University Mental Health Day brings the university community together to make mental health a university-wide priority and create ongoing change to the future of student and staff mental health. Universities, including ours, have an important role to play in promoting good mental health, identifying those who are starting to struggle early, and supporting those who have a mental health condition.
We are currently in the process of refreshing our university strategy and are making health and wellbeing a core part of everything we do, with a holistic approach to mental health in particular.
In what has been one of our most challenging years, we celebrate the connectedness of our community at Greenwich and discuss how we can continue to support each other and our mental health through these times. Speaking at the event, Prof Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor said:
We know that mental health hugely matters to our students and staff, and it also hugely matters to me. We’re committing to make our university a place that promotes good health and good mental health, enabling all students and staff to thrive and succeed to their best potential, and implement a whole university approach.
Sir Norman Lamb, Chair South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, spoke of the real challenges that universities face, and how universities are addressing these. Sir Norman spoke of his work with Universities UK and how he was impressed with the level and commitment from them and Student Minds, adding that
It’s brilliant that Greenwich is seeking to take up the challenge of the Student Minds Charter and commit to achieve that high standard.
Prof Derek Moore, Pro Vice-Chancellor explained more about the Institute for Lifecourse Development which promotes lifelong wellbeing, developing effective and economically sustainable lifecourse solutions and tackles some of the most significant challenges society faces. It has a Centre for Mental Health and a Centre for Inequalities which are both key in this area, the ILD website provides further information on the centres and their work.
Reflecting on the discussion Chris Shelley, Director of Student and Academic Services said:
I found the opportunity to reflect on what we have done and what we aim to do, with an external expert such as Sir Norman Lamb, a very welcome experience. The breadth of sessions we have had this year for University Mental Health Day, delivered by staff and students from a range of areas, shows how we are meeting our ambition of creating a whole university approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our community.
Sir Norman helped us reflect on how we support student transition to university and how we engage with partners in the NHS and other education providers, as well as consider the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on our wellbeing and what we might do about that in the future.
Supporting you
You can continue to make use of the information and video resources on our University Mental Health Day web page, as well as the information in our Wellbeing hub.
Please remember the university is here to help and support you.
Students, please see information about the support services available in Let’s talk about mental health and wellbeing.
Staff, please see details of the support available to you and our current working arrangements.
