DMU to lead new study improving students' mental wellbeing


De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is leading a new study into how mental wellbeing can be embedded into all aspects of university life.

Working with colleagues at London South Bank, Open University, University of Bristol, University of East Anglia, University of Greenwich and University of Reading, students and staff at DMU will aim to help students around the world by finding, evaluating and sharing the best mental wellbeing resources being used today. 

Wellbeing picture

The collaborative enhancement project has been recognised for its vital contribution to higher education and is funded nationally by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA).Growing numbers of students have reported mental health and wellbeing issues particularly since the start of the pandemic, putting pressure on support services.

Embedding mental wellbeing across the curriculum aims to help tackle that by supporting students throughout their time at university, using inclusive learning techniques, building emotional intelligence and identifying barriers to learning, enabling and enhancing positive student experiences across a wide range of disciplines.  

Dr Zoë Allman, Associate Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media, leading this activity said this was much-needed  in the higher education sector as the Covid-19 pandemic had only exacerbated mental wellbeing matters.

She added: “Across higher education we have identified increasing concerns around mental wellbeing, this project ensures students are supported to develop positive mental wellbeing approaches.”

De Montfort Students’ Union is working alongside DMU to lead this activity, and students at DMU will have the opportunity to feed into the work.

The team will curate and share examples of best practice from universities around the world and create online resources including teaching materials, videos, texts, template presentations which will  available as open educational resources to make it as accessible as possible.

They also plan to share their findings through educational journals, articles and blogs as well as social media, to support colleagues to develop a greater awareness of triggers and issues that can lead to mental wellbeing issues, and support students in enhancing their mental wellbeing.

The study's findings will be launched in January 2022 on Blue Monday, said to be the most depressing day of the year, in an effort to refocus on positive mental wellbeing experiences.
 

Posted on Thursday 25 March 2021

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