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Mental Health Charter
Mental Health Charter
AUB aims to promote good mental health in staff and students, reflecting AUB values, sense of belonging and connection in our creative community.
Positive mental wellbeing at AUB
As the world recovers from the impact of the global pandemic, the mental health of university students and staff has been a focus of increasing concern in the UK. Over the last decade the number of UK students declaring a mental health condition has increased by 450% [i], leading to an unprecedented rise in demand for university support services. 26% of AUB students have disclosed a disability or mental health difficulty and in a recent survey, 94% of AUB students reported feeling lonely, compared with 78% nationally [ii].
Research into the mental health of staff in UK universities reveals higher levels of anxiety and lower life satisfaction than in the general population [iii] and significant rises in the number of staff accessing counselling and occupational health services [iv].
AUB is proud of its supportive creative community and the support available to students and staff. But we must build on this to promote positive cultures and good mental health for all members of our community.
AUB has committed to the Student Minds Mental Health Charter, adopting a whole university approach to promoting and supporting positive mental wellbeing. Building on our AUB values of collaborative, connected, innovative and passionate, we aim to facilitate staff and students to develop insight, understanding and skills to manage and maintain their own wellbeing.
Our charter submission summarises the work already undertaken by staff, students and AUBSU, and sets out future plans to promote a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Working together, we will offer the support, tools and opportunities that help us all to achieve positive wellbeing.
Case studies
Case study: Promoting wellbeing in course delivery
BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design plans to introduce new ways to provide positive learning opportunities...
Case study: University Retreat
AUB and Bournemouth University have worked in partnership with NHS, BCHA, and Dorset Mental Health Forum to create the University Retreat...
Case study: Making Student Services more accessible
The Student Services reception area has been reconfigured to provide a more welcoming space for students...
Case Study: Learning, Teaching and Assessment Framework
AUB’s Learning, Teaching and Assessment Framework aims to clarify reasonable student expectations, and to deliver...
Case study: Mental Health Champions
AUB’s Student Support Manager has provided training to a number of students who have an interest in becoming...
Case study: Compassionate communications
In June 2022, the Department for Education announced the appointment of Edward Peck as the first...
Case study: Staff EDI training
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is a core commitment of AUB's Strategy 2030 and we strive to support a sense of belonging and a...
Case study: Measuring the impact of single session counselling
AUB’s counselling service offers a “single session” model of counselling, providing “one at a time” therapeutic sessions...
Case study: Wellbeing resources – Canvas and Library
Student Mental Health Champions, AUB’s Wellbeing team and AUB Library have collaborated on a project to provide...
Case study: Breakout pod for neurodiverse students
The UK saw a 787% increase in autism diagnoses between 1998 and 2018, recording greater increases in...
The terms used within this Charter are based upon Student Minds’ definitions.
[i] UCAS
[ii] Cibyl mental health survey 2021-22
[iii] Dougall, I., Weick, M., & Vasiljevic, M. (2021, June 22). Inside UK Universities: Staff mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic. Retrieved from psyarxiv.com/23axu
[iv] Morrish, Liz. (2019). Pressure Vessels: The epidemic of poor mental health among higher education staff. London: HEPI.
