Universiteit Leiden

Loneliness Awareness Week

It’s Loneliness Awareness Week from 28 September till 4 October. Leiden University offers a range of activities and initiatives intended to help students.    

Almost 80% of students in the Netherlands experience loneliness to some extent (RIVM, 2021). This can be related to language barriers, lack of in-person contact or feelings of not belonging. 

People experience loneliness in different ways but it is often accompanied by low mood, anxiety and other effects on your mental and physical health. In other words, it can have a big impact on your well-being and happiness. 

On this page, you can find tips, tools and activities that can help you to connect with others. 

Walk-in consultation hour Returning after the corona period

For some students, the corona period is well and truly behind them. For others, it had such an impact that it is still a daily reality. Have you fallen into social isolation, had experiences you cannot talk about, become ill and not yet recovered, experienced exclusion or still feel unsafe?

Whatever your experiences or situation, everyone is welcome to talk about it during this walk-in hour on 28 September from 16:00 till 18:00. You can either just drop by or register in advance. 

28 September Open Doors Day

On the first day of Loneliness Awareness Week, Thursday 28 September, it is Open Doors Day and the doors of your lecturers and study advisers will be (symbolically) open.

It is important that you know who to contact with any questions. For example, do you know who your study adviser is? On 28 September, why not drop by and say hello to your study adviser or visit that lecturer you always wanted to speak to? If you have questions or need advice, you are also welcome to come by. 

Of course, you can also drop by after 28 September and we hope will do so for the rest of the year. See you on Open Doors Day! 

10 tips for tackling loneliness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acts of Kindness

Maybe you already noticed them? Bulletin boards with little cards pinned to them. These are Acts of Kindness boards which bring together supply and demand by way of little notes. For example, a suggestion for a good book or an invitation to drink coffee or cook dinner together. This is a lovely way to get to know people and perhaps be inspired to help others. 

During Loneliness Awareness Week, a new board will be unveiled at Plexus Student Centre. Why not drop by and leave a note? 

You can also find Acts of Kindness board at Campus The Hague, the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Living Room

Did you know that there are 'Living Rooms' available at several locations within the university? Living Rooms can be used by students as a place to relax, chat with friends and get to know other students. Every Living Room can be used by students of all faculties. At the Living Room in Plexus there is also a Student Well-being Desk where you can find out about well-being activities and facilities. You can find Living Rooms in the KOG, the faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Plexus Student Centre.

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