World Mental Health Day, Thursday 10 October

To encourage you to take time out to look after your own mental health and wellbeing, we’re offering a range of free taster complementary therapies on Streatham and St Luke’s campuses. We’d like to share these treatments with colleagues who may not have previously benefited from free tasters at our Staff Festival. Find out more and click on the links to book:

St Luke’s Campus:

• Auricular Acupuncture, 12 – 1pm, Baring Court 126 
• Reflexology, 1:30 – 2:30pm, Baring Court 09 
• Yoga Massage, 4:30 – 5:30pm, St Luke’s Sports Centre meeting room 

Streatham Campus:

• Auricular Acupuncture, 5-6pm, Hope Hall G02 
• Reflexology, 11am – 12pm, Sports Park Treatment Room 
• Yoga Massage, 12 – 1:45pm, Innovation Centre – The Deck

We want to support colleagues with their mental health, and see work in this area as a journey that is ongoing.  So whilst it’s World Mental Day this Thursday, supporting colleagues’ mental health happens year-round.  As part of the Positive Working Environment initiative, and a broader set of approaches that also aim to address the underlying causes of stress at work, we are running three pilot mindfulness groups this academic year (for around 45 colleagues).  When the sessions are completed they will be evaluated to assess benefit for staff.  Work is also underway to improve access to training for managers to support colleagues, with an online tool being developed.  We will also be training Heads of Department and additional Mental Health First Aiders.  We will continue to have a 24 hour counselling service that can be accessed by all colleagues and SilverCloud can provide online cognitive behavioural therapy to help us take charge of our mental health.  A new Staff Wellbeing Group is developing and implementing a wellbeing strategy and action plan in response to the Employee Engagement Survey.  This group will report to the Positive Working Environment board.

Other activity on World Mental Health Day includes:

Time to Change are organising one hour creative workshops exploring your mental health story at Exeter Phoenix between 1pm and 5pm.  Book your place online. 

From 7-9pm a panel event will share stories at the Wellcome Centre, Queen’s building, Streatham Campus. Time to Change is hosting an evening of testimonies, films and research regarding mental illness, followed by a chance to ask a panel questions about portrayals of mental health in a range of media and in their own experiences. Whatever your experience with mental health, your voice and your story are welcome.

A Mindful Meditation class is running from 12:30 – 1:15pm in Baring Court 09 at St Luke’s Campus, or every Monday lunchtime during term time on Streatham Campus. All colleagues are welcome, no previous experience is necessary, and there’s no need to book. 

There is also a Wool Craft Group, running Thursdays 12:30-1:30pm in the Senior Common Room, Queen’s Building. This informal group brings wellbeing benefits through companionship, and making something that can be of value to others. 

You can find out more about World Mental Health day on the Mind website and the Mental Health Foundation website.