Update from Student Minds

[Jill Anderson]

Please find an update below from Student Minds about upcoming national initiatives and training programmes to support student mental health, which you may wish to share with colleagues. 

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University Mental Health Day 2016

Taking place on Thursday the 3rd of March 2016, University Mental Health Day is a great opportunity to bring together the key players in student mental health. Last year over 60 universities participated in University Mental Health Day, which was started in 2012 by UMHAN (University Mental Health Advisers Network) and is supported by Student Minds and members of the Alliance for Student-Led Wellbeing. This year the theme is  #HeadsTogether, championing what we can do to support others, and encouraging conversations about what can be done to transform the state of mental health at university. To find out about the ‘Heads Together’ Pledge, inspiration for events, and to download a printable postcard, Click here.  Let Student Minds know what you have planned by emailing [e-mail] so they can publicise your event on our University Mental Health Day Map. Let's get our #HeadsTogether to transform the state of student mental health!

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Ripple 

Last week Student Minds launched Ripple, a campaign aiming to change students’ opinions of depression and support students who are experiencing low mood while they’re at university. The campaign encourages students to share their Ripple Tips with other students: the small things they do to support their own mental health and cope with depression. Some quick ideas for getting your university involved might be to promote the campaign via social media, and share photos of your own #RippleTips. A full campaign pack is available online and look out for lots of digital content over the next 3 months. Ripple builds on the “Positive Minds” peer support course and partnership working with Students Against Depression. FIND OUT MORE

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Student Mental Health Trainer workshops Spring 2016

 

Student Minds are delivering a number of regional training events for two Train the Trainer programmes over the coming months.




Look After Your Mate: In 2014/15 the Look After Your Mate workshop was developed and piloted at over 10 universities, equipping students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to support a friend who is struggling. The workshop covers motivational interviewing techniques and encourages students to think about boundaries and protecting their own wellbeing. The 2 hour workshop demonstrated an average 29% increase in their knowledge of how to support a friend. Student Minds have since developed Look After Your Mate into a 1 day train the trainer model for university staff that wish to pick up and deliver this programme at their institution and currently 16 universities have signed up. The training day costs £250, licensing trainers to run the workshop as often as required, with ongoing support provided. The remaining training dates for  this academic year are:

• Tuesday 16th February: Birmingham City University

• Wednesday 9th March: City University, London

• Wednesday 30th March: University of Leeds

FURTHER DETAILS

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Mental Health in Sport: Following the success of the Mental Health in Sport project in 2015 in collaboration with BUCS, registration has opened for three new training dates. The two-day course (costing £290), equips university sport staff to run mental health workshops for students participating in university sport. The programme has been delivered on campuses by 17 trainers from 9 different universities to date. Staff that attended last year’s course reported  an 83% increase in their knowledge of best practice in supporting mental health within HE sport, and student attendees demonstrate an average 48% increase in knowledge of how to support a team mate. Remaining Training dates: 

• 21st-22nd March: Royal Holloway, Surrey

• 31st March-1st April: Student Minds office, Oxford

• 23rd-24th June: Northumbria University

FURTHER DETAILS

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