Mental Health Awareness Week: support for our staff and where to reach out

Mental Health Awareness Week, led by the Mental Health Foundation, is taking place from the 11 to 17 May, and this year’s theme is Take Action.

At LJMU, the wellbeing of our staff and students remains a key priority.

This week, we’re highlighting the changes we’ve made, and what we’re working on next to support our students and staff, through sharing our LJMU Mental Health and Wellbeing Progress Report.

The LJMU Mental Health and Wellbeing Progress Report

LJMU has been Programme Members of the University Mental Health Charter since 2021, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students and staff.

This report highlights the work happening, celebrates progress made, and sets out key priorities across the University and Students’ Union to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our LJMU community.

It reflects our ongoing commitment to embedding a whole university approach as a programme member of the Student Minds University Mental Health Charter. The Charter outlines best practice across teaching, support services, community and culture.

We encourage you to take action by reading the report, sharing it with colleagues, and providing your feedback.

Key areas of progress

• Strengthened academic support through a refreshed Personal Tutor Framework, including enhanced training and resources for staff, a simplified disability disclosure process and improved information sharing to better support students.
• The Student Concern Form has improved collaboration between academic colleagues and support services by enabling staff to raise concerns promptly, providing peace of mind and coordinated support where appropriate.
• The rollout of Make Every Contact Count (MECC) training has seen 141 colleagues already take part to enable supportive conversations and confidently signpost others to appropriate support.

We know there’s always more to do. The report also sets out what we’re focusing on next to make LJMU an even more supportive place to work and study.

Mental Health and Wellbeing support for staff

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we encourage all colleagues to take action, whether that’s exploring the report, engaging with available training or taking small steps to support your own wellbeing and that of those around you.

LJMU Connectors

The LJMU Connectors are on hand to provide peer support and make sure staff have access to the appropriate resources and services. The connectors are receiving ongoing training to spot early signs of mental ill health, listen to staff in confidence and without judgement, and to make sure people can access professional support.

Staff wellbeing hub

The university is committed to providing a holistic package of services and resources to support your wellbeing. From staff events focussed on mental health and wellbeing to our Employee Assistance Programme where staff can use the Vivup EAP service to speak to a trained counsellor 24/7, 365 days a year. Find out more on the LJMU staff wellbeing hub.

LJMU’s support for mental health and wellbeing on a local and international scale

Did you know, LJMU is one of the largest training providers in the north for essential health and wellbeing services? Our programmes train nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, midwives and police officers.

Our pioneering public health research is also leading the way in suicide and self-harm prevention, using green and natural environment to benefit health, and mental wellbeing research.

Find out more about all the ways our university is making a difference to mental health and wellbeing on a global scale.