Working with Student Mental Health: Reclaiming rest in a rest-deprived world

Programme

Working with Student Mental Health: Reclaiming rest in a rest-deprived world.

This online event explores the theme of rest within higher education and working with students. In a culture dominated by speed, productivity, and constant engagement, rest can be difficult to claim, tolerate, or even recognise as valuable. Through three linked presentations and a panel discussion, the event considers rest as something that may be experienced as threatening, challenging, or deeply restorative. Speakers will reflect on how cultural expectations, institutional pressures, and professional roles shape attitudes to rest for both students and Counsellors.

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Programme

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9.30am - 9.40am	Welcome & Introductions
9.40am - 10.25am	Rest as a Threat, presented by Akshi Singh (45-minute presentation)
10.25am –10.35am	Break
10.35am –11.20am	Rest as a Challenge presented by Suzy Reading (45-minute presentation)
11.20am –11.30am	Break
11.30am – 12.15pm	Rest as a Restorative Experience, presented by Emily Alford (45-minute presentation)
12.15pm- 1.00pm	Panel Discussion with Akshi, Suzy and Emily facilitated by Catriona Keane
1.00pm	Event close

This programme is subject to change.

Rest as a Threat

9.40am – 10.25am

This session explores how in a culture dominated by speed, productivity, and constant connectivity, rest can feel risky or even threatening. Pausing or slowing down may provoke anxiety, guilt, or low mood, both for students and counsellors because of institutional pressures and societal expectations. I will draw upon the work of the psychoanalyst, writer and artist Marion Milner to think about the ways in which rest feels risky, and why this is a risk worth taking.

Learning outcomes

develop an understanding how rest feels challenging and risky in general, and in particular for themselves.
learn to identify emotional responses triggered by rest, through practical exercises such as free writing and drawing.
explore what it would mean to make space for rest and leisure in their lives

Akshi Singh is a writer and psychoanalyst. Born in India, she lives in Glasgow. Akshi is the author of In Defence of Leisure: Experiments in Living with Marion Milner (Jonathan Cape, 2025). She works across genres, writing memoir, criticism, fiction, and poetry. Her writing on psychoanalysis, art, and politics has appeared in Granta, Parapraxis, The London Review of Books, Art Review and elsewhere.

She has a PhD in literature from the University of London. She was previously a Wellcome Trust funded postdoctoral fellow at Queen Mary, University of London, and Lecturer in Global Migrations at the University of Glasgow. She is Associate Editor at Parapraxis magazine and Deputy Editor at Critical Quarterly.

Rest as a Challenge

10.35am-11.20am

The Rest to Reset workshop is separated into two parts: Redefining Rest unpacks the true meaning of rest and introduces the eight pillars, which will help you identify the type of rest you need in any given moment. Creating Your Own Rest Prescription features practical toolkits to help you bring your mind and body back to balance. It includes tips for when you're struggling with classic restful practices, like napping, meditation and breathwork; exercises to make existing daily activities more restful; and strategies to allow for emotional digestion as well as the release of physical tension. This session will not only revolutionise your relationship with rest but ultimately your relationship with yourself.

Learning outcomes

explain the importance of rest and its impact on wellbeing
implement practical steps to overcome personal barriers to rest
demonstrate accessible ways to rest and recharge in time-constrained situations

Suzy Reading is a Chartered Psychologist and one of the UK’s leading self-care and self-advocacy experts. She has three decades of experience in the health and wellbeing industry, drawing on her qualifications in yoga and personal training, together with psychology, to empower people with sustainable healthy lifestyle habits. Suzy has a special interest in helping people heal their relationship with ‘self’. She is a monthly columnist for Top Sante Magazine; the Psychology Expert for Neom Organics; the Wellbeing Ambassador for BABTAC and is a founding member of the ‘Nourish’ app. She is the author of The Little Book of Self-Care, The Self-Care Revolution, Stand Tall Like a Mountain, Self-care for Tough Times, This Book Will (Help) Make You Happy, And Breathe, Sit to Get Fit, Rest to Reset and Self-care for Winter. How to Be Selfish is hot off the press.

Rest as a Restorative Experience

11.30am-12.15pm

This session will give an overview of the benefits of nature for mental health, with particular focus on the resorative effects of being outside for promoting rest and wellbeing. The session aims to provide an overview of theories and scientific research about the benefits of nature for rest and mental health, and then will progress to cover the practicalities of implementing nature into practices for everyday support for students both during their studies and in their professional work.

Learning outcomes

to be able to understand the autonomic nervous system and its implication for rest.
to consider some of the theories that underpin the benefits of nature for mental health & rest.
to review some of the scientific research that demonstrate the benefits, both physical and psychological, for spending time outdoors in nature.
to think about practical ways to integrate nature into the everyday, to support rest and enhance wellbeing.

Emily Alford is a MBACP integrative psychotherapist who works in private practice primarily outside in nature with clients in South-West London and Surrey. Emily holds an MA in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy from Roehampton University, a Higher Education Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling from Birkbeck and a First-Class Honours Degree in Biology from Imperial College. Emily conducted her 2-year counselling placement at Release Counselling at the YMCA St Paul’s Group in Wimbledon, where she continues to work in a counselling assessor role. Emily has volunteered for the past 5 years with the nature-based mental health charity, and NHS pathway, Dose of Nature, providing an 8-week nature-based intervention programme one-to-one with clients outdoors. Emily has also conducted research on this topic, comparing nature-based interventions to traditional talking therapy; research which she recently presented at the BACP International Research Conference, 2026. Further information about Emily can be found at: https://greengrasstherapy.co.uk