How Universities Are Prioritising Student Wellbeing in 2023
It's World Mental Health Day 2023! To mark the occasion, we're taking a look back at our February Take 5 Wellbeing Special, which shone a spotlight on five outstanding university wellbeing campaigns that caught our eye.
While we're on the subject, we'd be remiss not to give a shout out to the winner of our Postgrad Awards "Outstanding Contribution to Postgraduate Support & Wellbeing" category, Imperial College London. Your Community, Your Imperial is a widening participation campaign dedicated to promoting Black inclusivity at the university. The project was developed in collaboration with Black students as well as a variety of all-Black organisations and agencies.
As many students are struggling to balance academic demands with rising living costs and the aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic, there has never been a better time to prioritise student wellbeing!
To help inspire your next wellbeing and mental health initiative, we’ve taken a look at how universities in the UK and beyond are rising to the challenge.
#1 Mental health coaching for postgraduates at the University of Birmingham
Kicking off with a fantastic initiative tailored specifically to postgraduate students, we were excited to hear that the University of Birmingham will provide a series of monthly mental health workshops and weekly group coaching for postgraduate researchers throughout the year.
The workshops will be delivered by Bloomwise, a mental health consultancy business founded by two former PhD candidates at the University of Birmingham. Sessions will focus on various topics around wellbeing and stress management while studying for a research degree. We loved the idea of former researchers using their personal experience to build a wellbeing resource for current students!
#2 Cost of Living Hub at the University of Bedfordshire
With the cost-of-living crisis becoming a major contributor to increased student stress in the UK, the University of Bedfordshire has developed a digital Cost of Living Hub, available on the university’s student mobile app.
The hub provides 24/7 access to information about little-known student discounts, warm study spots on campus to help cut down on heating bills, and in-person counselling for those struggling to cope.
#3 MENtion it at the University of Bath
To address the often overlooked issue of men’s mental health, the University of Bath has launched MENtion it, a collaborative campaign between Student Minds, the university and the Students’ Union. The campaign offers various resources to male students looking for support, including a weekly student-led Talk Club which provides a judgement-free space to discuss issues such as exam stress, relationship difficulties and loneliness.
#4 The Good Vibes Experiment at Flinders University
The Good Vibes Experiment is a campaign led by Flinders University in Australia. It provides mental health resources that are freely available to not only Flinders students, but other universities across Australia and internationally.
Resources include a downloadable activity book with evidence-based tips on improving your mental health, alongside unique activities, experiments and space for personal reflection. Users can also access ‘The 20 Tactics’ – a list of easy wellbeing strategies to implement in their everyday lives, based on psychological research.
#5 Library nap pods at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
At least one coffee-fuelled all-nighter may be an inevitability during postgraduate study, but the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has become one of the latest universities to offer students a chance to recharge with on-campus nap pods!
Students can take a 20-minute power nap, aided by ambient music and coloured lighting. The pods have been installed as part of the university’s ‘Need-A-Pause’ campaign, in collaboration with its Counselling and Wellness Centre.
We see hundreds of postgraduate marketing campaigns and continually gather data on engagement with our own websites and emails. Contact your Account Manager or email [email protected] for advice and support with your campaigns and we'll be happy to help.
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