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<\/p>\nSaqib Mahmood, a student at The University of Manchester, has taken a year out from his course to become the wellbeing officer at the University of Manchester.<\/p>\n
However, it has been a far from an easy road for Saqib.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old from Nottingham has a particular reason for having run for the role – the same reason he became an activist for mental health.<\/p>\n
Saqib was first exposed to mental health from the age of four when his dad was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Traumatised by events he experienced growing up, he believes this is what triggered his own battle with mental health.<\/p>\n
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In 2015, Saqib was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after suffering an episode of psychosis in his second year studying law.<\/p>\n
Sadly, a year later he relapsed after experiencing a second episode of psychosis, which led him being sectioned in Liverpool under the Mental Health Act. <\/p>\n
Saqib said: \u201cI didn\u2019t know what sectioning was until I got sectioned. There is stigma attached to mental health and no one talks about that part.\u201d<\/p>\n
After having support from his brother and sister-in-law, who is an occupational therapist, Saqib was discharged from the psychiatric ward and took the courageous decision to return to university but to change courses.<\/p>\n
Reaching the end of his first year, Saqib felt it was his time to help others.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI started this society called Open Mind, it\u2019s a space where you can come and talk about mental health, the problems that come with it, and meet people that have been through similar things.\u201d<\/p>\n
The society has gone on to win two awards for Best New Society and also won the University of Manchester\u2019s prestigious Social Responsibility Award. <\/p>\n
Statistics below for people diagnosed with bi polar in the UK.<\/p>\n
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