On University Mental Health Day (3 March), Director of Wellbeing Dr. Mahesha Samaratunga reminds staff of ways we can help support our students and each other by raising mental health awareness.
‘This #UniMentalHealthDay, (Thursday 3rd March), keep an eye out for the Wellbeing Stalls on campus in Library Square from 12-2pm, featuring information on mental health charities, mindfulness and volunteering. Students can also attend a Mindfulness Taster session in the Chaplaincy from 2-3pm.
‘For academic staff working directly with students, please check in with your advisees and if they are struggling with their mental health do direct them to me or Advice & Counselling.
‘Think about sharing tips on emotional wellbeing with students regularly https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/emotional-wellbeing/ and let students know that the Student Union wellbeing support also has useful resources: https://www.qmsu.org/advice/wellbeing/
‘Queen Mary does offer a number of avenues for students to access support with their mental health. Our Student & Academic Services team has information around student wellbeing https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sas/student-wellbeing/ and the Queen Mary Advice and Counselling’s blog is really informative: https://qmulcounselling.wordpress.com/2022/02/25/university-mental-health-day-2022-supporting-our-mental-health/
‘Do encourage your advisees to get help for their mental well-being struggles and remind them of the importance of engaging with their GP keeping to their scheduled appointments with Queen Mary Advice & Counselling.
‘If students need a wellbeing meeting with me, please pass on my details to them.
‘The mental wellbeing of our community of staff in the School is of course equally important. Here are some tips on supporting colleagues or finding support and guidance for yourself.
‘Check in with team members and ask them how they are.
‘Share a useful article with your team, for example, this article from the Mrs Mindfulness website on overcoming negative thought patterns: https://mrsmindfulness.com/the-four-keys-to-overcoming-negative-thinkingfor-good/
‘Attend wellbeing webinars or events. Our Employee Assistance Programme is running an online webinar ‘From tired to inspired: keeping engaged and preventing burnout’ on Thursday 17 March at 12pm. Watch via the portal (username: queenmary password: employee): https://www.workplaceoptions.co.uk/member-login-2/. There are also several on demand webinars that staff can watch including Stress buster: Managing and Taking Control of Your Life, Open Communication: Powerful Ways to Create It Sleep Essentials.
‘If you are thinking of getting therapy and you don’t know what may be suitable for you the BACP has a lot of resources https://www.bacp.co.uk/
‘If you are looking for a counsellor the ‘Counselling directory’ is a good place to look at https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiAyPyQBhB6EiwAFUuakugBdFPSrt1ygzAU-MnQhMx3XoZ18cJUeFhzB9c28JvpkbxEOlFOaBoCpQ8QAvD_BwE ‘
For more info and resources, visit: https://www.unimentalhealthday.co.uk/getinvolved.html