You're never alone. Mental Health Awareness Week
“Whatever you’re going through, there is always help and support. You’re never alone. Speak to someone.”
That’s the message at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week from the LJMU academics and registered nurses behind an acclaimed podcast to support men’s mental health.
This year’s awareness week (11-17 May), led by the Mental Health Foundation, has the theme of Take Action.
Encouraging people to take action has been one of the key messages behind The Man Hug podcast, which has just celebrated its third birthday. The show - hosted by Dean McShane, Conleth Kelly, Dan Cooper and Ian Pierce Hayes – discusses a host of themes relating to people’s mental health and general wellbeing, from addiction to bereavement.
The show – which has been downloaded and listened to in 850 cities across 77 countries – has featured a host of notable guests sharing their lived experiences, from sportspeople and musicians to campaigners and health specialists.
The podcast has made a genuine impact and even saved lives, with one listener contacting the show to say, “If it wasn’t for episode one, I simply wouldn’t be here today. Listening showed me that there is hope and I went and got that help.”
LJMU support for mental health and wellbeing
At LJMU, supporting mental health and wellbeing is not only a priority within our Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science but a commitment that extends to all students, staff, and into communities locally, nationally and internationally. Here are just some of the initiatives the university is delivering to make a difference to mental health:
- The university has been a member of the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter since 2021, reflecting our ongoing commitment to a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing.
- LJMU is also one of the largest training providers in the North for essential health and wellbeing services, educating future nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, midwives and police officers. Hundreds of students study Mental Health Nursing at the university, with many more graduates going on to support services across the sector.
- Beyond education, LJMU’s research is helping to shape the future of mental health support. Pioneering work in public health is advancing understanding in areas such as suicide and self-harm prevention, as well as the role of green and natural environments in improving mental wellbeing.
- The university is also at the forefront of digital innovation in wellbeing. Through partnerships with organisations including Merseyside Police, researchers from the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies have worked with officers and staff using wearable technology to track stress and fatigue, helping to inform approaches that prioritise wellbeing in high-pressure professions.
- This impact is further strengthened through partnerships with organisations such as the NHS, Mersey Care, Liverpool City Council and other higher education institutions, ensuring LJMU’s work reaches beyond campus into the wider community.
- We aim to make our campus, mental health and wellbeing friendly with additional initiatives, such as our weekly ‘Tranquil Training’ sessions in the LJMU Sport Building, creating inclusive spaces that focus on mental wellbeing.
- LJMU’s impact is also reflected through its alumni and honorary fellows, including high-profile advocates who continue to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing across government and wider society.
Support at LJMU for our staff and students
There is a wide range of mental health support available to everybody at LJMU. Students can access in-person, online and telephone support from our dedicated teams for any issues around their mental health and wellbeing. LJMU staff can make use of a holistic package of services and resources to support their wellbeing.
