Mental Wealth UK Blog

Updates from the 25by2012 campaign, and all those involved

Tomorrow Is University Mental Health & Wellbeing Day!

Twelve months ago I was invited to an UMHAN meeting, along with a representative from Time To Change. We discussed how we might go about creating aligned, coordinated approaches to mental health promotion on university campuses, and the conversation turned to the possibility of launching a national awareness day. 

There are a lot of awareness days, some say too many. Many of these seem to be nothing more than ways of promoting a particular charity, and are lacking in substance. What excited me about the idea of a university mental health day was that it wouldn't be all talk, and it wouldn't be about promoting any one organisational agenda. There are hundreds of people and groups on campus that are doing things to promote mental health already; this would be a way of putting a date in the calendar when everyone's activities could be coordinated, thereby multiplying the impact. 

One of the criticisms of the idea was that, by promoting one particular day, the event might decrease the amount of promotional activity throughout the rest of the calendar. This is possible, but it's also a cynical view to take. If the right attitude is brought to the day, and useful resources are provided, then I think it can serve as a springboard for greater activities throughout the rest of the year. 

Fortunately others shared this view and after months of trying to initiate the day, it's finally being launched tomorrow, the 22nd of February 2012. After a lot of work from UMHAN - and in particular Sarah Ashworth of Warwick - around 25 universities will be running events to recognise the day, with support from Time To Change, Mindapples, Mental Wealth UK, and other organisations. Well done to all those that have organised something. 

University Mental Health & Wellbeing Day is a day when university wellbeing stakeholders can unite, put aside individual concerns, and work together to make campuses healthier, happier places for all of those involved with higher education. 

Here's an incomplete list of university events taking place tomorrow:

Introducing the Mental Wealth Foundation

As well as recognising the 25by2012 campaign, Saturday's event marked the launch of the Mental Wealth Foundation, which will - subject to approval from the Charities Commission - provide continued support to the UK's network of student Mental Wealth groups, and extend it's vision beyond the limits of UK higher education. 

When the first Mental Wealth group was launched back in late 2008, the mission statement on it's manifesto read, 'promoting mental health & wellbeing on campus and beyond'. We put the 'and beyond' on the end because we thought it was important to think of universities in the context of wider society. The changes to higher education over the past 12 months have supported this view. 

The economic crisis and government reforms have stirred up higher education, bringing mass protests, rising graduate unemployment, and, according to figures released last week, a drop in university applicants. All of this is having a significant effect on the wellbeing of students, graduates, and young people - influencing their aspirations and future prospects. As a result, those concerned with the education and wellbeing of young people, are being forced to take a step back and look at the role that the higher education plays in the support and development of the young. 

With this in mind, the Mental Wealth Foundation sets out to promote youth wellbeing and support youth-led wellbeing initiatives. The charity's 'promoting' and 'supporting' activities will primarily be delivered through structured programs consisting of advocacy, awards, training, and mentoring. A key part of this will be supporting the growing network of Mental Wealth groups around the UK. But, when capacity allows, it will also include using the learnings from this network to reach other young people, within the UK, and perhaps also outside of it. 

The introduction of the Mental Wealth Foundation represents the third stage since this national work began in 2009. Back then, it was known as the Mental Wealth Project, with the basic aim of advising universities on how to set up a student group similar to the one started in Leeds. In 2010 we launched Mental Wealth UK as a membership body for these groups. With the launch of the Mental Wealth Foundation this network of groups will continue to be known as 'Mental Wealth UK', but it will be supported by an office with charitable status and with the capacity to drive the vision of the work forward. Running through the three year history of 'Mental Wealth' is the same simple aim: to connect young people with the resources to thrive. 

The infrastructure for the charity is steadily being developed, but there's still some way to go before it's up and running. There's a trustee board to extend, staff to recruit, and funding to secure. To support the charity, and keep up to date on developments, please join the mailing list here or contact us at home[at]mwfnd.org. 

Welcoming the New Year: What 25by2012’s success means for universities

First off, let me wish you a very Happy New Year. I always enjoy the optimism that inevitably arrives with the beginning of a new calendar year, and hearing all about the life-changing resolutions that people often set out with. The positive outlook unfortunately tends to fade just a few weeks later as Cliff Arnall’s Blue Monday arrives amongst a backdrop of shattered resolutions.

However, on Blue Monday this year my positive outlook will certainly remain intact – and it’s only slightly because I was doing this on the date last year. More significant, is the resolution made by 25 different universities across the UK for 2012. A resolution to create a happier student community, and a commitment to seeing this through. A resolution to act on, and not just discuss, a big problem in the higher education landscape.

A little over 3 months ago a report was released by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Missed by many, those involved within the higher education community with a vested interest in mental health picked it up and noted its significance. The paper was a formal recognition that the challenges faced by students right now are greater than ever before, and that psychological distress is a big risk for those currently studying at university.

Just a few days later, we launched “25by2012”; Mental Wealth UK’s boldest and most ambitious campaign to date. We envisaged student-led Mental Wealth groups at 25 universities all across the UK, each group utilising the passion, energy and enterprise of students to combat the risks outlined in the report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Each group has been given the full backing of their university and Students’ Union to proactively engage with the local student community in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. They can't suddenly solve the problem of record graduate employment, or record high tuition fees, but Mental Wealth groups can help students to more effectively overcome these challenges and get more purchase out of their time at university. After all, university is supposed to be a time to learn and explore.

These first 25 should feel proud of their achievement, and we hope that this can serve as a springboard to reach more universities and see the network grow further. There’s no reason for every university not to have a Mental Wealth group in place combating stigma, raising awareness and informing students about mental health.

I propose a New Year’s toast to each of the 25, and look forward to celebrating with them all at the end of the month. Following the toughest year that higher education has seen in a long time, it’s warming to start 2012 on a high note.

Nathaniel

The role of leadership in the changing face of higher education

“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and so they attempt the impossible, and achieve it, generation after generation.” – Pearl S. Buck

The above quote from Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck is one that exemplifies our philosophy at Mental Wealth, and I have found myself reflecting upon on its poignancy on countless occasions these past six weeks.

Many of you will have observed the recent report from the Royal College of Psychiatry, outlining the current threats to student mental health and stating that the risks are greater now than ever before. There’s no getting away from the fact that circumstances are very tough; tuition fees are at an all time-high, graduate employment has hit record lows and university support services UK-wide are trying to ride out the turbulence caused by the cuts. And yet, I find myself looking ahead with profound optimism. Why?

Because students themselves are standing up and taking action. They too are aware of these growing threats to student wellbeing, but they certainly aren’t sitting idly and accepting them. My trips to various UK universities have not painted a picture of a student population apathetic to these challenges, but rather one that has chosen to shape its own future and is doing so through simple grass-roots activism.

Our response to the 25by2012 campaign has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are now working with almost 30 universities across the UK to get student-led Mental Wealth groups established. Each of these groups is led by a core group of passionate students, so driven by the desire to see a happier student community at their institution that they are willing to sacrifice time that might otherwise be spent partying or studying.

This weekend saw the second year of our annual Leaders’ Summit event in Leeds. It brought together leaders from all corners of the UK for a day of inspiration and collaboration. Each of them has their own story and background, but they each has in common this same vision of a more positive, confident student community. It was a very powerful experience sharing a day with such a passionate and committed collective of students.

And they’re not the only ones. Nightline, SRSH and Student Hubs are all student-led initiatives borne out of a common desire to bring students together to tackle these issues. There is promise of unity and collaboration between these organisations in Mental Wealth UK as we move forward – an exciting step. These young student leaders have not chosen this path out of a wish for praise or recognition, but for the simple knowledge that they have made a significant positive change in the lives of all the students that they reach.

So again we see a generation of young people attempting what others might deem as ‘impossible’, and for whom this word doesn’t feature in their ambitions. I have every confidence that the movement will continue to grow, and it is a movement that I feel privileged to be a part of.

Nathaniel

Why 25by2012?

The last few weeks have been quite something. This is without question the largest campaign that I’ve coordinated before, and into it have gone many late nights, countless phone calls and too many cups of tea (I think I’ve tried just about every type of tea every local cafe has to offer).

Nonetheless, looking ahead to Monday and our grand campaign launch one can’t help but feel a certain childish excitement about how the next few months will unfold. All the hard work and dedication is unquestioningly worth it.

When we laid out our strategy over the summer we determined that in order to continue to develop it was crucial to double our current groups tally to twenty-five by January 2012. And appropriately, courtesy of one of Eddy’s brilliant ideas, came ‘25by2012.’ Just over a month later here we are, ready for lift-off.

Of course, campaigns like this don’t just appear of their own accord. Many ideas, plans and actions have gone into it and I’ve been left in awe by how much people have been willing to give to make it happen. I’m talking here about our talented team of interns, our visionary founder Eddy, our gifted design team (Magpie Comms) and finally to the brilliant organisations that have helped us reach this stage and offered to spread the word as widely as they can.

We know that students now are faced with the highest tuition fees in British history, and that finding work as a graduate is harder than ever before. It’s a tough time for higher education. However, there’s a growing optimism within all of us involved with Mental Wealth UK that we can help students to tackle these challenges and give them the personal skills they need to flourish at university and beyond.

We’re confident that 25by2012 will go some way to achieving these aims. We ultimately hope to see Mental Wealth groups having a tangible positive impact at every university in the UK, but for such a young organisation to reach 25 universities is a great achievement and confirms both our ambition and belief in reaching out to the student community.

I can’t wait to get started and I’m looking forward to working with many of you (and visiting your universities!) over the next three months to realise the vision of the campaign.

Nathaniel