Loughborough College has reaffirmed its commitment to support staff and students with their mental health and wellbeing by signing up to a brand new national charter.
The Charter was created, in conjunction with mental health experts, by the Association of Colleges (AoC), who last year selected the College's intiatives to feature in in its Mental Health and Wellbeing publication, launched in Westminster.
Amongst the eleven points on the Charter are commitments to provide targeted individual mental health support where appropriate, provide mental health training for staff and to promote equality of opportunity and challenge mental health stigma.
Colleges across England teach and train 2.2 million people each year - including 685,000 young people. An additional 76,000 young people in the 16-18 year old age group undertake apprenticeships in colleges and there are 1.4 million adults studying and training in colleges.
Every year, one in ten young people experience a mental health problem. At any one time, one in five young people aged 16-24 experience a common mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, and 75% of adults with a diagnosable mental health problem experience their first symptoms before the age of 24. “Loughborough College is playing a significant role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its 10,000 students and 750 staff,” said College CEO John Doherty.
“Like most colleges, we are seeing increasing numbers of students being reported as suffering with poor mental health and high anxiety levels. AoC figures in 2015 showed approaching three quarters of colleges reporting a significant increase in students with mental health problems in the previous three years and in 2017, 85% of colleges said the problem was getting worse. “Our College is dedicated to helping transform the lives of our students. It is vital that we create an environment where the staff who enable that, and every student they teach and train, can be offered the wellbeing advice and support they need – and signing this brand new national Charter reaffirms our commitment to providing that.”
An extensive programme of staff wellbeing activities at Loughborough College has included acupressure massages, reflexology, relaxation breathing and even a singing workshop. There has also been attachment and trauma awareness training for teaching staff to help them understand the impact those experiences can have on behaviour and the student support team shared their expertise with training which enabled staff to feel more confident in responding to a range of student mental health and wellbeing issues.
“A team of staff qualified in mental health first aid are also set to represent every department, embedding wellbeing strategies across the College, supporting line managers to support staff and teachers to support their students,” said learning and development officer Kelly Goddard. “They will provide opportunities for one to one engagement with signposting and will develop a range of group activities, so there is a choice to access either or both. It’s about creating a culture where students and staff feel able to express themselves, where they have the chance to access the help they feel is right for them and where they can have fun.”
Pictured: Loughborough College CEO John Doherty (seated) signs a new national charter to reaffirm the College’s commitment to supporting student and staff mental health and wellbeing, with (from left) vice principals Colin Butler, Sharon Townes and Hari Khurmi