The University of Westminster has joined a new University Mental Health Charter Programme to improve support for colleague and student mental health in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Charter Programme, led by Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, brings together 32 universities committed to making mental health and wellbeing a university-wide priority to share practice and create cultural change.
Universities on the Charter Programme form part of a UK-wide practice sharing network with access to events and opportunities to come together to improve their approach to student and colleague mental health. Programme members can also work towards the Charter Award, an accreditation scheme which recognises universities that demonstrate excellent practice.
Westminster was selected to be part of the first cohort of UK universities to engage with the Programme, due in part to its commitment to develop a whole-university approach to student and colleague wellbeing.
By joining the Charter Programme, universities have committed to working towards a set of evidence-informed principles of good practice. This includes a commitment to working with colleagues and students to provide adequately resourced and effective support services, as well as creating an environment and culture that reduces poor mental health and promotes good mental health for the whole university community.
The Charter aligns with Westminster’s commitment to be a compassionate university and to create a positive place and culture so all our people are supported and encouraged to realise their ambition, as set out in the University strategy. It also builds on the existing support and resources Westminster offers for colleagues and students to help look after their physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing and aligns with Universities UK’s Stepchange framework for mentally healthy universities.
Westminster’s progress towards the Charter requirements will be achieved through close partnership with University of Westminster Students’ Union and will be overseen by the University’s Wellbeing Sub-Group of the Safety Health and Wellbeing Committee.
Even prior to the pandemic, the prevalence and complexity of mental health difficulties in students across the UK was on the rise. According to Student Minds the number of students declaring a pre–existing mental illness to their university has more than doubled since 2014/15 and staff report that they are responding to increasing numbers of students experiencing significant mental health issues.
During the pandemic, students and young people were more likely than the general population to feel anxious and worried, unable to cope and experience self-harm and 58% of students say their mental health is worse than when the pandemic started. Staff across the sector have also reported increased workload and burn out in responding to the pandemic.
Westminster has worked closely with student and colleague groups throughout the pandemic to understand and respond to key wellbeing concerns and this activity will be continued in the context of the University Mental Health Charter Programme.
Talking about the Charter Programme, Dr Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Westminster, said: “The health and wellbeing of our University of Westminster community is our priority, which is why we are very proud to join the University Mental Health Charter Programme which will help create further cultural change to support all those who work and study in our own and other universities.”
Andy Norris, Head of Culture and Inclusion and chair of the University’s Wellbeing Sub-Group of the Safety Health and Wellbeing Committee, added: “Being part of the University Mental Health Charter Programme will enable us to play our part in changing and improving the standard of mental health support across the sector and help us to deliver on our priority as a progressive, compassionate and responsible organisation.”
To find out more information head to the University Mental Health Charter website.
