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 dene.mullen , 7 March, 2022

Slowing down earlier in the pandemic went well – so why speed back up?

Academia showed it can slow down in the early days of the pandemic, so why has higher education gone back to warp speed again now?

The online tools adopted in the past two years do have positives, but they’ve also created a new kind of pressure – the pressure to be everywhere at once

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen , 4 March, 2022

Meritocracy in the academy isn’t fit for purpose – but we can fix it

Meritocracy in higher education is not fit for purpose with minorities of all stripes finding an unsafe environment

Institutions need to think about who they’re picking and foster both literacy and competence around minority issues as the first steps to a true meritocracy

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne , 1 March, 2022

What parents need to succeed in academia and how universities can help

Recommendations for support measures universities could put in place to support working parents among their staff

From working hours that fit in with childcare to a place to pump, Nadia von Benzon explains how universities can support staff who are parents

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 24 February, 2022

Is the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ sinking your career?

Early career researchers not let previously invested time and money impact the decision to leave university and research

Making the decision to move away from research can be daunting, but a big dose of rational thinking can help you make the right choice, says Emma Williams

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne , 15 February, 2022

How to create a sense of belonging for black students in a majority white academy

Advice on purposefully creating a sense of belonging among black students in majority white universities

Taking active, practical and nuanced approaches to ensuring the belonging of black students in majority white universities, at a micro and macro level, is everyone’s responsibility, explains Edith Lewis

By Miranda Prynne , 10 February, 2022

Building student social networks offline

Advice on helping students to form social bonds and join clubs and societies after two years of isolation

Becky Lewis explains how to purposefully encourage and support students in forming social bonds and groups after two years of remote learning, isolated from their peers and lecturers

By Miranda Prynne , 10 February, 2022

From struggle to strength: positive psychological growth through teaching and assessment

Advice on designing pedagogies that encourage positive psychological growth among students after such a challenging period

Kathleen Chim and Benjamin Chan offer practical advice on creating meaningful pedagogies, assignments and assessments that promote positive psychological growth in challenging times

By Eliza.Compton , 8 February, 2022

How educators can help manage Covid anxieties on campus

Yellow paper figure surrounded by headlines about health and money anxieties, Covid uncertainty

Simple strategies can allow teachers to connect more deeply with students and help prepare them for stressful professional environments

Reading time

3minutes

By dene.mullen , 4 February, 2022

Conversations around stress must move beyond ‘I’m fine, how are you?’

The stress continuum is a traffic light system that might help university staff and students discuss well-being

Sara Metz offers practical advice on adopting the ‘stress continuum’ – a shared language and system to help staff and students reflect upon and discuss their well-being

Reading time

4minutes

By Miranda Prynne , 1 February, 2022

Unmasking the scientist: breaking down anonymity to build relationships when teaching online

Advice on breaking down student anonymity to build relationships when teaching online and in person

Simple solutions to link students’ names to faces and build a rapport with individuals in your class when teaching online, by Kelly Edmunds and Bethan Gulliver

Mental health and well-being