Prioritise connection this Mental Health Month
Uni can be a funny mix. You can spend an entire day surrounded by people,in a lecture theatre, out and about on campus, on a group chat, and still feel a bit isolated.
Add assignments, work, money stuff, life admin and whatever else is happening in the world, and it’s not surprising if things sometimes feel like a lot. That’s where connection comes in.
Every October Deakin recognises Mental Health Month, and this year’s theme is Together We Thrive. It’s a reminder that looking after our mental health isn’t always about what we do on our own. The people, places and communities around us can make a difference too – and at Deakin, there are lots of ways to connect, find your people and be supported.
Connection doesn’t have to mean becoming best mates with everyone you meet. It could be having a good chat between classes, joining something because it looks interesting or simply knowing where to turn when you need a hand.
Find your people at Deakin
You don’t need to suddenly become the person who knows everyone on campus. Start with something that already interests you!
- Join a club or play sport
DUSA Clubs and DUSA Sport are great ways to meet people, try something new or spend time doing something you actually enjoy. And yes, you’re allowed to turn up without knowing anyone. - Connect with other students
If you’re an international student, the International Student Connect program can help you meet other students, build friendships and feel more at home at Deakin. - Keep an eye on what’s happening on campus
From social activities to workshops and wellbeing events, there are plenty of opportunities to step away from your study routine and do something different.
A little help, right in your pocket
Looking after your mental health can look different at different times. Sometimes it’s reaching out, spending time with people who support you or finding a community where you feel you belong.
Other times, it might mean checking in with yourself and making space for what you need. Connection matters, but so does looking after yourself.
The DeakinWELLBEING app has free resources you can dip into whenever you need them, including guided meditations and practical activities to help you reset. You can also listen to our wellbeing podcasts in the app:
- Social anxiety podcast
Explore social anxiety and pick up some practical ideas for navigating situations that feel uncomfortable or overwhelming. - Perfectionism podcast
Learn more about perfectionism, how it can show up in study and ways to take some of the pressure off.
A blue tree, a big conversation
If you’ve ever visited our Waurn Ponds or Warrnambool campuses, you may have noticed something a little unusual – trees painted bright blue. Maybe you’ve wondered what it was all about, or maybe you already know the story behind it.
The Blue Tree Project uses blue trees as symbols of hope, connection and mental health awareness, encouraging people to look out for one another and start conversations that might otherwise be difficult.
Symbol of Hope: Blue Tree Project Unveiling at Deakin Waterfront
On Tuesday 27 October, we’ll be unveiling Deakin’s first Blue Tree installation at the Waterfront campus, with reflections from student lived experience storytellers, light refreshments and creative activities, including a collaborative blue thumbprint artwork and mini clay trees you can take home.
All students, staff and community members are welcome.
Got something to express? Make it into art
Sometimes a feeling is easier to draw, paint, photograph or create than explain.
Submissions are still open for the 2026 Mind Matters Art Exhibition, giving you the chance to share a creative work inspired by mental health, mental illness, wellbeing, recovery or caring for someone experiencing mental ill-health.
Your work might explore what looking after your mental wellbeing looks like, share an experience or perspective, or simply leave people with something to think about.
You don’t need to be a professional artist – just something to say and a creative way to say it!
Make October a little more connected
There's no absolute checklist for having good mental health, and there's certainly no prize for doing everything yourself.
This Mental Health Month, try finding one small way to connect – whether that's joining a club, saying yes to an event, checking in with a mate or asking for support.
For more ideas, visit the Mental Health Month webpage. You'll find out social anxiety and perfectionism podcasts, printable Mental Health Month calendars, events happening throughout October, and information about mental health resources and support services available to Deakin students.
You don't have to figure out everything at once. Find something that works for you, find someone you can talk to and take it from there.