A bit about me..

I'm returning to university to pursue a Master's degree in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders at Queen's after getting a degree in Humanities from Ulster University and another in Psychology and Counselling from the Open University. 

I'm also a qualified hypnotherapist in my third year of doing my diploma in counselling and working part-time in a homeless hostel so life can be a juggling act.

I'm primarily interested in pursuing a career tackling mental illness and promoting mental health.

I'm wondering how I did it the first time around!

When I was 19 and at university the first time round how did I ever manage to be anywhere on time? How did I work,  get assignments done and squeeze in any kind of social life? This is just one of the ways the massive bomb I have dropped on my life has manifest itself.

All those times when I fantasised about ‘having my time over again’ and how I’d be so much more organised now I forgot to factor in two important things: 1) I’m not 19 any more and 2) I’m still me. Just an older, slightly less energetic and slightly more cuddly version.

Why, after 20 years, am I studying again?

Well, it's complicated. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I was 19. I got a place on an course and I did it because I reckoned it was better than not doing a degree.

I don’t regret it, but it took time and a bit of life experience to realise that after years of groping my way through a maze of mental health issues, and experiencing how poorly society interacts with individuals with such challenges, I developed a growing sense that I wanted to be part of the solution.

I’m here because I don’t want to see anyone else suffer unnecessarily from mental ill health.

We all feel the strain…

I do feel guilty. My family and friends were supportive of me but now that they realise how much of a commitment it is I sense their patience wobbling at times, and any daft ideas I may have had about partying hard like I was a teenager again are gone.

It’s 10pm, I already have my pyjamas on, my back hurts, my mum needs some shopping done and my other half is grizzling about me being on this laptop all day. This is the reality.

But there is help out there...

One thing I’ve been glad to see since I’ve been at Queen's is the number of resources there are for students who are struggling. There’s Nightline (Open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8pm – 2am) who can be contacted by phone or instant messaging. There are counselling services at Queen's (Email: qubstudents@inspirewellbeing.org  or Tel: 0808 800 0016 (24hr Freephone) and Lifeline if you are in crisis, distress or despair (Tel:  0808 808 8000).

Everyone is happy to help

Finally, one thing that decreases university stress a lot is simply staying in the loop and talking to your tutors and staff. They are happy to help but I haven’t met one yet who has reliable mind-reading talents, so do contact them if you need to.

Tell them if you’re struggling and don’t keep problems to yourself until they start to look insurmountable when a chat early on could have diffused it. 

University should be enjoyable, so don’t let anxiety and his friends spoil it for you!

Find out more

MSc Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders

Support and Wellbeing

Lindsey Mitchell Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders | Postgraduate Student | NI I have a degree in Humanities from UUJ and another in Psychology and Counselling from OU. I'm a qualified hypnotherapist and in my third year of a diploma in counselling and working part-time in a homeless hostel. I live in Belfast with my fiancé and 2 dogs. Changing my life up like this and going back to uni has been terrifying and is occasionally overwhelming but I regret nothing.