Mental Health in Higher Education Digital Conference

Monday 26th April 2021

Digital Event, Broadcast Live

Key Points
  • Hear from students themselves: Beneath the statistics, what has been the lived experience of student life during a pandemic?
  • Monitoring University performance in the age of Covid-19: Ensuring staff and students are thriving in new learning environments
  • Protecting already vulnerable students: Learn how create bespoke, targeted support for students at-risk of falling through the cracks
  • Understanding The University Mental Health Charter: Acknowledging and learning from best practice examples
  • Click Here to Secure your Place
Overview
Expert Speakers:

  • Kathryn Mitchell, Vice Chancellor, University of Derby
  • Professor Ross Renton, Principal, ARU Peterborough
  • Dr Anna Matthews, Chair, UMHAN
  • Professor Keith McLay, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby
  • Hannah Robinson, Academic Registrar, University of Derby
  • Jonathan Rhodes, Educational Developer, University of Wolverhampton
  • Robyn Guillaume-Smith, Programme Manager - Mentally Healthy Universities, Mind
  • Clare Dickens, Academic Lead Mental Health, University of Wolverhampton
  • Leigh Spanner, Sector Improvement Lead, Student Minds
  • Lesley Worsfold, Vice Principal - Resources Hartpury
  • Christopher Tucker, Director of Residence Life, University of Edinburgh
  • Dr Dominique Thompson, Author and Consultant, Buzz Consulting
  • Lesley O'Keeffe, Registrar, Brunel University London
  • Mette Westander, Founding Director, Disabled Students UK

    More than 50% of students say their mental health has declined since the Covid pandemic began*

    The mental health crisis in students has been exacerbated by Covid-19. As students grapple with online learning, self-isolation, student mental health is deteriorating and more support from universities is needed than ever before.

    Covid-19 and the measures put in place to curb its spread have led to increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety. The pandemic has also further entrenched existing divisions and made it harder for students already struggling.

    Join Westminster Insights Mental Health in Higher Education Conference to explore the impact lockdown and isolation has had on student wellbeing and the transition to online learning. We will explore the positives and negatives it has brought, the systems in place to support staff, the importance of building inclusive online communities, and ensuring at-risk students are monitored and protected going forward.

    Hear from Vice Chancellor Kathryn Mitchell on the challenges of managing mental health in a pandemic, and how the University of Derby handled the transition to online learning

    *survey for the National Union of Students (NUS). November 2020
Agenda
Start

08:50 - 09:00
Chair’s Opening Remarks

 
Speakers

Clare Dickens Senior Lecturer, Mental Health, University of Wolverhampton

Read profile

09:00 - 09:20
The University Experience in the Era of Covid-19: A Student’s Perspective

 
  • A student nurses’ perspective of continuing academic studies in unprecedented times
  • Adapting to new working conditions and facing the pandemic on the frontline
  • The broader impact of the pandemic on student life: reduced access to libraries, catering services, transport facilities and opportunities to socialise



Speakers

Rianne Soleil Adult Nursing Masters Student, University of Wolverhampton

Read profile

09:20 - 09:50
Managing Mental Health in a Pandemic: A Strategic Overview

 
  • How have universities handled the transition to online learning, and what has been the burden on student wellbeing? 
  • Recreating the university community online and ensuring students have easy access to the support they need
  • What are the potential mental health benefits of online learning post-Covid?
  • Assessing the impact of social isolation supporting students with pre-existing mental health conditions
9:40 - 9:50 Questions and Discussion

Speakers

Keith McLay Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby

Read profile

Hannah Robinson Academic Registrar, University of Derby

Read profile

Kathryn Mitchell Vice Chancellor, University of Derby

Read profile

09:50 - 10:10
Creating University Campuses with Wellbeing in Mind

 
  • Looking back at best practice examples and reflecting on the positives and negatives of the pandemic 
  • Building wellbeing into every curriculum and ensuring staff are supported
  • Equipping students with the resilience they need to manage the own mental health going into employment 
10:00 - 10:10 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Professor Ross Renton Principal, ARU Peterborough

Read profile

10:10 - 10:20
Break

 

10:20 - 10:40
Supporting University Staff with their Mental Health

 
  • The importance of supporting staff with their mental health, now more than ever
  • Utilising the Mental Health at Work Commitment as a framework to take forward support for staff
  • Hear about Mind’s Mentally Healthy Universities pilot programme: providing practical ideas to take away and implement in your university. 
10:30 - 10:40 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Robyn Guillaume-Smith Programme Manager - Mentally Healthy Universities, Mind

Read profile

10:40 - 11:05
The Mental Health Charter: A New Framework to Help Universities Thrive

 
  • An introduction to the University Mental Health Charter and Award
  • Good practice and whole-university approaches to mental health during the pandemic
  • How universities can continually improve their approach and meet the long-term challenges of a post-pandemic world
10:55 - 11:05 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Leigh Spanner Sector Improvement Lead

Read profile

Lesley Worsfold Vice Principal - Resources, Hartpury

Read profile

11:05 - 11:30
Helping Students Stay Well in Uncertain Times

 
  •  Learn the wellbeing signs to watch out for, and how mental health and wellbeing might be adversely affected during and after the pandemic
  •   The indirect impact of Covid-19: Review how graduating in a recession impacts long term mental health and wellbeing, and how you can help reduce the impact
  •  Understand where to refer students with suicidal thinking or behaviours
  •  Be updated on how to help any student in distress in 3 first steps
11:20 - 11:30 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Dr Dominique Thompson Author, GP, & Director, Buzz Consulting

Read profile

11:30 - 12:00
Embedding Mental Health into the Syllabus and Preparing Support for After the Pandemic

 
  • 5 steps to embed mental health in the curriculum: understanding the importance of inclusive pedagogy
  • Maximising student engagement with virtual support networks and giving students the choice of online or in-person sessions going forward
  • Continuing to critically examine university support networks during the pandemic and after
11:50 - 12:00 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Jonathan Rhodes Educational Developer, College of Learning and Teaching, University of Wolverhampton

Read profile

Lesley O'Keeffe Registrar, Brunel University London & AMOSSHE Executive Member

Read profile

12:00 - 12:10
Break

 

12:10 - 12:30
Supporting Students by Supporting Staff

 
  • How can the working relationship between staff and mental health organisations be improved to ensure an efficient handover of student care?
  • Establishing boundaries and clear levels of support in the context of digital learning
  • Improving peer support networks to better address the needs of staff and students
12:20 - 12:30 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Christopher Tucker Director of Residence Life, The University of Edinburgh

Read profile

12:30 - 13:00
Adapting to new working conditions: Ensuring Already Marginalised Students get the Support they Need

 
  • Supporting disabled students adapting to new and challenging learning conditions
  • Addressing the rise in mental health concerns among students, with a focus on students from diverse ethnicities 
  • How best to support the mental wellbeing of international students in the context of Covid-19
12:50 - 13:00 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Anna Matthews Chair, UMHAN

Read profile

Mette Westander Founding Director, Disabled Students UK

Read profile

End
Speakers

Clare Dickens Senior Lecturer, Mental Health, University of Wolverhampton

Read profile

Robyn Guillaume-Smith Programme Manager - Mentally Healthy Universities, Mind

Read profile

Anna Matthews Chair, UMHAN

Read profile

Keith McLay Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby

Read profile

Kathryn Mitchell Vice Chancellor, University of Derby

Read profile

Lesley O'Keeffe Registrar, Brunel University London & AMOSSHE Executive Member

Read profile

Professor Ross Renton Principal, ARU Peterborough

Read profile

Jonathan Rhodes Educational Developer, College of Learning and Teaching, University of Wolverhampton

Read profile

Hannah Robinson Academic Registrar, University of Derby

Read profile

Rianne Soleil Adult Nursing Masters Student, University of Wolverhampton

Read profile

Leigh Spanner Sector Improvement Lead

Read profile

Dr Dominique Thompson Author, GP, & Director, Buzz Consulting

Read profile

Christopher Tucker Director of Residence Life, The University of Edinburgh

Read profile

Mette Westander Founding Director, Disabled Students UK

Read profile

Lesley Worsfold Vice Principal - Resources, Hartpury

Read profile

Venue details

Digital Event Broadcast Live

Speakers
X Close