Mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people every year and common ones, such as anxiety and depression, affect 1 in 6 people each week. The state of our mental health affects how we think, feel and react - and therefore how we learn and work - and can in turn be affected by our environment, various situations and life factors, such as social isolation, stress, bereavement, discrimination, etc. Mental health problems may be diagnosed or undiagnosed, occasionally visible, but often hidden.
On this page, you can:
If you have a mental health impairment, there are a few ways you could get support:
If you would like peer support, you could join a Staff Network.
It is likely some of your students and colleagues will be struggling with their mental health at some point throughout their studies/work, whether because of a pre-existing condition or a stressful life event. Designing your content and activities bearing this in mind can create a more supportive environment for them, making it more likely that they will stick through their studies/work and thrive.
Ensure your materials have inclusive language. You can check for non-inclusive language automatically in MS Office.
Consider letting your audience know in advance if you are going to ask for their input in a synchronous session, to allow them a few minutes to think about their contribution. This can also encourage more active participation.
Consider providing more than one option for activities that are more likely to put your audience on the spot, such as pre-recorded presentations, rather than live ones.
Ensure instructions, expectations and next steps are clear. It is important to know what is required and what is optional, as well as what will happen once a form or assignment is submitted.
Give your audience the opportunity to ask questions or give feedback asynchronously and/ or anonymously. This will enable them to do so, even if they felt shy during a live session or are afraid to ask a question they think may be obvious.
