World Mental Health Day is celebrated worldwide on 10 October each year.
World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness of mental health concerns and to encourage people to work together to improve mental health support for everyone. Ìý
It’s a day to talk freely about mental health and utilise the support around you.
The theme of World Mental Health Day 2024, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is: prioritising Mental health in the workplace.
For many of us this will mean different things, but whether you work part-time around your studies, are an apprentice, a T Level student approaching your placement, or planning to do some work experience during your programme, looking after your mental health while working is important for you, for others, the organisation or company and communities.
Back in May 2023, we launched our Mental Health Strategy, Mental Health Matters Here, which aims to support the mental health and wellbeing of everyone at ºÚÁÏÍø. In addition, we have also created anxiety and stress courses for students too. ÌýÌý
World Mental Health Day Student Message
To mark World Mental Health Day, Gary Headland, CEO of ºÚÁÏÍø has recorded a message for all students.
Join in with on campus activities
We are hosting a number of events for staff and students across our campuses, pop along to one our drop in sessions below on Tuesday 10 October:
- Banbury and Bicester College: Tea and Talk, Main Hall, from 10am-1pm (for students and staff).
- Bracknell and Wokingham College: Bracknell Forest Community Network will have a stand in Recharge, from 12-2pm to speak to students about how to look after their wellbeing and mental health services available.
- City of Oxford College and University Centre, Oxford city-centre campus: Take a look at our Positive notice boards in Recharge and grab a Positive Banana from reception. You can also pick up a wellbeing journal from Advice and Admissions or Student Support.
- City of Oxford College and University Centre, Technology campus in Blackbird Leys: We’re launching our Chill Thursdays where students can watch movies and relax with some crafts in room V105, every Thursday from 12-1.30pm.
- Farnham College: Tea and Talk in the Learning Environment (LRC), from 12.15-1pm. There will be games and questions for staff and students to get involved with to think about and prioritise their mental health.
- Merrist Wood College and University Centre: Hot drinks and treats in The Harris Centre, from 10-11am (for students and staff). Come and say hello to the volunteers at The Samaritans from 11.30am-1.30pm in the Harris Centre.
- Reading College and University Centre: Together for Mental Wellbeing will be delivering a one hour interactive wellbeing workshop from 12.30-1.30pm, in A131.
Supporting your mental wellbeing and studies at collegeÌý
There may be times at college where you feel you may benefit from some additional support. Ìý
When we look after our mental health and wellbeing, we ensure that we can focus on and make the most of our studies and relationships.Ìý
To help you thrive in your personal life and at college, we offer lots of support services at college.
Your wellbeing and education are important to us. So, if you find yourself struggling, you can access: Ìý
- Learning SupportÌý
- Staying safe and SafeguardingÌý
- Careers advice and guidanceÌý
- Welfare servicesÌý
- Progress coachesÌý
- Struggling to settle at collegeÌý
- Contacts for your support needsÌý
- Accommodation (Oxfordshire and Merrist Wood College and University Centre)Ìý
- Financial SupportÌý
Who can I talk to at college about my mental health?Ìý
At each ºÚÁÏÍø college, our dedicated Student Support and Safeguarding team are here to help with any of your mental health or wellbeing concerns. Ìý
We want everyone to feel safe and supported.ÌýStudent Support can help you with your mental health and wellbeing, offering services including: Ìý
Wellbeing Advisers
Our new Wellbeing Advisers will be responsible for supporting students who need support with mild to moderate mental health needs, while the Safeguarding team will retain responsibility for supporting students with moderate to high level mental health needs.
The Wellbeing Advisors can support students with anxiety, questions around their identity or gender, loneliness, feeling down or low, struggling with sleep, or experiencing an upsetting life event (relationship breakdown, bereavement or struggling with change).
Any staff member can refer a student to Wellbeing Advisors.
College nurse (Oxfordshire campuses only) Ìý
The college nurse service covers:Ìý
- ContraceptionÌý
- Sexual health and guidanceÌý
- Stop smokingÌý
- Mental healthÌý
- Relationship advice and guidanceÌý
- Healthy eatingÌý
CounsellingÌý Ìý
A free and confidential counselling service is available at all students at ºÚÁÏÍø. Ìý
Mental health supportÌý Ìý
Whatever your mental health concern, we have a support package available to help you.Ìý
You can contact Student Support and the Safeguarding team by visiting them on campus, calling 01865 550 041 or emailing safe@activatelearning.ac.uk. Ìý
If you need support with your mental health outside of college hours, you can contact:Ìý
- Samaritans: 116 123Ìý
- Child Line: 0800 1111Ìý
- Police: 101Ìý
- Emergency Services: 999Ìý
Ways you can boost your mental health and wellbeingÌý
There are lots of ways you can boost your mental health and wellbeing outside of our support services at college. Ìý
On World Mental Health Day, you could: Ìý
- Join a club at collegeÌý
- Join the Students’ Union, become aÌýStudent Rep or join the Student Leadership Team by chatting to your Student Enrichment Officer or Head of Student ExperienceÌý
- Borrow a book from one of our Learning Environments or read online via BorrowBoxÌý
- Enrol on a short or leisure courseÌý
- Go outside and get active – try to reach 10,000 steps each dayÌý
- Spend time with friends and familyÌý
- Unwind by journaling or drawing
- Restrict your social media usageÌýÌý
- Go shopping and take advantage of student discounts with TotumÌý
Clubs and activities at collegeÌý
At each ºÚÁÏÍø college, our Student Enrichment and Engagement team hosts a wealth of clubs and activities.ÌýÌý
These clubs are the perfect opportunity to meet new and like-minded people and to improve your mental health.Ìý
Clubs on offer across ºÚÁÏÍø include:
- LGBTQIA+
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Photography
- Football
- Board games
- Students’ Union
- Student Reps
- Philosophy or theories
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Christian Union
You can learn more about student clubs, events throughout the yearÌýand activities at your campus by speaking to your local Student Enrichment Officer.
If you’d like to start a new club, your Student Enrichment Officer would be more than happy to support this!
Utilising our Learning Environments at college and onlineÌý
Our Learning Environments offer in-person and digital services for all students.Ìý They offer many great resources to boost your mental health in light of World Mental Health Day!
They are a great place for quiet study and research. You can borrow books, read magazines, use the computers and more!ÌýÌýÌýÌý
ºÚÁÏÍø Online (ALO) is also a great resource, you can find out more about Learning Environments on ALO.ÌýÌý
On ALO, you can learn more about: Ìý
- Resources for your courseÌý
- How to use the Learning Environments’ servicesÌý
- Booking a computer at collegeÌý
- Online magazines and newspapersÌý
- Databases for researchÌý
- Reading for pleasureÌý
- English resources for speakers of other languages (ESOL)Ìý
Other World Mental Health Day resourcesÌý
Here are some other World Mental Health Day resources that you may find useful:
- Mental health support for students at ºÚÁÏÍøÌý
- Mental Health Foundation – How to manage and reduce stress
- Mental Health Foundation – Our best mental health tips
- NHS – Every Mind MattersÌý
- NHS – Every Mind Matters: Your Mind Plan Quiz
- How to be a good friend to someone struggling with mental health issues
- Why engaging in creative leisure courses can benefit your mental health and wellbeingÌý
We hope you have found this content useful on World Mental Health Day. There’s lots going on across our campuses!
If you’d like to get involved in the conversation, join us via the ºÚÁÏÍø social media channels using the hashtags:Ìý#WorldMentalHealthDay, #WMHD and #PinItForMentalHealth