Physical Health, Disability and Long-term conditions

Physical Health, Disability and Long-term conditions

Physical Health

Page written and resources collated by Miriam Grace and Mary McCabe, Senior Wellbeing Practitioners

Our physical health is important as it can help or hinder our ability to learn, socialise and participate in all the important parts of University life. It also links to our mental wellbeing.

Maintaining physical health includes:

  • exercise
  • getting enough sleep
  • eating a healthy balanced diet
  • drinking plenty of water
  • safe use of alcohol
  • using contraception
  • avoiding drugs (including too much caffeine)
  • maintaining vitamin D level by getting fresh air or taking a supplement.

It also includes managing new symptoms and ongoing physical conditions e.g. asthma, eczema and diabetes, with the help of the local chemist, GP and practice nurses. There are also national and local support forums/services for specific problems including diabetes, asthma, skin conditions etc.

Chronic Health and Invisible Illness

Are you managing a long term health condition alongside your studies and a social life?

We have often found that in order for a student to access the support they are entitled to, they may first need support to identify their needs as important. Shame, stigma and upsetting history with chronic illness can prevent this, which is why Wellbeing Services work with Disabled Student Support to help students feel more confident about identifying their needs and accepting their condition.

Disability

Picture of a Sheffield Hallam disability form

Learning Contracts

1 in 7 students at Hallam are classed as having a disability. If you have anxiety/depression, dyslexia or a range of mental health or medical conditions you are eligible for a range of helpful support with your study.

Browse Disabled Student Support

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Flaredown

comprehensive symptom tracker and support for a range of chronic conditions

Download the app
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NHS App

Useful if you have ongoing medical issues and GP support and get confused and forget GP appointments and prescriptions. Use the NHS App to, check your symptoms, find out what to do if you need help urgently, book and manage appointments at your GP surgery, order repeat prescriptions and view your GP medical record securely.

Download the app

Places to get help

 Health Area Organisation Description
General Health Student health at SHU All students are encouraged to register with this GP practice whilst they are a student living in Sheffield during term-time. Their website explains how to register, what services they offer and a range of other useful information on managing your health.
General Health NHS 111 online or by phone Advice on what to do and where to go locally if you have a medical emergency, including if you have run out of a prescription. Offers an out-of-hours 24/7 phone-back service to discuss symptoms if required if you can't access a GP and require urgent help.
General Health Sheffield Walk in Centre Open 0800-2200 every day including bank holidays and weekends. A friendly walk-in  GP service which is run by Advanced clinical practitioners.
Heart Cardiomyopathy UK The heart muscle charity - Sheffield and South Yorkshire support for people with heart problems and their families.
Lungs Breathe easy Sheffield  Asthma and Lung support in Sheffield.
Bowel So bad ass  Support for Crohns and Colitis in South Yorkshire.
Cancer Cavendish Cancer Care  Support for those experiencing cancer and their families.
Diabetes Sheffield Diabetes UK  Sheffield Support Group from Diabetes UK. Support for those with Diabetes type 1 or 2.
Endometriosis Endometriosis UK  Sheffield support group for those experiencing Endometriosis.
Epilepsy Epilepsy Action Sheffield talk and support group for those experiencing epilepsy.  Meets monthly.
ME and Fibromyalgia  Sheffield ME and Fibromyalgia Group Support and information for people of all ages with ME, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Long-Covid as well as support for families and carers.
Health and Wellbeing NHS Sheffield Talking Therapies  NHS Talking Therapies health and wellbeing service provide a range of support for people living with a long term physical health condition. 


An image of a hand holding a phone displaying the Well.Me app

Well Me Programme - Kiosk and App

We are pleased to introduce a new Health and Wellbeing platform Well.Me, for Staff and Students.

The Well.Me programme provides precision physical monitoring of vital health metrics via a Well.Point Health Kiosk combined with a digital tracking and analytics platform – Well.Me app, that tracks progress through an intuitive dashboard, allows users to set personal goals and share experiences with others in the SHU community. Find out more.