but I still decided to come. Then when I got there, I was like, oh, this is way less scary than I thought it was.”
Sally, Healthy Minds participant
Social interaction and new friendships
I: “It sounds like you guys have developed a good friendship recently, was this an expectation coming to these sessions?”
S: “Yeah, I'd say I was kind of looking to meet someone that we could continue doing this kind of thing after these sessions finished. Maybe just make a make a friend or two and you know, just branch out in university in general as well because I haven't managed to meet that many people.”
K: “Yeah, I think so too. The social aspect is so important because you just have classes and stuff, but you don't actually get to know someone that much. But since I'm coming here, I met Sally. I met another girl. And we keep supporting each other, it's such a good community.”
S: “Yeah. And I would like to add to that as well, being with someone who is going through something similar is really important because if it was just like a gym session for anyone, I'd be so anxious. But yeah, we're in the same boat. It's like we can just lean on each other a little bit and that's really helpful.
K: “Oh, my God. Yeah, that is so important because every time I used to walk past, I would see people and I would be like, they're life must be so different from me. They are doing good. I am not doing good. I don't think I will be able to like fit in. But then these workshops started and I was like I'll be able to meet someone who has been like also been seeing things the same as me.”
S: “I'd say working out with Khushi’s been really fun, because it would just like we're just a bit silly. So that's really fun. Personally, I was in quite a bad place and I was like, I need to do anything to get started. So even if I hate it, I need to try it and I'm very, very glad I did.”
K: “I was similar, whatever problem you may have, can be depression, anxiety, or self-esteem, anything that you face when you are actually at the bottom, you don't wanna get better because you are just in your comfort zone. And that sadness is your comfort zone now. It sounds so bad. But it's true. There's a term we use, learned helplessness, that you just try, try, try and you can't get out of it. This helplessness becomes comfortable to you and now you actually don't wanna get out. So that's why it is so important for someone to come and see how this programme can help. Because so many things are going bad right now but the gym is something that I can control. I can't control who will be in my life, who will not be in my life. I can't control what will happen in the future and everything else that is messed up. But coming here is on me. And if I can just rely on myself and be like, you know what? I need to show up. That's it. That's all I need to do.”
Seeing your confidence grow
I: “What do you think you have learned from each other?”
S: “Definitely the self-confidence that you can get from putting yourself out there and meeting new people is a lot more than I ever expected, and that that having someone else like with you, it just really boosts like your motivation, and your gains or whatever [Laughs]. And just the enjoyment of it as well. And like the sessions go by so fast when we’re with each other and just cause we're having like we just having a laugh. And the confidence to try new things, because I've had one session where it was just me and [Instructor] and I was worried people's eyes would me more on you. But if it's like a group of like two or three or four of us, then I can blend in a little bit more. And that's kind of why I wanted to do the group sessions as well. But yeah, just like seeing Khushi talking about her stuff and really owning it. And I'm just like, I love that. Love the energy.
K: “Trust me, I'm struggling inside too. It's just all an act [Laughs]. But no, she's just the sweetest and she's so strong. And I'm like, oh, my God, you're so strong. And she’s like ‘You too. You can do this instead. And we can try this instead.’”
S: “And it's also nice because I have major social anxiety, so like almost practicing on someone who is probably also got social anxiety, it’s nice.”
K: “I know, right? It's comforting in some ways, yeah.”
S: “And then you're probably not worried about me. You're probably worried about you. So that's comforting.”
Feeling supported
Alongside the Workshops, Healthy Minds specific clothing was also introduced. These items of clothing are rewarded to participants at different milestones in the programme and are designed to help eliminate barriers from participating in physical activity, including perceived appearance.
K: “I love it. That's why I'm wearing it. It's just so comfy.”
S: “Yeah, I wore mine to shop today as well. Like, I love it.”
I: “How have these items affected you adherence to the programme?”
S: “I feel more supported by [University of Bristol], which is so important in this kind of situation and just a little bit more recognition and a bit more support and that means a lot.”
K: “Yeah, exactly for me too. And like you know, as an international student so many of my friends purchased things and I wanted something from my time, like the jumper or like a coffee mug or anything of that sort because it’s good that you're from [University of Bristol] and it's just something to be proud of. So when I got it, I was like just so happy because the university actually cares about my health. So it just feel like, yeah, I'm being included and I'm being cared for even though I have, like, something negative going on in my life. So that was important for me.”