Mental health and well-being

Advice on effective mental health support for students and staff. Find out how universities and academics can 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 for overworked academics.

By Miranda Prynne, 16 March, 2023

Student support takes a village – but you need to create one first

Back view of students walking in autumnal park

To support students from diverse backgrounds, universities should actively foster supportive communities. For the University of Auckland, this meant creating a ‘village’ on campus, as Melissa Leaupepe explains

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 8 March, 2023

Those of us with dyspraxia are frequently affected by academic ableism

The actions, inertia and discretion of individual academics can be a key driver of ableism – here’s what you and your institution can do to help, says John Macklin

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 7 March, 2023

Is working from home going to solve your work-life balance problems?

How to make working from home work as an academic

Commitment and good implementation are required from both institutions and individuals to make working from home a success, writes Brenda Lautsch

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 6 March, 2023

10 ways universities can reject ableism

10 ways your university can reject ableism

William E. Donald and Larisa Yarovaya outline 10 clear ways universities can tackle ableism to create a sense of belonging for disabled students and staff

Reading time

5minutes

By dene.mullen, 24 February, 2023

How to advance equitable learning in your classes

Welcome sign for belonging at university

We must extend belonging to help students feel they’re cut out for college, lower barriers such as impostor syndrome and ultimately support learning, says Flower Darby

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 23 February, 2023

Where’s our Black bereavement leave?

Black bereavement leave in higher education

Higher education routinely ignores the emotional needs of Black faculty and staff, particularly after traumatic events, and it’s time for that to change, says Angel Jones

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 14 February, 2023

How to run an effective student well-being campaign

Outreach campaigns can help signpost students to university wellbeing services

From reaching out to the local community to making it interactive, Christina Chant offers seven tips for effectively promoting your university’s well-being services

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 9 February, 2023

A robust complaints process for students working in NHS placements

Students training as health and social care workers must be supported to speak up about complaints or concerns from practice settings. Helen Carr outlines a clear process

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen, 8 February, 2023

The changes to the National Student Survey could prove disastrous

The National Student Survey changes could harm higher education

The removal of well-being-centric questions and the ability to compare with previous years will impede universities’ ability to offer adequate support

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne, 1 February, 2023

Dos and do-overs: reflections on life as an early career researcher

Reflecting on her time as an early career researcher, Edzia Carvalho looks back at the things she did successfully – her dos – and the things she wishes she had done from the start – her do-overs – to help others embarking on the same journey

Reading time

6minutes

Mental health and well-being