Early in 2019 the university and Greenwich Students' Union (GSU) launched the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. As we reflect on this following Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to share an update with you on the progress we're making.
In the past year we have:
- launched the Big White Wall platform - providing 24/7 online and anonymous support for our students
- undertaken over 1,,600 GSU wellbeing checks across all of our campuses, a 60% increase on last year with Medway registrations supported for the first time, in partnership with GK Unions
- delivered mental health first aid training to nearly 800 staff – to ensure our community understands the issues around mental health and wellbeing and are there to support each other
- become an inaugural member of the Mentally Healthy Universities Project – delivering workshops to students and training to staff, funded by Goldman Sachs and delivered by Mind
- celebrated the GSU Mind Society winning 'Event of the Year' for their inclusive Halloween event delivered alongside the Harry Potter Society. The society, a group of self-organised students, have consistently organised high quality events on wellbeing and mental health in partnership with Mind
- launched a Staff Wellbeing Champions Network – supporting and training a core group of staff to lead initiatives, promote activities and support their colleagues
- added more events to the 'Stressbusters' programme which supports the wellbeing of students and offers tailored wellbeing support to placements, and is part of the GSU's Academic Communities programme
- refreshed our Wellbeing Hub – the home of all our resources, guidance in information for staff and students
- reviewed our support services for students – identifying ways to promote them and make them as accessible as possible to those who need them
- curated mental health exhibitions online and in the GSU exhibition space, including 'More than a Staff, More than a Student' based on the theme of life outside of the university, mental health through photos 'World Mental Health Day exhibition' and following a male student's journey of mental health at university, 'A Mental Health Diary'
- joined a collaborative project on Embedding Mental Wellbeing in the Curriculum – with 11 other universities across the UK
- mapped our plans onto the new University Mental Health Charter – launched by Student Minds, to ensure our strategy will be fit for purpose moving forward
- engaged in GSU Volunteering Week with students and staff volunteering for wellbeing and taking part in litter picking activities around our campuses and local area to keep our communities tidy and protect wildlife
- collectively rowed 2020 miles to raise awareness of mental health – and money for Sport Relief, with our partners Row Britannia
Many of you have contributed to, or been part of, the activities above – thank you – we know that by working together we will achieve more great results for our whole university community. We have much more planned for the future as we strive to achieve the objectives in the strategy:
- Ensure our resources meet the needs of our students and staff and are accessible to everyone in our community
- Create a culture where staff and students discuss mental health, the connection to physical health, and reinforce a positive attitude towards both
- Support our staff to understand their own mental health needs
- Embed health and wellbeing within the curriculum and promote Inclusive Practice
- Provide specific support and guidance to our international students
The university is here to support our students and staff
Students: If you have any concerns or would like to access support, the university's support services are available for you to use. The details of the Student Wellbeing Service and the Students' Union Advice Service can be found on our website.
Staff: If you have any concerns or would like to access support, the university's Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is available for you to use, further details on its arrangements during the Coronavirus pandemic are available on the Staff FAQ page.
