Mental health and well-being

Advice on effective mental health support for students and staff to create a happier, healthier campus. Find out how universities and academics can promote well-being, protect their campus community from spiralling stress, minimise the risk of burnout and build resilience - from institutional practices that create a culture of care to personal self-care tips and healthy habits for overworked academics and students.

By kiera.obrien , 29 January, 2025

A practical guide to better public speaking: part two

A woman gives a talk to a room of colleagues

The second in a two-part series, here’s how to hone your public speaking skills, using the three Cs

Reading time

5minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 22 January, 2025

Using literature to increase students’ empathy

Self reflection prompted by literary works can enhance students' empathy. Here are tried and tested methods

Reading time

2minutes

By kiera.obrien , 22 January, 2025

A practical guide to better public speaking: part one

A speaker stands at a lectern with a microphone

Getting through long, not-so-interesting talks is a common experience in academia. But if we all agree it can be done better, how can we start delivering better presentations?

Reading time

5minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 18 January, 2025

What Frankenstein’s monster can teach researchers about the dark side of ‘impact’

What can a 19th-century novelist tell academics about research ethics? Taking time to see the impact of research on ourselves is a good place to start measuring the social good of scholarly endeavours, writes Jennifer Allsopp

Reading time

5minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 17 January, 2025

Setting up an in-house mediation service at your university

Want to prevent conflict escalation? Make mediation a “first resort” option

By Laura.Duckett , 16 January, 2025

How living with blepharospasm helped me become a better teacher

A group of students sitting in a circle while a teacher addresses them

Read about a strategy that helped an educator living with an eye condition build emotional resilience and create a more inclusive classroom environment

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 15 January, 2025

The small steps that can make a big difference to student parents

A adult works at a laptop, while a small child plays with dinosaur toys on the keyboard

Juggling academic and parental commitments is no easy feat. Here’s how universities can make small, programme-level adjustments to relieve the pressure on student parents

Reading time

5minutes

By miranda.prynne , 14 January, 2025

Yes, empathy can be taught – here’s how

Medical professional talking to a female patient

Find out how evidence-based methods can be used to provide empathy training, bringing huge potential benefits for healthcare outcomes and busting the myth that it can’t be taught

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 14 January, 2025

How to support neurodivergent postgraduate researchers

A jigsaw puzzle shaped like a head, brightly coloured blocks emitting from it

How can universities ensure PhD students of all neurotypes can thrive? Here’s how to provide neurodiversity-affirmative supervision

By Eliza.Compton , 11 January, 2025

Can non-assessed creative play help students develop confidence and critical thinking?

Supporting and enhancing students’ drawing skills improves not only their visual communication but also their mental health and well-being. Chris Wright and Zoë Allman offer low-stakes ways to use creativity to build community

Mental health and well-being